SPHS Students Partner With SPCA To Support Shelter Animals

Severna Park High School (SPHS) seniors Ellen Blain and Christina Ballagh, as a part of SPHS’s Leadership Institute, partnered with the Anne Arundel County SPCA to raise money, collect donations, and volunteer as a team to help shelter animals in need.

The seniors led a team of students in raising over $400 and volunteering at the Lights on the Bay event, which benefits the SPCA. They also collected over $200 worth of donations, such as dog collars, towels and toys. They were inspired to support the SPCA because they both adopted dogs from animal shelters previously.

“Ever since I brought my dog home from the shelter, she has brought me so much joy, and I wanted to give that back to the community,” Ellen said. “It's been amazing to lead this project and make a meaningful impact in our community. As a senior, I feel like this project was a great introduction to the real world in terms of setting goals and then planning and executing the steps necessary to achieve our goals.”

The seniors say that the Leadership Institute, run by teachers including Elizabeth Colon and Heather Barnstead, was hugely influential in their project. Through the three-year program, students learn how to become leaders, and apply the skills they learned by leading projects. Every year, seniors in the Leadership Institute choose an organization to partner with in order to improve their skills as leaders, and most importantly, make a positive difference in the community.

“As I have pets of my own, it was really cool to see the impact that our project could have. This project taught me a lot about the benefits of well-organized plans, including the impact they can have on your community,” Christina said.