After contributing over 4,000 hours of community service to various organizations, junior Rylee Bush has been awarded The Presidential Lifetime Achievement award.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement award is a civil award bestowed upon individuals by the President of the United States. It is used to honor those who have contributed their time to serving the community. There are three levels of awards: bronze, silver and gold. Bush has collected all three.

“I have spent the last 11 years volunteering through various organizations in our community. I earned my first medal, the bronze medal, at the age of nine,” Bush said.

Bush began volunteering when she was 5 years old. She started by participating in a local pageant sponsored by Beauty Brains and Heart (BBH). This organization is run by Jackie Russo.

“Beauty, Brains and Heart is a service organization that I founded in 2008,” J. Russo said. “It has been in existence for 16 years. We are dedicated to promoting positive pageantry and encouraging community service. Our motto is ‘Remember: You are a BEAUTY, using your BRAINS to guide your compassionate HEART.’”

J. Russo has watched Bush’s journey to this award from the very beginning.

“Rylee has been a title holder with us for over 10 years now,” J. Russo said. “We first met her at one of our local benefit pageant events at the age of six. We have watched her grow into a beautiful and caring young lady, who not only has become a role model, but also an inspiration to others.”

J. Russo is hopeful of Bush’s future as she continues to volunteer her time.

“I am extremely blessed to have met this amazing young lady and honored to have the privilege to work with her,” J. Russo said. “She has a very bright future ahead of her and I know she will reach her highest potential in life.”

Co-director of BBH, Typhani Russo, has been Bush’s mentor and has been there to offer support and guidance.

“I actually met Rylee when I taught dance at Blair Dance Academy,” T. Russo said. “She was just a tiny 5-year-old toddler. As she aged, I learned how big her heart is and knew I wanted to take her under my wing.”

T. Russo has been working with Bush for several years and has contributed to her time as a volunteer.

“As she took on a more active role in pageants and community service, our families got closer,” T. Russo said. “She became like a younger sister to me.”

Bush has enjoyed all of her community service experiences, but a few hold a special place in her heart.

“One of my first volunteering experiences was with Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) weekend at Delgrosso’s,” Bush said. “The first day, I got to meet some of the miracle children representing CMN. We played and I took one of my crowns for them to put on. I collect, sort and turn in donations for Rachel’s Closet. At the Polar Plunge with Special Olympics, I handed out participant shirts and took groups down to the water. With Night to Shine Prom I get to be a Disney princess and dance, hangout, go on limo rides and take pictures with prom attendees.”

Bush has worked with Children’s Miracle Network, Blair County Arts Festival, March of Dimes American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots, Mountain Lion Backpack Program, Bookworms Against Bullies, African American Heritage Festival, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Central PA Humane Society, Mending Hearts, Second Chance Strays, Beauty Brains and Heart, Special Olympics, Miracle League of Blair County, Tim Tebow Night to Shine Prom, Trinity Lutheran Church and Rachel’s Closet.

“My service includes working hands-on at community events, giving my time to them,” Bush said. “Whether it be helping with kids activities or advocating for their cause. I have also been involved with collecting donated items to many nonprofits in our area.”

Bush received the award surrounded by her family and their support.

“I was in complete shock and overwhelmed when I received the award,” Bush said. “Mrs. Typh and Jackie had to hold off on giving it to me because I was originally sick. I was staying with my aunt and cousins when they came over and gave it to me. Honestly none of us could believe I got it.”

She is one of the few to earn the award at such a young age. Accumulating over 4,000 hours of service has taken dedication, according to Bush.

“I felt very proud of myself because it is a very large accomplishment,” Bush said. “It is not heard of for someone my age to get it so I was overall impressed, proud and shocked all at once.”

As the recipient of this prestigious award, Bush feels it is important to show dedication and service to the community.

“I hope that being active in the community may inspire others to give volunteering a try. it is overall an amazing thing to do and you feel so complete when you give your time to help others,” Bush said.

This story was originally published on Mountain Echo on November 18, 2024.