MUKILTEO — Maddie Bogart is well-known for her volunteer work at Kamiak High School. The senior also the student representative for the Mukilteo School Board and she helps elementary students in a special education classroom. Bogart, 18, plans to attend Central Washington University to become a special education teacher.
Question: Where’d you get the idea to start your project to raise money to build a school in India?
Answer: Last year students from Voyager Middle School were raising money to build a school and I thought that was cool. It inspired me to start our project. In November, people from Free the Children came and we decided what we wanted to do and where we wanted to do it.
Q: How’d you decide?
A: We had a heads down, hands up vote. I had advertised a meeting for anyone who wanted to help. About 35 to 40 kids showed up because they care about what we were doing.
Q: How is it going?
A: We started fundraising in December. Since then, we’ve beat our $10,000 goal. We’ve raised $10,523.
Q: What kind of events have you organized to make money?
A: I got 13 teachers to participate by setting a fundraising goal and agreeing to do something fun if we raised the money. Teachers did stuff like dress up as a member of KISS, dye their hair pink and sing at an assembly. We also worked on other events, such as a garage sale and a fundraiser with local restaurants.
Q: I also understand you’ve volunteered abroad. Tell me about that experience.
A: I went to Mexico with my youth group in the summer of 2013. We built a church in Vicente Guerrero. We also led a Vacation Bible School in a high poverty area. All the kids looked at you like you were a superhero. Even though there was a language barrier, you can communicate. I connected with a little girl named Itzel. She clung to my hip and I got to give her her first Bible.
Q: I understand you play in the school band and the orchestra?
A: Yes. I play a lot of instruments, including bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone saxophone, mallet percussion, piano, clarinet, alto saxophone. I’m learning how to play flute now.
Q: What has your experience in music been like?
A: I joined marching band my freshman year and winter percussion as a sophomore. It’s similar to marching band but just percussion and indoors. It pushes you to be the best version of yourself. I’ve found that those lessons are applicable in real life.
Q: Tell me about your work on Mukilteo School Board?
A: It’s actually my favorite thing I do. It’s kind of nerdy but I want to be a teacher so it’s really interesting for me.
Q: Tell me about volunteering once a week at Fairmount Elementary School?
A: I volunteer in a fourth and fifth grade special needs classroom. I’ve always known I want to be a teacher. Being in that class made me realize, I want to teach elementary special needs. The kids celebrate even the smallest victories and they’re so positive. They have such a unique perspective, they really inspire me.
Q: What are your plans for next year at Central Washington University?
A: I’m going to double major in elementary education and special education. I want to be a special needs teacher at Fairmount Elementary. That’s where I started when I was in kindergarten and I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since. It’s my favorite place to be.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
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