By Tom Rohrer
An individual’s most precious resource is their time, and how that time is used can show someone’s true character.
Amongst a busy academic schedule as a student at Lacey’s Timberline High School, senior Hung Nguyen has given countless hours of his time back to the community through volunteering.
For his efforts and service, Nguyen is being honored as the Young Philanthropist of the Year by the South Sound Partners for Philanthropy. Nguyen will be presented with the award at the South Sound Partners for Philanthropy Leadership in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Norman Worthington Conference Center at Saint Martin’s University.
“It’s very exciting,” Nguyen said of receiving the award. “I feel honored and blessed to receive the recognition. Helping the community is a very worthy cause, but to receive recognition is very special.”
Through his affiliation with DECA (for which he is treasurer) at Timberline and through his church, Nguyen has been able to donate time to improve the community and help those in need it most.
“I’ve been driven to help people who are in need,” Nguyen said. “I’m very big on family and know how important family is to everyone. Helping people helps keep those families intact that are going through issues and that’s something I’m passionate about.”
In addition to his DECA and church affiliations, Nguyen has been a two-year member of the Providence St. Peter Youth Council, which allows students to learn about various medical careers through job shadowing. This year, he is the Assistant to the Council, allowing him to gain more leadership experience. His efforts have been noticed by his superiors.
“He’s done very well,” said Kathleen Rubida of Providence St. Peter Hospital. “He has more of a leadership role this year and he’s been able to work on the mentorship between himself and other students. He’s been very successful.”
Nguyen believes the new leadership skills he has obtained will help him throughout his life, as will the lessons he’s learned from hospital staff.
“I’ve learned a lot about leadership, which was one thing I hadn’t really experienced,“ Nguyen said. “I was always the ‘behind the scenes’ guy. This has helped form a new, really important skill.”
“Basically everyone who works at (Providence) inspires me and I see they put the patient first,” he said. “They take time to help the community and that’s really inspiring.”
Nguyen, who plans to study nursing at Tacoma’s Pacific Lutheran University following graduation, helped implement a project at the hospital where the community can bring books in for donation. Hospital staff can then purchase a book for a donation, with all of the proceeds going back to various Providence departments (which apply for the grant funds).
“He’s been able to think one step ahead and see’s what is needed to be done,” Rubida said. “He developed a project plan, a target goal and presented that to the students. Ultimately, the books help the patients and that shows what (Nguyen) is all about.”
Rubida says Nguyen has been like a sponge during his time at the hospital.
“He’s learned a lot about the responsibilities of work place ethics, like being on time and making the students stay focused and on task,” she said. “He’s mentoring the students and has had huge growth in those areas and it’s been great to see that come very quickly. It’s a lot of responsibility and requires self-management.”
Nguyen’s efforts have made an impression on his peers as well.
“I’m always giving time to the community and my friends will ask me why I haven’t been hanging out with them more,” he said. “Then they ask what they can do and see how they can help people who need it. It’s great to inspire people to look within themselves to help others.”
While his time on the hospital youth council is coming to an end, Nguyen says he plans to still volunteer there, along with his continued efforts through his church and DECA. It’s clear that someone with Nguyen’s character and dedication can make the Thurston County community a better place.
“I don’t want to waste time, especially knowing there are people out there who need help,” Nguyen said. “If I can help make a positive impact on someone’s life or help them out, what is more valuable than that?”
For more information on the South Sound Partners for Philanthropy, visit www.celebrategiving.org.
