At the School District of Lancaster, we strive to cultivate not only learners, but leaders, young people who understand that their actions, big or small, shape the world around them. This spring, two Burrowes Elementary School students were honored for doing just that. Fourth grader Nilsa Hermeling and fifth grader Marcus Crawley were selected to receive Senator Scott Martin’s Good Citizenship Award, a recognition that highlights students across the 13th Senatorial District who demonstrate strong character, leadership, and service to others.
Presented annually by Senator Martin to students across the 13th Senatorial District, this award honors young people who embody the values of citizenship: leadership, service, compassion, and integrity. With more than 40 nominations submitted from 29 participating schools across Lancaster, Berks, and Lebanon Counties, the selection of not one, but two students from Burrowes is a remarkable reflection of the strength and heart of our community.
A closer look at Nilsa and Marcus
Nilsa Hermeling leads with warmth, kindness, and creativity. She serves as a Big Bobcat mentor to a younger student, meeting consistently twice a week for meaningful check-ins. The time she dedicates to this relationship goes far beyond what is required, it’s clear that she sees her role not just as a task, but as a responsibility she holds with heart. In addition to mentoring, Nilsa organizes plays during recess, encouraging her classmates to audition and perform, helping them find confidence and joy through storytelling. She plays the flute, sings in the school chorus, and brings a strong sense of team spirit as a goalie on her community soccer team.
But perhaps what stands out most is how Nilsa shows up in everyday moments. She uplifts her peers, treats her teachers with respect, and honors the classroom charter values of safety, motivation, respect, happiness, and challenge. Her classmates describe her as someone who “makes me feel safe and happy” and “pushes me to do my best.” These are the kinds of qualities that are noticed not because they’re loud, but because they are steady and consistent.
Marcus Crawley, a fifth grader known for his thoughtfulness and drive, also serves as a Big Bobcat mentor, building a trusted relationship with a younger student through biweekly check-ins. Marcus is the kind of student who leads with empathy. He understands the value of accountability. He owns his mistakes, apologizes sincerely, and models emotional maturity that even many adults are still learning.
Marcus excels academically and sets ambitious goals for himself. He’s active in the school band, chorus, and safety patrol, and he brings energy and focus to every role he takes on. Whether performing morning announcements, speaking confidently at school assemblies, or walking the halls with purpose, Marcus is a student who others naturally gravitate toward. His saxophone performances during the holidays were a highlight for many classrooms, spreading cheer and bringing joy across the building. He’s dependable, enthusiastic, and engaged in all parts of school life.
The power of recognition
When Senator Scott Martin arrived at Burrowes to present the awards in person, it sent a clear message: our students matter. Their character matters. Their contributions to the school community are seen, felt, and valued not just within our walls, but across Lancaster and beyond.
School Counselor Lauren Clemens, who facilitated the nomination process, shared how proud she was of Nilsa and Marcus. “These are students who consistently do the right thing,” she said. “When I taught lessons about good citizenship, their responses reflected everything we’d been discussing all year being helpful, being respectful, being present. But they also gave thoughtful answers that applied to real life. They get it.”
Nominations were gathered through feedback from teachers who know these students well. What made the final selection even more meaningful was hearing that Burrowes’s submissions were some of the most detailed received. Senator Martin himself acknowledged the strength of the nominations, which affirmed what we already knew, Nilsa and Marcus are shining examples of what it means to be community-minded students.
Dr. Alex Rohrer, the school’s Community School Director, reflected on what this award means beyond the certificate. “It’s powerful when students are recognized by someone outside their school community. It tells them that their actions reach further than they realize. Having local elected officials take time to visit, engage with our students, and see the school culture for themselves creates opportunities for connection. These are the same decision-makers who shape education policy and funding, so these visits matter in more ways than one.”
A school that values character
At Burrowes, student success isn’t measured by test scores alone. It’s reflected in the students who step up to help a classmate, who follow through on their commitments, and who show others what it means to be kind, generous, and dependable. Nilsa and Marcus are excellent representations of this approach.
These awards serve as a reminder that our students are capable of great things when given the support and recognition they deserve. When we invest in the whole child, mind, heart, and spirit, we see the ripple effects throughout the entire community.