Nicolette Cochran

For Nicolette Cochran, community service is incredibly important.

“I’m very passionate about helping people,” said Cochran, a 17-year-old Girard High School senior and nominee for the Tribune Chronicle’s Twenty Under 20 program, which recognizes young leaders in Trumbull County.

The award is co-sponsored by Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley and AVI Foodsystems.

Cochran stays exceptionally busy with her extracurricular activities and sports teams, including being captain of the varsity volleyball team that made it to the regional semifinals and won a district championship. Cochran is second team all district.

Through the team, she coordinated events such as 50/50 raffles, basket raffles, bake sales and T-shirt sales to raise about $1,500 for the Salvatore Ponzio Jr. Scholarship Fund, which raises money for a deserving Girard High School senior.

“Nicolette is known for her incredible generosity, always willing to help those in need,” said Angela Cochran, her mother and high school counselor who nominated her for the award. “She has dedicated countless hours to community service.”

Cochran said she collects pop tabs for Akron Children’s to help families that need to be near the hospital for their sick children. She experienced it herself after being diagnosed with a kidney disorder at age 3.

Cochran also volunteers her time to assist with the Special Olympics, running alongside the athletes and hugging them at the finish line.

“It’s one of the most important things for me,” she said. “They work so hard and I want to be there to help in any way that I can.”

Her mother said: “These moments highlight Nicolette’s deep empathy and her unique ability to connect with and uplift others.”

Cochran has countless hours of community service work, including participating in a volleyball youth camp to teach youngsters how to play, volunteering at the Big Brothers Big Sisters holiday party and other organizations’ parties and dinners, volunteering at the school’s stadium concession stand and with various cleanups, as well as gift wrapping and set up for the Gift of a Lifetime.

“With Gift of a Lifetime, we collect gifts for Girard families who are going through a hard time,” she said. “I’m starting a gift card drive to get people extra presents. This is really special to me. It brings so much joy to people. I’m very blessed to get gifts and to see others getting gifts makes me very happy.”

Cochran also volunteers at Camp Fitch as a counselor.

“Nicolette’s love for her school and community is truly unparalleled,” her mother said. “She has poured her heart into every initiative she undertakes and her selflessness inspires those around her. Whether she’s organizing a major fundraiser or simply lending a helping hand, Nicolette’s impact is felt far and wide.”

Cochran, who has a 3.63 grade point average, is president of the Teen Institute, leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, treasurer of the National Honor Society, treasurer of Beta Club and a member of numerous other clubs. In addition to being captain of the varsity volleyball team, she is all conference in track and a varsity football and basketball cheerleader and on the Girard Competition Cheer Team.

“It’s definitely hard at times to balance everything,” Cochran said. “The most important thing is to try not to procrastinate. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Cochran plans to attend college with a major in sports exercise. Her goal is to be a physical therapist at a college or with a professional sports team.

“I want to work with athletes,” she said.

Cochran said: “I do what I can to make my community better. When I go to college, I want to make that community better too.”