Compassion guides Works

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News

May 10, 2011 - 12:00 AM

Abby Works is ambitious.
She has the honors, recognition and grades — straight A’s — that foreshadow a promising career.
But it is neither money nor fame that drives this IHS senior.
Works is driven by compassion.
Her ambition is to help the unfortunate in developing countries. An assignment with the World Health Organization or Peace Corps to fight chronic diseases is her goal. After graduating with honors on Sunday, she will begin her admirable quest next fall by pursuing a triple major in food science, dietetics and nutrition at Kansas State University.
Marvin Smith, chemistry instructor and coach at Iola High School, isn’t surprised at Works’ lofty goals.
“I’ve had a lot better runners,” Smith allowed, “but Abby will be one of the hardest ever to replace on our cross country and track teams. When she finishes a race, regardless of her performance, Abby always makes a point to tell others how well they did.
“She does everything right. In all she does, there’s nothing Abby doesn’t do well.”
In the classroom, too.
“When I grade her papers (in chemistry), if there is a mistake I double check my key to make sure the answer is wrong before marking it,” he said.

WORKS TOOK high school classes in eighth grade and worked ahead of her normal class progression as a freshman and sophomore so she could take a semester off to study abroad and not fall behind her Iola classmates.
Experiences of her mother, Judy, who studied in Britain on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship about 30 years ago weren’t lost on Works.
The dream was realized in 2009 during her junior fall semester.
Works, with brother Dylan and cousin Sarah Works, backpacked around Europe for six weeks that summer. The adventure strengthened Works’ resolve to study abroad.
Works stayed in Britain and enrolled in The Plume School in Maldon, England, to study philosophy and ethics and British history. She stayed with the Peter and Shirley Murphey family, her mother’s roommate of years ago.
The classes were heavy on lecture but generated little homework, Works said. She enrolled for  the experience, acclimating herself to day-to-day life in another country and getting a good feel for the thoughts and ambitions of her new classmates.
While there, she took online classes at Allen County Community College — she has accumulated 56 hours — to continue to broaden her educational background.
However, having a transcript heavy with college hours won’t mean a rush to graduation at Kansas State for Works.
She will enroll for 12 hours a semester in a five-year program to win her triple major.

“I WANT to get involved at K-State,” Works said.
She intends to do something — probably several things — in student government and immerse herself in K-State Proud, a program that helps other students by raising money from the student body. Students targeted for assistance are those facing adversity to remain in school.
Works has honed her organizational talents the past two years through many hours of work to pull off local Earth Hour events. This year’s observation was March 26 and, largely because of her efforts, Iola’s participation was among the largest in Kansas. Globally, 5,000 cities in 135 countries took part, which included millions of people.
She spent about 300 hours in a two-month run-up to Earth Hour this year, as well as last, eliciting participation by delicately but firmly twisting arms of city and school officials, civic club members, anyone who would listen.

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