The 2023-24 school year was an exceptional one for service at Holderness School, with students and staff performing 5,352 hours of service in the local community and raising over $30,000 for charitable causes. While the entire Holderness community contributed to those totals, 12 students were recognized for their outstanding commitment to service with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
 
The 12 Holderness students who received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award truly embodied the school's motto “Pro Deo et Genere Humano” or For God and Humankind. Each award recipient performed at least 50 hours of service throughout the year, with one student performing a staggering 156 hours of service. 

Many of the award recipients are members of the newly-formed Service Council, a group of students and faculty who conceive of and organize service and fundraising opportunities for the entire school. Over the course of the 2024-25 school year, the Service Council helped organize weekly dinners for the Bridge House, a local homeless shelter; winter clothing drives for local children; regular visits to the Holderness Central School, and countless other service projects. 
 
“The award is a nice way to honor the work of students who go above and beyond,” said Community Service Coordinator Pam Mulcahy. “For me, it’s always inspiring to work with students who are so motivated to serve, to make a difference in their communities and in the lives of others.”

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award, created in 2003, honors individuals and groups whose service positively impacts communities throughout the nation. A signed congratulatory letter from President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. accompanied the awards.
 
Holderness School's 2023-24 Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipients include:

Mabel Casey ’27 – 54 hours

Vijay Deveau ’27 – 59 hours

Charlotte Hoffman ’27 – 53 hours

Lucas Jaffan ’27 – 58 hours

Elena LaRoche ’27 – 51 hours

Emma Torsey ’27 – 50 hours

Cooper Duggan ’27 – 93 hours

Maeve Rhatigan ’26 – 82 hours

Kelly McVeigh ’26 – 121 hours

Helaina Rivers ’25 – 100 hours

Trace Schroeder ’25 – 156 hours

Sofia Tomlinson Sanchez ’26 – 125 hours