BEST AND BRIGHTEST: Edison senior takes public service to heart

TO OUR READERS: This is one in a series of stories about members of The Gazette's Best & Brightest Class of 2008.

Jake Meinzer's do-good list is long.

He helped organize his school's Health Rocks! program for fourth and fifth graders; coordinated a reading mentor program at his principal's request; helped his school's 4-H club clean four community cemeteries before Memorial Day; coordinated a mobile blood drive at the county fair; and rebuilt and installed fence for the family of an Air Force lieutenant deployed to Iraq.

Meinzer also organized his school's first health fair, which included arranging for firefighters, EMTs and emergency helicopters to be there.

"His enthusiasm was directly responsible for it to be the success that it turned out to be," said David Grosche, superintendent for Edison School District 54JT in Yoder.

"To make the fair more memorable, he made sure those accompanying the equipment or with displays gave student-friendly presentations that would appeal to the entire Edison student body - from preschoolers through the school's seniors."

Meinzer, 18, who is state vice president of the 4-H Club, said helping out is his way of making a difference and is in line with his religious beliefs.

"Service to others begins at the grass roots," he said. "That is where each of us, myself included, can impact the world. It doesn't matter if we are missionaries in Africa or mentoring elementary students in Yoder, Colorado. We are all called to be servants.

"Christ served others during his time on earth and, according to the Bible, we are all to live our lives as Christ-like as possible."

Meinzer spreads his help around, said classmate Erica Whittemore.

"He helps many ranchers and farmers with things they may need. He drives elderly people to the doctor, and when there is a fire somewhere, you will most likely find Jake. Jake is a guy who would drop what he is doing to help someone in need," she said. "Jake has an amazing heart that shows throughout everything he does."

JAKE MEINZER, Edison School 54JT

Parents: Harold and Jean Meinzer
What's next: John Brown University in Arkansas, with plans to major in biology
If you were given $1 million, tax-free, what would you do with it? "Twenty-five percent of it would go to my church; I'd use 25 percent of it to help my family . . . build a new house; 25 percent would get me through college; the rest of it, I'd find people who really need it and help them."
Other details: Student Council, 4-H Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, basketball, children's church teacher, National Honor Society, yearbook staff, team captain of Matchwits/Knowledge Bowl, cross-country