For over three decades, John H. Crowder dedicated his life to supporting the youth of Union County. In honor of his enduring contributions and lasting impact, the Union County Board of Education presented the John H. Crowder Service Award for February to a Marvin Ridge High School senior.
Over the past four years, Akshara Krishna has made substantial contributions to Marvin Ridge High School and the wider community. Within the school, she spearheaded a successful book drive in collaboration with the National English Honor Society, collecting over 120 books and played a pivotal role on the leadership team for a Vibha fundraiser. Vibha is an organization that works to solve systemic problems affecting children through volunteer efforts.
This year, Akshara integrated the district’s Portrait of a Graduate (POG) framework into student-led initiatives. She established the Visionary Council, created the Student Highlight Series and partnered with the Broadcast Club to promote POG content. Akshara also conducted workshops, mentored high school students and initiated a county-wide POG student leadership committee.
Akshara also created the first Blooming Melodies chapter at the school. She founded Blooming Melodies, an academy specializing in music and soft skills mentorship when she was just 13 years old. She has successfully established six partnerships, organized diverse events and raised $15,000 for Project Future India to support disadvantaged communities. She has guided students in launching initiatives, conducted workshops on extracurriculars and college applications, led time management sessions for over 30 students and managed private music lessons.
Akshara is currently a volunteer research assistant in Labor Economics, contributing to the "Intergenerational Mobility, Home Ownership, and Wealth Accumulation" study. She is also co-director of operations for Invest Bright, where she raises economic awareness by writing articles and organizing a Girls in Business program for elementary and middle school girls to help improve their financial literacy. She has also worked with Musicians in Motion to establish a summer camp for junior violinists.
She has not decided on a college or university yet. Her top picks are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or NC State to study economics and pursue a career in finance.
02/06/2024
