St. Louis teen honored with national award for helping others
SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI – Nina Kreikemeier didn’t know what was happening.
Kreikemeier, a senior defenseman for the St. Joseph’s Academy girls lacrosse team, was meeting with her coach Monday morning before heading to a pep rally in the school’s gym.
She realized something was up when she arrived at the pep rally late and all of the attention of the all-school assembly turned to her.
Kreikemeier was honored with the national Making A Difference On AND Off The Field Award, presented by Buddy’s HELPERS, an organization focused on “using the power of sport to engage and educate student athletes about the power they have to make a difference off the field in the game of life” according to a press release.
“Yeah, I was so surprised,” Kreikemeier said. “I thought I was just meeting with my coach and we were talking about this season and apparel and what we wanted to do this season. And I thought we were just gonna be a little bit late to the pep rally but it turns out it was about this. So I walked in and I didn't know where to go or like what to look at. I was kind of just looking around because I was confused. But it was such a good surprise. I'm so happy.”
“I saw my mom and my grandparents across the room and then they were holding a sign and so I knew that it was something special for me but I wasn't sure what.”
January marks the 97th consecutive month of the Making A Difference On AND Off The Field campaign by Buddy’s HELPERS and the St. Joseph’s Academy senior was recognized for her accomplishments as a four-year lacrosse player who is also a high-performing student in the classroom and who gives back regularly as a volunteer for local organizations, including Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
“I think it's just really cool that I do a lot of service but it's kind of like nobody really knows about it and I just do it because it makes me happy,” Kreikemeier said. “But I think it's cool that I'm able to talk about all the places that I volunteer at so that other people can see how much it means to me and then maybe get involved with them as well.”
The high school senior, who is planning to attend the University of Tennessee - Knoxville next year, cherishes her volunteer work – especially at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, where she volunteers weekly.
As part of her award, Kreikemeier will receive two tickets to an upcoming game for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues or St. Louis SC as well as a check to donate to her favorite local charity – with the tickets and check funded by BODYARMOR and DUDE Wipes.
She knew immediately where she wanted the check to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
“I'm on the second floor with the playroom and all the little babies which is so fun,” she said.
Kreikemeier said her love for volunteer work and giving back was instilled in her by her family and further strengthened by her time at St. Joseph’s Academy.
“St. Joe's motto is ‘Not I But We’ and ‘serving the dear neighbor’ and so with those I was able to, and with my parents teaching me how to volunteer and what ‘volunteer’ means, I was able to pick which organizations meant a lot to me and give back to them,” she said.
Kreikemeier has, so far, recorded 233 hours of service during her high school career – at St. Joseph’s Academy, students average 150 service hours during their high school career – with organizations such as Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, the Sisters of St. Joseph at Nazareth Living Center, St. Louis Diaper Bank, Friends of Wings, Ranken Jordan, Saints Peter & Paul Homeless Shelter (Angel Outreach), Crisis Nursery, Special Olympics, Southside Early Childhood Center, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Patrick's Center, Angel's Arms and lacrosse camps through St. Joseph’s Academy and Lou Fusz.
Her weekly volunteer work with Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital holds a special place in her heart.
“It means the world, it really does,” Kreikemeier said, “because I can see how happy it makes all the kids that I volunteer with. So then that fills me up with joy by seeing them happy.”
St. Joseph's Academy senior honored with award
