University View Academy (UVA) junior Anya Chaney-Martinez was recently awarded a $400 grant from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to complete a service project.
Chaney-Martinez serves as the president of UVA’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS), a prestigious student organization that emphasizes scholarship, service, leadership, and character. NASSP, the NHS parent organization, operates the Student Service Grant program to empower student leaders to create and spearhead impactful service projects in their communities. Chaney-Martinez seized the opportunity, submitted a project proposal, and was selected for her outstanding creativity.
Chaney-Martinez proposed partnering with a local senior living facility in her community to procure donations and assemble care packages for Covenant House New Orleans, a shelter for unhoused youth. Her project was unique because it was not only about benefiting individuals in need: it was about empowering others to contribute.
“My grandmother lives in a senior living community and is part of a quilting group that donates handmade quilts to veterans,” Chaney-Martinez said. “She often tells me how much joy it brings the seniors when younger people come to visit. They light up when they feel cared for and connected. Hearing her stories has made me more aware of how meaningful intergenerational connection can be. By working alongside seniors to assemble bags for shelters, we can help two groups of people at once: those in need and those who long to feel needed.”
Chaney-Martinez has attended UVA for five years. She is currently enrolled in the Early College Academy where she has the ability to take dual enrollment courses, and she is also actively involved in National Beta Club. She plans to attend medical school and become a doctor after graduation.
“Helping seniors connect to the broader community while serving others embodies the kind of compassion and purpose I hope to bring into my future career as a physician,” Chaney-Martinez said. “I’ve always believed that health is both physical and psychological, and that feeling connected and purposeful is a key part of well-being.”
UVA is proud to empower dedicated students like Chaney-Martinez, both academically and personally. Catch more student accomplishments by following University View Academy on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
University View Academy is Louisiana’s premier tuition-free K-12 online school. We offer a flexible, personalized education choice for residents across Louisiana that is powered by state-certified teachers and supported by in-person Micro Academies.