High School Student receives Prudential Spirit of Community Award

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Many see community service as something to do during the holidays or to pad their resume, but Legacy High School ninth-grader Rylea Fields has made it a way of life.

Fields was selected to receive a bronze Distinguished Finalist medallion in the 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, an award based on volunteer work. Applicants must explain what inspired their work, describe the impact their volunteer activity had on the community and state what they learned from the experience.

“I’m very passionate about community service because I don’t want to see anybody who has a bad day and I just want to bring everyone up,” said Fields.

Based on her number of volunteer hours, Fields also qualifies for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This will be her fourth time to receive this award.

In second grade, Fields started Rylea’s Ribbons, a community project where she makes bows and donates them to a variety of different organizations. Fields has donated her ribbons to Captain Hope’s Kids and has traveled to New York to give to the Harlem Boys and Girls Club. They have also been used to raise money for the National Brian Tumor Society and the North Texas Angels. A family in Alaska even used Rylea’s Ribbons to raise money for their daughter who lost her legs in a car accident.

“We have always taught Rylea that God gives us all special talents and we should use these talents to help others and make our world a better place,” said mom and Legacy High School counselor Lisa Fields.

Rylea’s Ribbons isn’t Fields’ only community service project. Fields has been the registration chair for the North Texas Angels Pageant for the past six years. The annual event is a pageant for those with special needs.

“She has a huge heart and has always been that girl who sees a need and does her best to try and meet it,” said Lisa Fields.

Outside of volunteer work Fields still finds time for gymnastics, student council and to be a cheerleader.

“Rylea is a student at Legacy that I know is a breath of fresh air,” said principal, Dr. Shelly Butler. “She has been a spark of goodness and positivity for Legacy High School.”
When Fields gets older she hopes to be a physical therapist.

“Gymnastics has actually helped me find out what I want to do when I get older,” said Fields. “I want to be a physical therapist so I can help other gymnasts like me when they’re hurt.”

Fields doesn’t see herself ever stopping her volunteer work.

“She certainly keeps us busy,” said Lisa Fields. “We never know what she will sign us up for next, but life is definitely good with her in it.”