Model 4-Her wins competition
Jill Rumbaugh knows the value of a dollar. It's something she's had to learn as the youngest of six children and a lesson she hopes others also will learn.
Jillian Rumbaugh won first place in the state 4-H competition in the Food Fast and Healthy competition.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"It's about smart shopping and comparison shopping," said Jill, who recently took first place in the state 4-H competition in the Food Fast and Healthy category with her project that urged healthy and smart eating and frugal shopping.
Jill won a $300 college scholarship, made possible by Dr. Anupam Goel and the Georgia 4-H Foundation, sponsors of the event, for her winning entry. She said were it not for her qualifying for the HOPE scholarship and the $300 prize, she wouldn't be able to go to college.
"I've done a lot of community service with 4-H, and I want to do it on a larger scale," said Jill, who will enter Augusta State University next week with plans to transfer to the University of Georgia or University of South Carolina to major in international relations and affairs. "I want to help solve problems between the United States and the country I'm in."
With an affinity for Italy, Jill hopes to be a solution provider, just as she has during her 4-H career.
"She has provided many a meal for the needy and elderly," said Shirley Williamson, a 4-H agent with the University of Georgia Extension Service. "She took it upon herself to organize meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. From previous work with the Salvation Army, Jill learned that they were in desperate need of toiletry items for the large numbers of needy coming to the Salvation Army for food and shelter."
Last year, Jill organized a campaign to collect sample-sized toiletry items from classmates at Lakeside High School. The competition between the homerooms resulted in a doughnut party for the winning class. More than 10,000 toiletry items were collected, packaged by members of the 4-H county senior council and distributed to the needy.
"Jill has donated more than 1,000 hours in the last four years volunteering at the 4-H office," said Williamson of the 2005 Lakeside High School graduate. "She is what 4-H is all about; she stands for the high moral standards and the 4-H motto, 'To Make the Best Better,' every day."
A past president of the Columbia County Senior 4-H Council, Jill, the daughter of Judy Rumbaugh, of Martinez, and Jamie Rumbaugh, of North Augusta, plans to continue her volunteer work with the county 4-H office. With her state win, she has reached the pinnacle of 4-H by obtaining the Master 4-Her title.
"There's collegiate 4-H, but ASU doesn't have it, so I'll just drop by the 4-H office and help out there," the former high school marching band member said. "I've been in 4-H since the fifth grade and they were there for me when I needed them and needed an outlet, and I want to continue my work with them."