Helping out after school earns girl national prizes, scholarship

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July 3, 2008

By Sarah Hallowell

Alexandra Hsu checks the daily bulletin at Andover High School once in a while. One particular time she saw two award contests that grabbed her interest. She entered both, but did not think she would win.

Alexandra, who has finished her junior year, was shocked when she won both the Princeton Prize in Race Relations and the Alexander Hamilton Citizen Achievement Award.

"I was so amazed," said Alexandra. "I just came upon them. I didn't expect to win, especially the Hamilton Award."

Both awards were for her community service project at the Henry K. Oliver School in Lawrence. Only 50 students nationwide win the Hamilton award — and two of them were from Andover High this year, with David Hu also winning.

Two years ago, Alexandra went to her to her mother and told her she wanted to do community service, specifically tutoring students in Lawrence. Alexandra's mom, Stephanie Maze-Hsu, who is a consultant in the Lawrence school system, said she put her daughter in touch with teachers at the Oliver School who helped Alexandra plan an after-school program.

"I love kids and I thought this would be a fun way to help," said Alexandra.

The community service, entitled "Stories, Songs and Snacks," is a weekly after-school program for first- and second-graders at the Oliver School who are identified as at risk for failing because of their English skills.

"Many of the students are from Spanish-speaking households," said Alexandra.

At first, just Alexandra was involved, but five or six other Andover students joined "Stories, Songs, and Snacks" after hearing the interesting stories that Alexandra told at school.

"I would come in school on Friday and say 'Oh guess what, so-and-so did something really cute," she said.

Alexandra and other Andover High School students sing songs, read stories and play games with the first- and second-graders to help them improve their English.

Alexandra also helped the kids get ready for the Oliver School's Literacy Night, where the students perform for their parents. She said the performance showed parents how much their students are learning. This year's theme was patriotic, and Alexandra said she taught the children a few songs, like "This Land is Your Land" and "My Country Tis of Thee." Maze-Hsu said more than 150 students and parents attended and each of the students said at least one thing that they loved about literacy.

"A few got stage fright," said Alexandra. "Most of them loved to sing."

According to its official Web site, the Princeton Prize, open to all high school students, was created "to promote harmony, understanding and respect among people of different races by identifying and recognizing high school students whose efforts have had a significant positive effect on race relations in the schools or communities." Hsu was one of six area students recently honored with the Princeton prize.

Alexandra was also one of 50 students nationwide who received the Alexander Hamilton Citizen Achievement Award. This award, given by the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association, recognizes students with outstanding citizenship and achievement. Winning this award entitles Alexandra a scholarship and the opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Seattle.

David Hu honored with Hamilton Award

Alexandra Hsu is not the only Andover resident to win the Alexander Hamilton Citizen Achievement Award this year. David Hu, another student at Andover High School, also was honored. According to a press release from the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association, David is very involved with the Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, where he is a math tutor and helps design the school's Web site. He has also won several other awards for his achievements in writing.