December Student of the Month: Lilly Smith and Hattie Berengolts

Congratulations to senior Lilly Smith and canine Hattie Berengolts for being selected as Bishop Kenny’s December Student of the Month.  They were selected for Service, Generosity and Compassion.  Lilly believes that one of her greatest strengths is helping others, and she dedicates a large amount of her spare time to this endeavor through community service.  She said, “Everyone has the capacity to serve others and better the community.  It just takes utilizing your own talents and passions to serve others.” 

Lilly maintains a rigorous academic schedule while being involved in extra-curricular activities on and off the BK campus. She is a multi-sport athlete competing on the softball team, the competitive and sideline cheer team, and the elite dance team during her junior and senior years.  Lilly is the Senior Class President and a member of the Interact, Anchor, Medical Career and History Clubs.  She is also a member of Drug Free Duval Youth Co+Lab, Kairos, Night Vision, Student Council, and the Diversity Student Union.

Service at BK and in the community is especially important to Lilly.  She is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, she participates with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and she volunteers with Camp I Am Special, earning over 1,400 service hours.  Lilly is a member of the English, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa, Science, and National Honor Societies. Lilly would like to attend the University of Florida pursing a major in health sciences so that she can attend medical school specializing in pediatric medicine.

Hattie, the canine, is an official service dog extraordinaire, logging over 5,760 service hours at BK with his owner Jacob Berengolts.  Hattie was seven months old when she was given to Jacob from Project C.H.A.N.C.E., a local organization dedicated to providing service dogs to children.  Hattie and Jacob trained together for two years so that they could learn how to best support each other. Hattie is retiring this year as Jacob’s service dog as Jacob moves on to college, but she has plans to continue working as a therapy dog for students in the future.