Abigail Redin, a Smithson Valley High School junior, was presented with the 2019 Student Hero award by Texas State Board of Education District 5 Member Ken Mercer Thursday, May 16, at SVHS.
Redin, 17, was nominated for the annual award by SVHS Principal Michael Wahl, who believed Redin’s volunteer work and leadership truly embodied the award’s mission, which is to recognize students who have demonstrated and inspired acts of kindness and compassion.
The SBOE Student Hero award is a prestigious honor with only 15 chosen annually, one from each of the SBOE’s 15 districts. Mercer, whose district includes 13 counties, chose Redin as the District 5 honoree.
“Each year I receive nominations of incredible, extraordinary ‘student heroes’ using extraordinary skills to make a huge, positive difference in our world,” Mercer said. “This award recognizes not just Abigail’s leadership, but also the heart and spirit of Smithson Valley High School and Comal ISD.”
While accepting the honor, Redin was quick to point out that she couldn’t have done it without the help of her fellow students many of whom were on hand for the presentation.
In February, Redin led a multi-campus environmental campaign that only lasted 11 days but resulted in the collection of 5,500 shoes which were donated to Soles4Souls, a non-profit organization which repurposes and recycles every shoe that is donated. She enlisted the help of students on six Comal ISD campuses as well as the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse at the Village at Stone Oak in San Antonio. What started as a spring Parent Teacher Student Association service project turned into an experience she and others will never forget.
In addition to Mercer, the morning presentation included a special message from the Texas PTA President Sheri Doss. Also, on hand for the announcement were Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim, Comal ISD School Board Trustee Michelle Ross and members of the SVHS PTA board of directors and the Comal ISD Council of PTAs board of directors.
Congratulations, Abigail!
-Pictured in front from left are Grayson Cook, seventh grader from Smithson Valley Middle School who led the Soles4Souls campaign on his campus; and Abigail Redin, a junior from Smithson Valley High School, who spearheaded the campaign. Pictured in back from left are Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim, SBOE District 5 Member Ken Mercer, SVHS Junior Owen Woodard who was instrumental in the Soles4Souls campaign and SVHS Principal Michael Wahl.
- Pictured from left are SBOE District 5 Member Ken Mercer, Will Redin, Abigail Redin, Diane Redin, SVHS Principal Michael Wahl and Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim. Abigail, a junior at SVHS, was named the 2019 Student Hero Thursday, May 16, by Mercer in a special ceremony at SVHS.
-Pictured in front from left are SVHS PTA President Jennifer Backlund, Texas PTA President Sheri Doss, SVHS Junior Abigail Redin, Comal ISD Board of Trustee Michelle Ross and Comal ISD Council of PTA President Shirley Koop; in back from left are Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim, SVHS PTA Officer Jessica McAnelly, SBOE District 5 Member Ken Mercer and Comal ISD Council of PTA Vice President Tracey Molina.
-Pictured from left is SVHS Junior Abigail Redin receiving the 2019 Student Hero award from the Texas State Board of Education District 5 Member Ken Mercer.