Spartan Scuttlebutt: Spartan of the Month full of passion, commitment

Jillian D'Onfro

The Oakmont Peer Leaders are a group of compassionate, concerned young adults who donate countless hours of service to their school and community. So far, this year they have hosted orientation for new transfer students, coordinated a clothing collection for Our Father's House, organized the Valentine's Day Dance to benefit St. Jude's Hospital, helped out with Family Fun Night at Westminster Elementary School, and participated in all sorts of other projects.

At the center of all this activity is Oakmont's February Spartan of the Month, Jillian D'Onfro. D'Onfro, a junior, has served a peer leader ever since she arrived at Oakmont.

"I wanted to become more involved in our group," she said. "So I ran for president."

D'Onfro describes the peer leaders as, "kind of like a community-based volunteer organization made up of passionate and committed people. Anyone can call on us to help out with a project and we'll rally a group of peer leaders to get it done."

D'Onfro has found a role model and mentor in Bonnie Leary, the Oakmont Peer Leader advisor.

"Mrs. Leary has helped me through some difficult times," D'Onfro said. "I look up to her as someone who really cares about her students and who is truly committed to helping others."

Besides D'Onfro's leadership ability and service to the community, she is also a talented writer. She's written several short stories, poems, and sketches this year in Mark Nevard's creative writing class.

"Jillian is an amazing writer," Nevard said. "Her work is dynamic and fluid - it moves. Jillian works hard at her writing and she pushes her limits. She's willing to learn and eager to grow."

D'Onfro also has high praise for her creative writing teacher; "Mr. Nevard is awesome. His class is really inspiring."

D'Onfro, who is the daughter of Beth and Stephen D'Onfro of Westminster, also finds time for sports. She's a member of the varsity cross country and indoor track teams. This spring, she plans to participate in the new lacrosse program. As if she isn't busy enough, D'Onfro has a part-time job at the Westminster Pharmacy on weekends.

She hopes to pursue a career in writing, communications, or possibly, teaching. Although she's not entirely sure about where she'd like to go to college, she's interested in Middlebury College, Kenyon College or McGill University in Montreal.

D'Onfro describes Oakmont as, "a nice community, where you can get to know people. There are so many things to be involved in."

In both her community leadership and her writing, D'Onfro maintains a focus on people.

"I love to listen to dialogue, to explore people's interactions and reactions."

But perhaps D'Onfro's greatest strengths are her passion for helping others and her commitment to making the world a better place.