Ruth Cormier, age 18
School: West Valley College, transferring to San Jose State University next year
Accomplishments:
- Gold Congressional Award, the sixth Congressional Award she has received
- Crowned Miss Santa Clara County June 2, 2012
- Started three nonprofit organizations: Kards 4 Kids, Kards 4 You, and Kards 4 Soldiers, and has made and sent 65,000 Kards to soldiers, veterans, firefighters, policeman, EMTS, and government officials
- Member of the Patriot Guard Riders
- Los Gatos Youth Citizen of the Year 2011-12
- Ambassadress of Salute to Youth, a Youth Focus program
- Works with schools, organizations, and craft groups helping them to make Kards 4 Soldiers.
- Will be available at the Santa Clara County Fair—meeting, greeting, and available at a Kards 4 Soldiers booth
Key to Awesomeness: The first thing you notice about this somewhat shy young lady is her maturity, and sweet smile, according to proud mom Debi Cormier.
"She has a genuine love for people, and concern for their wellbeing. Her smile melts the heart of those who are handed a kard by her, then her sentiment brings tears to their eyes," mom wrote in an email interview asking her to describe Ruth's key to success.
Emails and letters from soldiers confess that she has made a difference in their lives, with the Kards she has sent overseas, mom added.
"Although she does not want attention for herself, she is willing to speak and share her insights, and the reason for her drive," mom said.
Ruth has volunteered more than 2,500 hours in the last two years, and makes use of every waking moment by finding projects that don’t always give her great exposure, but that she knows make a difference in the lives of many, according to mom.
She provided Kards for other organizations to send in their care packages, and sends Kards to veterans' hospitals around the country, and to the USO for Soldiers and Veterans passing through the airports, mom explained.
In Ruth's words: “I attend welcome homes for soldiers and stand in flag lines with the Patriot Guard Riders. You notice me, I don’t wear the traditional black leather jacket or pants, I show up in a dress, heals and my crown. I was privileged to be able to hold a flag for a Purple Heart ceremony, and attend a luncheon for Blue, Silver and Gold Star Moms, and give them each a Kard."
“Our military is laying their lives on the line for us everyday. The least I can do is thank them for all that they do for us” says kards4soldiers.wordpress.com.
