Big Hearts, Big Ideas: Lake Norman High Students Are Making Kindness Contagious
One student, 30 classmates, and a whole lot of heart. Meet the Lake Norman teens proving you're never too young to make a difference.
Who says you have to wait until you're all grown up to change the world?
Apparently, nobody told Alexis Beigel.
The Lake Norman High School student has just launched the first-ever student chapter of Bridge of Hearts, a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and caring for children and families. And she's not going it alone. Thirty students have already signed up to help spread a little kindness around the Lake Norman community.
That's 30 teenagers voluntarily adding more to their schedules. Between homework, sports, college applications, and everything else that comes with high school, we'd say that's pretty impressive.
From Pickleball to Paying It Forward
Alexis is no stranger to turning a good idea into something meaningful.
Last year, she organized a pickleball tournament to raise money for Bridge of Hearts. Apparently, one successful fundraiser wasn't quite enough for this ambitious teenager.
So she decided to go bigger.
With the support of faculty advisor Corie Carr, Alexis established a student chapter that gives her classmates an opportunity to volunteer, raise awareness, and make a difference right here in their own community.
And for Alexis, it's about much more than checking off community service hours.
"I wanted to start a Bridge of Hearts youth chapter because I believe that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone's life." — Alexis Beigel, Student Chapter President
First Mission: A Little Halloween Happiness
What's the first order of business for a brand-new group of do-gooders?
Halloween, of course!
The students will make their community debut at Lake Norman High School's Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, October 28, from 5–7 PM.
They're working together to create a festive, welcoming space for local children and families. Think Halloween fun with a little extra heart behind it.
It's a fitting kickoff for a group whose mission centers on making children feel celebrated, supported, and loved.
Leadership Looks Good on This Generation
Bridge of Hearts co-founder Dr. Linda Morris, a retired educator, has long believed that young people don't need to wait for adulthood to become leaders.
And Alexis is making a pretty convincing case.
Between Advanced Placement classes, coursework through Mitchell Community College, athletics, and her volunteer commitments, she's already juggling plenty. Yet she's still finding time to create opportunities for others to give back.
As Dr. Morris puts it:
"Leadership isn't just about holding a title. It's about recognizing that you have something to contribute and taking action to help others." — Dr. Linda Morris, Bridge of Hearts Co-Founder
A Little Kindness. A Lot of Possibility.
The new chapter plans to take on volunteer projects, community outreach, awareness activities, and fundraising to support Bridge of Hearts programs.
But perhaps the biggest impact will be what these students discover about themselves along the way: that they have something valuable to contribute, and that even small gestures can make a big difference.
Thirty students. One shared mission. And a whole lot of good waiting to happen.
We love seeing young people around Lake Norman step up for their neighbors. And if this is what the next generation of community leaders looks like, we'd say we're in pretty good hands.
LKN Life Loves: Local students who see an opportunity to make their community better—and actually do something about it. Here's to Alexis, her 30 founding members, and all the good they're just getting started on!
Want to learn more about Bridge of Hearts?
Visit www.bohnc.org to discover the nonprofit's mission and community initiatives.
Want to join the Halloween fun? Come cheer on the Bridge of Hearts students at Lake Norman High School's Trunk or Treat, Wednesday, October 28, from 5–7 PM. Get the event details on LKN Life →