Vermont Catholic asked each Catholic grade school and high school to nominate a student who exemplifies what it means to be a young disciple today.

Good Shepherd Catholic School, St. Johnsbury

Preschool – Grade 8

Address: 121 Maple St., St. Johnsbury 05819

Phone: (802) 751-8223

Website: goodshepherdschoolvt.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Good-Shepherd-Catholic-School-128702104773

Mission: Good Shepherd Catholic School prepares students for a life of learning, service, compassion, personal excellence, and faith in God.

Good Shepherd Catholic School nominates seventh grader Adeline Hetzelt. For her Girl Scout project, she built a “Buddy Bench” that she donated to our school. The bench has been placed on the school play-ground and is intended for a student who is feeling lonely or left out. He or she can sit on the bench, then other people will notice and invite the student to play. One of our goals at Good Shepherd is to ensure that no one is excluded, but inevitably there are times when someone feels left out.

The bench is a tool for our students to become more aware of others and to help make a difference. The Buddy Bench was an idea that came about during a Girl Scout meeting about needed changes in the community.

Now that the bench is completed and donated to the school, Adeline is working on another potential project for the community with the Girl Scouts. She belongs to the Corpus Christi Parish based in St. Johnsbury.

She plays soccer for Good Shepherd Catholic School and has been involved with the drama program.

She enjoys reading, her tortoises and spending time with family and friends.

—Originally published in the Fall 2019 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.