LAPLACE — St. Charles Catholic High School senior Hailey Hilbun is a curious and courageous leader who finds purpose in community service. When she sees her volunteer work spark a smile on children’s faces, she knows she must be doing something right.

Her favorite service project with SCC’s Beta Club is “Cookies With Claus.” Last weekend, Hilbun and other student volunteers assisted Special Olympics athletes in decorating cookies and writing letters to Santa Claus. Mr. Claus himself made an appearance all the way from the North Pole along with a friendly Elf on the Shelf.

“This was my third year attending, and I love seeing all the kids brighten up when they see us come in and help,” Hilbun said. “Knowing that they are getting help and enjoying the event is the best part.”

Christine Creppel, assistant principal of academics and advancement at SCC, said the Cookies with Claus event meant a lot to the parents of those with special needs.

“The parents said the most important thing the students did was make their child feel like a normal teenager,” Creppel said. “They had friends that were their age, and they could do something fun with them.”

Hilbun also enjoys assisting her father in the Meals on Wheels for the Needy program, conducted by the Ascension of Our Lord Knights of Columbus.

On the third Thursday of each month, Hilbun helps deliver hearty meals to the elderly residents of St. John the Baptist Parish who would not otherwise be able to leave their homes and get food. Doing so gives her heart a feeling of gratitude for what she and her family have been blessed with.

When she’s not helping with Meals on Wheels, Hilbun stays active in the church by handling the donation baskets during Mass. Over the summer, she worked as a summer camp counselor at the church. Since school started, that role has shifted to volunteering at the AOL Preschool Aftercare.

She’s also served as a counselor for a number of Vacation Bible School camps throughout St. John Parish.

On weekends, Hilbun visits the St. John Parish Animal Shelter as a Froggy’s Mission volunteer.

“We groom the dogs that are ready to go out and get adopted,” Hilbun said. “We give them a bath. Sometimes we put sweaters on them if it is cold outside. We bring them to Petsense, and we spend the day there talking to potential owners.”

Hilbun started volunteering for Froggy’s Mission through Girl Scouts. The girl-led organization develops scouts into (G)o-getters, (I)nnovators, (R)isk-takers and (L)eaders, and Hilburn identifies most closely with the last word in the acronym G.I.R.L.

“Leader is what I relate to because I will definitely come and help people who need it,” Hilbun said. “I like to take the initiative and do my best.”

Hilbun has been a Girl Scout since she was in first grade, and she is now entering her 12^th year in the organization. Over the years, the group has become like a family.

The girls have banded together to host pajama drives for the needy and clean up campsites. During the Christmas season, the troop visits the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home to gift the elderly residents leftover Girl Scout cookies.

Hilbun finds that same family atmosphere in the Stagehands drama club, where she has participated in High School Musical and Seussical productions. The group of actors band together to enjoy lock-in nights before the premiere of a big production.

Hilbun is also a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, where she currently serves as president.

“I lean more toward the subjects of math and science,” Hilbun said. “I would like to become a pharmacist and go to ULM. I do enjoy chemistry. I feel like it’s something I could do for the rest of my life.”

Hilbun is a three-year recipient of the gold service award at St. Charles Catholic, and Creppel said she is a blessing to the school.

“She truly is a servant leader,” Creppel said. “She is willing to help anybody — her fellow students, her teachers and her administrators.”