By Hermalene M. Taylor, Red Cross volunteer

As the day begins on a recent summer morning, a group of teenage American Red Cross volunteers gather for a milestone day at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland. Their summer of service is nearing an end.

After six weeks together, the American Red Cross 2025 VolunTEEN cohort strides into the conference room with youthful camaraderie and anticipation. The high schoolers continue to engage with each other as they settle in their seats and prepare for roundtable discussions. Their relaxed posture suggests a confidence and readiness that comes with soon-to-be “veteran VolunTEENs.”

Perhaps it’s a nod to this year’s volunteer leader Daniel Mathew.

Currently a second-year biomedical engineering and neuroscience student at Johns Hopkins University, Mathew was a WRNMMC VolunTEEN four years ago. He credits that summer opportunity with changing his perspective about patient care and helping others.

“The [Red Cross] volunteer program had a huge impact on where I am now, and the field I’m going into,” said Mathew. The experience led to his first research internship position at the hospital. Along the way, his work was developed, acquired and patented. It was exciting for him to incorporate aspects of research into this year’s summer program to teach participants about the process and what makes it special.

Mathew, and co-facilitators Andrew Sojak and Paige Boyland, both recent college graduates and Red Cross volunteers, worked to initiate a club for the teens to review and discuss scientific articles published in clinical research and medicine.

With an introduction to the process and hands on engagement, the VolunTEENs grouped up to present comments on the day’s article, titled Volunteering, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents in the United States.

Their assignment was to discuss the merits of the article and its application in society. By midday, all teams had shared their findings and the last session officially ended.

The volunTEENs at Walter Reed were among the more than 100 highschoolers who participated in the program across the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region. Designed for young volunteers ages 14-17 years old, the annual program runs for six weeks in the summer at multiple sites. This year, volunTEENs who participated in the program at WRNMMC in Maryland, the Pentagon and the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center on Fort Belvoir in Virginia this summer logged more than 2,000 volunteer hours.

When asked about the overall summer experience, VolunTEEN Sarah Sampson, an aspiring psychiatrist from Frederick County Maryland shared, “I got to meet so many new people [that I] would have never met outside the program,” she said. “I gained so much clinical experience and skills in efficiency and communications. It was fun [and] insightful.”

Other volunTEEN program activities at Walter Reed included: support for clinics throughout the hospital; hands-on learning in Basic Life Support, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and International Humanitarian Law; and a tour of WRNMMC’s Department of Rehabilitation.

The final day ended with a farewell pizza luncheon, recognition certificates for volunteer community service, a group photo and impactful reflections from summer 2025.

Mission accomplished!