Published May 6, 2021
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Dawson Duffley, an eighth-grader at North Reading Middle School, is this year’s Project 351 Ambassador.
The student ambassador program is designed to unite eighth-graders across the commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns in a variety of service projects. Founded by former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2011, the goal of the program is to develop the next generation of leaders.
At NRMS, Principal Dr. Catherine O’Connell asks each grade 8 team to nominate a student who exemplifies these qualities. The staff then votes from among those nominees and this year they chose Duffley as the 2021 ambassador.
Asked why he believes the teachers and administrators selected him for this honor, Duffley said, “I’ve always valued leadership. That is something that has always been an important part of me.”
Student ambassadors selected for Project 351 must exhibit an exemplary ethic of service and embody the values of kindness, compassion, humility and gratitude as well. These are qualities which Duffley demonstrates aplenty, O’Connell said. “You’re very kind. You really are! You are kind to everyone and you have compassion,” she told him.
In addition to being a Project 351 Ambassador, Duffley enjoys playing the flute. He has been playing the instrument for five years and is a member of the Middle School band. He plans to continue playing flute and participating in band in high school. He is also a member of the NRMS Student Council and his favorite subjects at school are history and ELA. In his free time he enjoys riding his bike and hanging out with friends.
“Once you’re nominated into this group you do multiple services to benefit local communities. Right now I am doing my spring service, a drive for Cradles to Crayons, which is an organization which takes children’s clothing,” he said.
This nonprofit organization will ensure the clothing reaches children who need it most. His drive will be held the week of May 10 with drop-off boxes located at the entrance to the Middle School.
He is collecting donations of gently used clothing in sizes infants to children’s large as well as brand new infant and children’s pajamas and socks.
But he isn’t doing it entirely on his own. Collaboration is an integral part of the Project 351 mission and Duffley is quick to offer credit to his Project 351 partner, Sophie Saquet, who is now a freshman at NRHS, in helping him launch and organize the campaign.
Saquet was the NRMS Project 351 Ambassador for 2020, but O’Connell noted that her ambassadorship was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, they all felt it was important to include her in this experience as well.
“For this drive I am trying to get the school involved and the Student Council,” Duffley explained. “Once we get the clothing I am going to do a quality sort with my peers and Student Council, and once we complete that sort we will be sending it to a drop-off location on the weekend of the 23rd.”
Dawson, 14, is the son of Sally and Jay Duffley and he also has an older brother, Harley, who is a junior in high school.
Students, staff and community members are all encouraged to contribute to the Project 351 clothing drive to help it be as successful as possible to aid children in need.
“We’re learning about civic action in Civics right now. The whole point of that is doing things for the benefit of others in your community. Obviously, I can’t vote because I’m not 18, but doing things like Project 351 are, I think, really important to me and are really good ways of helping out my communities even if it is not through voting,” he believes.
