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From Litter to Leadership: Titans Bring Energy, Enthusiasm to River Cleanup

Group photo
Armed with gloves, trash bags and Titan pride, 40 Trinity Basin Preparatory students, along with eight parents and staff sponsor Amber Nowell, rolled up their sleeves Saturday, April 26, to take part in the annual Trinity River Trash Bash.

The group was assigned to the Quanah Parker Park area of the Trinity Trail, where they spent the day picking up litter and making a visible impact on the community. “NJHS is committed to serving our community by offering our time and effort,” said Nowell, who also serves as a middle school CTE teacher at Titan Academy.

Nowell said one of the highlights of the day was watching student leaders emerge naturally within each cleanup team. “One standout student leader was ninth grader Ethan Nowell,” she said. “He had such enthusiasm for the project, and you could find his group jogging from one part of the trail to the other cleaning up trash of all kinds along the way. His group members were smiling, laughing and working really hard.”

Among the most memorable “finds” of the day were a porcelain toilet—carried back from the road by Haden Nowell—along with cans, bottles, discarded clothing and “tons of paper,” according to Nowell.

Students didn’t just work hard—they had fun doing it. “The verbal responses I received were, ‘I wish there was more trash; I’m having fun,’ and ‘I never thought cleaning up could actually be enjoyable,’” Nowell said. “Another student told me, ‘I can’t believe how much better this looks,’ and one more said, ‘We worked too fast. What else can we do?’”
Nowell hopes the experience sends a powerful message to the school community. “If I can have one impact on students, one big message to convey to them it would be—pick your head up, look around, people and places need you,” she said. “Be that person who helps others, who does what needs doing even if no one sees or says thank you. Be exceptional just because you can.”

NJHS and its high school counterpart, NHS, host at least two major service projects each year, and students must complete 20 hours of community service to remain in good standing. Families are often invited to participate alongside students.

In the fall, both honor societies collected and delivered gifts and handmade cards to a local nursing home, ensuring every resident and staff member felt the holiday spirit. “It was an amazing experience to share with these students,” Nowell said.

As the Titans continue to lead by example, Nowell hopes their efforts inspire others. “See a need… fill a need,” she said. “That’s what service is all about.”