Waterville’s Mount Merici Academy was one of nine schools in the state honored June 6 at Thomas College for participating in the Samantha Smith Challenge, according to a news release from the academy.

Samantha Smith wanted to make a difference in the world. What prompted her passion was a story issued about America and Russia. The article stated that people from both countries were worried the other country would start a nuclear war. To Samantha, “That seems dumb.” So her mother suggested she write a letter stating her concerns to the new Russian leader, Yuri Andropov. She did and from that one question, a peace-making venture unfolded that brought Russian and American students together to build understanding and appreciation of one another and to focus on building connections rather than building armies. Tragically in August 1985, both Samantha and her father were killed in a plane crash.

At Mount Merici, each eighth-grader was charged with identifying and performing 35 hours of service work through the “Cassidy’s Kids” program. Named for alumni Cassidy Charette who died in a hayride accident in 2014. She was the definition of “Serviam,” the Mount Merici, Ursuline motto “I Will Serve.”

According to the release, Lori Morin, the parent of an eighth-grader, submitted the application for the “Samantha Smith Challenge.” The service work each eighth-grader did throughout the 2015-16 academic year fell under the category “Learning Through Engaged Citizenship.” Morin put together a video representing the projects. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com.

The students, along with the other eight participating schools, spent a day sharing their work and hearing from guest speakers including Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, President Laurie Lachance from Thomas College, Jill Spencer and Chris Toy representatives for Maine Association for Middle Level Education and Connie Carter from Americans Who Tell the Truth also spoke.