It took several months of organizing and planning, but on Feb. 6, the newest chapter of the Ruri-Teens Club was established at Marsteller Middle School in association with the Nokesville Ruritans Club.
“A Ruritan is someone who makes a difference in his community, who makes it better,” said Brentsville District Board Member Gil Trenum, speaker of honor at the charter ceremony.
That description aptly fits Kayla Fyock, Marsteller Ruri-Teens' first chapter president.
Kayla first became involved in community service in her school when she participated in the Wall of Pride Program when she was a student at Cedar Point Elementary.
Kayla attended church with Ken Hinkle, president and membership chair of the Nokesville Ruritans. Hinkle knew Kayla had committed herself to community service and encouraged her to consider founding a Ruri-Teens Club at Marsteller.
Kayla acknowledged the importance of continuing community service at the
middle school level, and worked with the Nokesville Ruritans Club to develop the Ruri-Teens Club within Marsteller. With support from her mother Katja Fyock, Kayla began the process of creating a new service organization. She met with Principal Roberta Knetter in May 2011 to discuss her ideas for the club.
All her hard work paid off on Monday when more than 30 Marsteller students of all grades were chartered as founding members of the Ruri-Teens Club, deciding to freely dedicate their time to service and their community.
Their dedication has included commitments with some of Prince William County's most critical out-reach programs, such as SERVE,'s “Operation Turkey"and the House of Mercy's "Kids Against Hunger.” Marsteller students are also participating in national service projects, such as the Make a Child Smile organization.
According to the students, they particularly enjoy having the freedom to choose their own projects.
Classmate Christopher Homere said his best Ruri-Teen's experience allowed him the opportunity to give holiday gifts to Marsteller families in need. For member Sharon Lazaro Lom, it was helping homeless people.
However, the most popular project among the Ruri-Teens is fighting cancer. This was of little surprise, since one of their own founding members, eighth grade student Emily Ringham, was waging her own war against the disease.
Although Emily faces her own challenges, she finds time and energy to give back to her community through the Ruri-Teen Club. Recently she encouraged the club to provide no-sew fleece blankets for teen cancer patients for Growing Hope, a Northern Virginia non-profit that provides non-medical care to children with cancer and their families.
“Because they helped me so much, I wanted to give back and help the children that they were aiding,” said Emily “It’s unbelievable what they did for me.”
The spirit of altruism is something Knetter expects to spread through Marsteller. Knetter said that this matches "the ethos, energy and dedication, which Marsteller students naturally display."
Hinkle also thinks middle school students have much to offer their community and adults should harness their enthusiasm.
“(Ruri-Teens) gives the kids a chance to get involved in community service, and hopefully that carries throughout a lifetime,” Hinkle said.
As for Kayla, inspiring others has been the most rewarding aspect of the experience.
"I'm proud when I think of how excited they are to do different things."
She is also encouraged by the speed at which the organization has grown.
"I wouldn't have thought there were so many kids who would have wanted to join."
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