What started as a mandatory community service project evolved into a life altering learning experience for one Tamaqua woman, convincing her to put her own dreams on hold in an effort to help others dare to have dreams of their own.

And now, local residents have the opportunity to help this young woman make those dreams come true.Alexa Griffiths, daughter of Sank and Bernadette Griffiths of Tamaqua, has always had a powerful support system behind her through the years - a loving family, supportive teachers, a host of friends in a close knit, small town community. It wasn't until she began her college career at Bucknell University that she realized so many others did not have the same advantages.In the Spring of her junior year, Alexa was required to commit 18 hours of community service to a service learning site as part of a Feminist Theory class she took as she prepared to continue her dream to become a doctor. She elected to do her time at ClearVision, a residential facility in Montgomery for young women between the ages of 13 and 19.The young women are placed in the facility through the court system, the foster care system or Children in Youth agencies. Alexa and another Bucknell student conducted twice monthly workshops, hosting a variety of discussions on women's issues. When the class ended in May, Alexa was left with the feeling that more could and should be done to help the troubled teens.After consulting with her professor, Alexa felt compelled to further her involvement with ClearVison. She spent the Summer of 2010 devising a pilot program she entitled "Empowering Voices: Guiding Girls in New Directions."In August, she began actively recruiting other Bucknell women to her cause. It wasn't easy, but she was able to persuade 10 fellow students to give up their time to help run weekly workshops. The workshops expanded to individual tutoring sessions and a book club, as well as Bucknell campus tours, which helped many of the girls learn the importance of education."The girls we are dealing with are good people who have made some poor decisions," stresses Alexa. "Many of them have have little or no support systems, with the majority of them being victims of sexual abuse, or being forced to watch their mothers' be assaulted. This type of abuse creates a never ending cyle of violence against women. They come to expect it."As graduation from Bucknell approaches, Alexa hopes the program she created will continue."Currently, one sophomore and two freshmen students are working with me and I'm hoping they will continue to conduct workshops at ClearVision to encourage the girls to choose a better path and follow their dreams," she said.As for Alexa, she had planned on attending medical school this Fall, having been accepted into the prestigious New York Fellows Program. She turned that offer down, instead applying for, and being accepted to, the Teach For America Program, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequality. Corps members spend two years teaching in one of almost 40 low income communities throughout the United States."I've noticed a tremendous gap in the educational opportunities offered, based simply on where one lives," she said. "Unfortunately, we all do not have a positive support system encouraging us on each step of our journey. These young women, and others like them, must create their own positive inner voice to keep reminding them they too can dream, despite their pasts. I do not believe a person's zip code should define the education they receive. That's why I am postponing my medical school dreams."Alexa's project is receiving national attention, as it has been selected as one of 15 semi-finalists competing for scholarships and grants through the Students In Service Awards offered by Washington Campus Compact and Inspireum. Washington Campus Compact was established in 1992, hosted at Western Washington University. Its membership is composed of 41 higher education facilities offering two and four year degree programs.The group is committed to providing meaningful experiences for students to become active, engaged leaders in their communities. Insperium provides a comprehensive technology and media platform helping organizations recognize and reward inspirational young people in America.The awards will be presented, and the student innovators recognized, at the 14 Annual Continuums of Service Conference in San Diego, Cal., on April 28. Scholarships and grants will be presented to three finalists, two selected by a national selection committee. The third will be selected through an internet voting campaign. This "fan favorite" will be selected as the general public casts votes at

www.serviceawards.org. Voting will remain open through March 16.