SACO  — In honor of National Volunteer Week, Major League baseball players have recognized a Thornton Academy student volunteer with a $2,000 college scholarship to celebrate her dedication to community service,

Elizabeth Roy from Thornton Academy in Saco, was among 20 Action Team Captains nationally awarded a scholarship by the Major League Basebnall Player’s Trust.

All scholarship recipients are members of the Action Team® national youth volunteer program created and administered by the Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America. 

The scholarship awards are based on the volunteer activities, academic achievements and leadership skills of high school students serving as Action Team Captains. As Action Team Captains, each of the scholarship recipients take on the responsibility of planning and organizing Action Team-centric volunteer events in and around their schools, while encouraging others to get involved in their communities.

This school-year, Major Leaguers and more than 500 Action Team Captains in 100 high schools across the country are working together to inspire the next generation of volunteers, while helping those in need. This is the tenth straight year the Players Trust has awarded college scholarships to recognize the efforts of Action Team Captains.

Each scholarship application was reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives of the Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America, and included Major Leaguers Mark Melancon of the San Francisco Giants and Craig Stammen of the San Diego Padres.

“On behalf of all Major League baseball players and our partners, Volunteers of America, the Players Trust is honored to take this opportunity during National Volunteer Week to recognize the outstanding commitment and passion for helping others that Action Team Captains across the country demonstrate on a daily basis,” stated Melissa Persaud, director of the Players Trust. 

“Also, it is with great pride that today we announce the winners of our 2017 Action Team scholarships.  The scholarship winners’ dedication to their communities is truly inspiring, and all the more impressive because they’ve answered this calling so early on in their lives, while juggling school and other activities,” she said. “I also want to thank Mark Melancon and Craig Stammen for their ongoing support of the Action Team, including their efforts to help us select our scholarship winners.”

Since its launch in 2003, Action Teams of high school students and Major Leaguers have inspired more than 91,000 high school students to serve over 280,000 people in need. 

There are Action Teams in 30 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and at various times during the school year the Action Team Captains participate in conference calls hosted by legendary broadcaster George Grande that feature a Major Leaguer and an “Action Team High School of the Month.”

For more information on the Major League Baseball Players Trust, please visit www.PlayersTrust.org