Shining a light on some incredible young volunteers from the Orlando area who are making an impact in their communities

Across communities, schools and organizations, kids are proving that age is no obstacle when it comes to helping others. They have turned to volunteering, giving their time and energy to causes they deeply care about, while balancing school, work and social lives. As the world continues to face challenges, the role of youth volunteers has never been more important and inspiring as it is right now. Orlando Family Magazine is honored to highlight some of the many kids who go above and beyond in making a difference within their communities.

Olivia Conte

Conte, a junior at Innovation High School, has taken her passion for history and civic engagement and put it to action. Through her work as Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society secretary, speech captain on her school’s debate team and a NHS, Psychology Club and National English Honor Society member, she has truly represented what it means to serve.

Conte prides herself in ensuring a welcoming environment for all students, whether it’s through teaching new volunteers at the Orange County History Center or coaching new students on how to make what they’re passionate about into a persuasive oratory.

As a captain of her school’s speech and debate team, she has coached several students into the Top 5 at Florida state tournaments and has competed in the national tournament in Chicago last year. She uses this platform to convey her passion for the issues we face today and help other students with their speeches. She also recently served as a page in the Florida Senate where she saw the government in action and met the state’s senators in the U.S. Capitol.

Having volunteered for three years and logging over 150 hours at the Orange County History Center, Conte’s exemplifies the virtue of civic service. Working with the History Center, she has created opportunities for her fellow Rho Kappa members to volunteer there as well, and continues to pursue her desire to improve the community and world around her.

Mason Hamilton

Hamilton, a sophomore from Lake Howell High School, has spent nearly every Wednesday afternoon for the past two years volunteering at English Estates Elementary School’s School Market. The elementary school is a feeding partner of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and part of the School Partnerships program that makes food available to students and their families through these on-campus markets.

Through this program, Hamilton has taken on tasks like packing bags of food, stocking shelves and more hands-on responsibilities to support those faced with the harsh realities of food insecurity.

Hamilton grew up in a family that placed an importance on community service and supporting their neighbors. His brother and sister previously volunteered at the same school market before him, and Hamilton says he likes to save up his allowance to donate to Second Harvest.

“I think it’s important to help the community and make sure kids have enough food,” Hamilton says. “That way they can focus on school and not have to worry about food, and their parents can focus on work.”

Graham Parker

Parker is a junior at West Orange High School and a longstanding volunteer at Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. As he makes his way through the milestones of young adulthood with a new driver’s license and a part-time job, Parker shares a perspective that suggests he’s had a lot more than 16 trips around the sun.

“Volunteering and serving others go beyond short-term happiness like riding a roller-coaster or playing your favorite game,” he says. “It’s a long-term happiness that sticks with you. That’s real fulfillment.”

Parker has been volunteering since the third grade with St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, a long-time Coalition partner. With St. Luke’s sending monthly volunteer groups to the Coalition’s downtown campus, Graham built a foundation of service and a set of skills.

His time serving in the Coalition’s kitchen not only provided Parker with the practical knowledge of both customer and food service, but also helped him develop a deep value of caring for others in the community. Parker believes that if he can even make a small impact in the community, anyone is capable of becoming involved to help make a difference in the lives of others.

Brian Nicholson

Nicholson is a teenager from Oviedo that has been volunteering at the Orange County Regional History Center since 2024. He started as a high school volunteer for the History Center’s annual summer camp, and was accepted to their Teen Council in the fall of 2025.

Nicholson was eager to join the Teen Council for his passion for community service and local history, helping found his high school’s history club and joining the Rho Kappa Historical Honor Society. In his first semester with the Teen Council, Nicholson participated in museum events such as Trick or Treat Safe Zone, spent an evening with a group of local seniors taking part in a democracy dialogue over dinner and helped with research for the Teen Council’s final project, a digital StoryMap that has been submitted to the Smithsonian for its Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange program.

Nicholson’s favorite part of being associated with the Teen Council has been meeting students from different towns and counties, while finding a commonality to build friendships. He plans on attending college and studying history, while continuing to play a role in serving his community.

Noah Jacquette

Jacquette is a 16-year-old junior at Lake Buena Vista High School and is the kind of teenager who believes that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. Dual enrolled at Valencia College and a member of the National Honor Society, Jacquette balances academics with a deep commitment to serving both people and animals through volunteer work that has shaped who he is today.

Since 2021, Jacquette has volunteered more than 110 hours at Give Kids the World Village, including serving ice cream at Henri’s Starlite Scoops, his favorite role. For him, those moments are a powerful reminder that kindness doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful.

In 2022, Jacquette expanded his service to Puppy Rescue Flights, volunteering as part of the ground crew. He helps unload puppies from planes, feeds them and checks their health before they get rescued and find their forever homes.

Jacquette’s heart for service continued to grow in 2023 when he began volunteering with Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida. Whether participating in Wish Days—where he loves talking with wish kids and their families—or working behind the scenes to help prepare for the annual Wishmakers Ball, Jacquette brings compassion, patience and genuine care to everything he does.

“I love helping people in any way I can. Knowing that the places I volunteer have helped save lives, both human and canine, means everything to me,” he says. “Volunteering has taught me empathy and patience, and it’s made me more grateful for the chance to help others.”

Aiden Edmonds

Edmonds is a freshman at Dr. Phillips High School who has been volunteering at Give Kids The World Village since he was 10. Two years ago, he began to volunteer on the Give Kids The World Railroad, a large interactive model train display. 

“I share how cool trains are with the kids and I help keep everything running,” he says. 

Edmonds donates his allowance to purchase new items for the layout, allowing the crew to replace parts and keep everything moving. He has added a DeLorean, complete with working lights, from the Back to the Future movies, a light-up Cinderella’s Castle model that now sits high atop the mountain and a slot car racetrack for Wish families to interact with. 

“My favorite part is to show the Wish children all of the little details the volunteers built,” he says. “I’m proud to be a part of the train crew, learn from them and help kids smile. Any time school is out, I want to be volunteering at Give Kids The World.”

Last summer, Edmonds celebrated over 100 volunteer service hours and he continues to donate his time on the weekends. When he’s in school, Edmonds is a passionate student musician. He plays the trombone in his school’s marching and jazz bands, and the bassoon with both the school’s symphonic band as well as with the nonprofit Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra.