The Principal's Golden Eagle Award is an honor bestowed on one Heritage student each year who has demonstrated leadership and character in multiple settings. This year's recipient, senior, Jeff Turre, is an amazing young man. He epitomizes the civic mindedness and global awareness that we hope all young people come to represent. He is an individual in the truest sense of the word, seemingly never worried about what others might say about him and surprised that anyone would even think to recognize him for the many gifts he has and the many things he does to give back to the community and, indeed, to the world.

A fellow student, Joyce Keeley, said of him, "Jeff throws himself into everything he does. No ulterior motives - just wanting to do good in the world." And this is certainly apparent in the time he spends mentoring underclassmen through the Heritage LINK program and the time he spends with special needs students on the Unified Eagles Basketball team. On the basketball team Jeff dedicates himself to Lexi Wilson, pushing Lexi down the court in his wheelchair, making sure that he is part of the action and has a role in the game carrying the ball on his lap, then he helps Lexi to push the ball off to another waiting teammate. His dedication to special needs individuals carries over to his summer work at the Easter Seals Camp, working with campers who are anywhere between age 7 and age 70. " Jeff works with one or two of these campers each week, then gets a new one or two and does that all summer for his work, " math teacher and LINK Advisor, Bryan Skarda, explained.

On a more global level, Jeff participates in the Community Relations Club at Heritage and has played a role both last year and this year in organizing Making A Difference (MAD) week to raise money for Sierra Leone. Last week, speaking at the "kick-off" assembly for this year's goal to raise $17,500 to help build a school in Kabala, Jeff told the students that he was asking them to give just $11 each to make a difference that would bring education to many. He reminded them of how little $11 is to most of us, yet what great things it could represent in changing the lives of others who don't have the advantages most of our students enjoy. In addition to Community Relations, Jeff participated this year in the World Affairs Club, tennis, and is active in the Alpine Club.

Perhaps most unique about Jeff and his many means of giving, is the statement he makes every Thursday morning before school when he stands across the street from the school parking lot, holding a cardboard sign that simply says, "LOVE." In darkness, in rain and snow, he was undeterred. Expecting nothing in return, sometimes joined by others with their own signs and their own messages, but often there just by himself - Jeff provides a reminder of what each of us should carry into the day and our interaction with others. It is a message that Jeff seems to live out just by being who he is. A message he will carry with him when he goes on to Lewis and Clark next year, but which will not be forgotten even as he leaves Heritage.

As Unified Eagles coach Tony Winger said, "While others, particularly in their teen years, have difficulty looking beyond their own lives, Jeff has the amazing ability to truly see and value everyone around him. And most impressive of all, while others may express empathy, Jeff's passion has led him to take action. Jeff has made his mark on the world." He truly is a Golden Eagle.