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( Florissant Teens Honored For Forming Victory Volleyball Camp
Friends Tori Stuart and Sam Eaker help
found the Victory Volleyball Camp,
Camp Helps children with disabilities, special needs The St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association has selected Tori Stuart, an eighth-grader at Immanuel Lutheran School in St. Charles, as its 2015 Lutheran Student Ambassador.
The award, which includes a $500 scholarship underwritten by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), recognizes Lutheran elementary school students who demonstrate courage, compassion, leadership, academic achievement and a commitment to their community.
“Tori is a very special child,” said Susan Schmieding, one of Tori’s teachers at Immanuel. “She sees beyond herself.”
Tori, 14, helped found the Victory Volleyball Camp, a summer mini-camp for children with disabilities and special needs. She and a friend, Sam Eaker, who attends Atonement Lutheran School in north St. Louis County, came up with the idea two years ago to help Sam’s sister Olivia, a fourth-grader who has Spina Bifida.
“We both play volleyball and we felt bad that she couldn’t go with us to volleyball camp. You could see the disappointment in her face because she was old enough to go, but couldn’t,” said Stuart, who lives in Florissant with her family. “So we were like, “Why don’t we just create our own camp?”
“When Tori first started planning the camp, she had just finished sixth-grade,” said Mrs. Schmieding. “Many adults doubted she would pull it off, due to her age.”
Tori and Sam went to work; they planned drills, attended meetings and worked closely with their parents and other adults, including the director of TASK – Team Activities for Special Kids, a St. Louis-based non-profit that provides athletic and social opportunities to kids with special needs. In July, 2014, Victory Volleyball Camp welcomed its first set of campers – 15 athletes, including Sam’s little sister – for a two-day session at Lutheran High School North in Florissant.
“I propped open the doors and a little kid came in and said, “Hi” and gave me a hug and I was like, ‘Ok, this is going to be ok!” said Tori.
Tori hopes to serve even more young athletes this summer when the camp moves to TASK’s home facility in Fenton. The program, which will run from July 22-23, is open to children and young adults ages 6 to 24.
Tori, who attends Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in north St. Louis County, says the camp has helped her grow as a teacher and leader. “It’s not about what you’re feeling at the time, you have to make sure they’re ok,” said Tori. “You have to step into their shoes.”
Tori will receive her award Saturday, April 18, at LESA’s 11th annual “A Night for Kids” dinner-auction at the Marriott St. Louis West , 660 Maryville Centre Dr., in Chesterfield. The evening, co-hosted by KMOX’s Mark Reardon, will also include a tribute to Dr. Eugene Lehr, a founding LESA Board Member and recipient of LESA’s 2015 Heritage Award. Proceeds benefit the more than 8,200 children who attend Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area.
Friends Tori Stuart and Sam Eaker help found the Victory Volleyball Camp,
