Less than two weeks into her high school career, Malena Donovan ’25 is already living the values of Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

And not just living, but promoting those values while serving as an ambassador for the entire school.

As a member of Project 351, Malena teamed with other students from Massachusetts and the Military Heroes Fund to create 800 care packages for U.S. soldiers and veterans at an event in Boston on Sept. 11, the 20^th anniversary of 9/11.

Earlier in the week, Malena and the Girls’ Soccer team wrote letters of support fire departments in Wilbraham and Springfield.

Malena was just one of two students from Springfield, Massachusetts, selected to be a member of Project 351, which focuses on kindness, compassion, humility and gratitude through community service.

Quotes from Malena

On the importance of being part of a community: “My community is a big part of who I am as a person. Project 351 gives back to the community that has brought me so far. I probably wouldn’t have gotten to this school without my community and the Project 351 itself. I thought it was a good way to show gratitude and help people in need and the community in general.”

On Project 351: “Its goal is to bring together young students from different towns in Massachusetts and show them the importance of giving back to the community and encourage service toward others.”

On the event in Boston: “We got together and talked and then got to work. People brought supplies, such as hygiene products, food, water, and we made 800 care boxes. We sent half to troops overseas and the other half went to local veterans.”

On what she got out of the event in Boston: “I got to meet some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and it was great they were all my age as well and they were passionate about helping others. It’s a nice feeling when you do community work, knowing the care packages are going to actual people and this is going to help. Also, another thing that struck me was passersby were curious what we were doing and they wanted to donate or help.”