CJ Ministry and Service is proud to announce that Paige Harsman ’26 has earned Helper Helper’s National Service Honor (Gold Level), for completing 289 hours of volunteer service between September 2024 and September 2025. A recognition that honors individuals who complete impactful volunteer service within a 12-month period, the National Service Honor is modeled after the retired Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA.
During the three and a half years at CJ, Harsman has completed 779 service hours. Last spring, CJ awarded her the Sister Ruth Ann Service Award for her outstanding contributions to the broader Dayton community.
The Helper Helper National Service Honor recognizes individuals across the country who demonstrate exceptional commitment to service in their communities. The organization wanted to celebrate those who complete impactful volunteer service within a 12-month period or over a lifetime, to ensure that the commitment, leadership, and selflessness shown by young people do not go unrecognized.
Helpe Helper is an app that CJ students use to record their service hours. It is a leading volunteer management platform that simplifies volunteer tracking, reporting, and engagement for schools, universities, and organizations.
“Paige’s dedication to serving others is truly admirable,” said Patrick Burns, campus minister for service and justice. “Through the hundreds of hours she has dedicated to numerous organizations in the Dayton area, Paige has demonstrated what it truly means to live out the mission of our CJ founders. Pope Francis called on us to go to the margins, noting that the credibility of our faith can be personified in how we respond to the needs of others. Paige is a living embodiment of this love in action.”
As a CJ school leader, Harsman has served her school through many clubs, including the Eagle Ambassadors, as a Student Development Council chair, and by starting a pickleball club. Outside of CJ, she has volunteered with 26 different organizations, including St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Social Services, Mission of Mary Farm, and the City of Dayton. She earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for compiling a cookbook for allergy-prone scouts to use at Girl Scout events.
Harman shares what inspires her sense of generosity.
“My faith-life motivates my service. Having gone to Catholic school since kindergarten, I have participated in many church activities. I volunteer for many activities because I have been blessed in my own life. Through my faith, I feel called to help others,” she said.
Through her volunteer work and as an athlete competing in tennis and golf during the fall season, she learned the valuable lesson of managing her time so she can give her best at any given time.
“To find time for service and sports, I organize my schedule in a way that I balance both activities and academics,” said Harsman. “I am very motivated to complete tasks when they are given to me. With my hardworking attitude, I know that I can accomplish many things. To reduce the stress of my busy schedule, I use stress relievers to help me achieve my goals.”
Harsman says that her favorite service project was participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year (LLS SVOY) campaign. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a non-profit organization that funds research, provides patient services, and educates the public about blood cancer.
“I was inspired to spread awareness of and support the LLS after hearing the powerful stories from children who have battled cancer. As part of this seven-week leadership development and fundraising program, I led a fundraising team to help make a difference and conquer cancer. We planned multiple fundraising events, including dine-to-donate nights at local restaurants and a pickleball tournament fundraiser featuring 20 teams that raised over $2,000. I was excited to host a fun activity that also gives to those struggling with cancer.”
Harsman’s Eagle Soar for a Cure team consisted of CJ seniors, Brynn Good, Isla Gilman, Lizzie Stouder, and Lilly Lastowski; juniors, Eli Joseph, and Bridget Wolking, along with class of 2025 graduates, Sadie Lekan and Lily Kandel. Together, her team raised a total of $19,750 for LLS.
“Paige is an amazing student,” said Angela Ruffolo, social studies teacher and department chair. “She is dedicated to making CJ and for the greater Dayton community a better place. I’m impressed with the fact that Paige has created and organized a team of students to plan all kinds of activities to raise awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”
Harsman is continuing to volunteer throughout Dayton during her senior year. Most recently on Make a Difference Day, she led a group of students as they prepared a park for Dayton’s Fall Fest.
“To me, doing service was never about adding more hours on the Helper Helper app,” said Harsman. “I love helping people and being out in the community doing my part. There is satisfaction in seeing a project complete and making the world a little better.”
Harsman hopes to major in aerospace engineering after graduating from CJ. She is currently applying to many in-state and out-of-state universities to pursue this dream. Wherever she ends up, Harsman will seek out opportunities to serve her community.