Minooka student says service ‘is what keeps the world spinning.’

Morgan Moreno, a Minooka Community High School senior and co-founder of a non-profit, was recently named the Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club Student of the Month for March.

She is the daughter of Jodie Johnston and Paul Moreno of Shorewood. She also founded Gifting for Thrifting with Alaina Frazier, also a senior at Minooka Community High School, in 2018.

In a news release from Minooka Community High School, Morgan said Gifting for Thrifting has provided free clothing to thousands of families since its inception.

“Some people did not take my best friend, Alaina, and I seriously when we sought support for our idea of creating pop-up thrift stores to give our community access to free clothing,” Morgan said in the news release. “Some adults thought we were in over our heads.”

But Morgan also said in the release that she was taught “at a young age” that anyone, no matter how young, can “make a big difference in the world.”

Through developing the non-profit and participating in various clubs and organizations, Morgan said she has found her “love for philanthropy and service.”

“I have been fortunate enough to witness the impact of service firsthand, and I can whole-heartedly say that it is what keeps the world spinning,” Morgan said in the release. “The kindness that people can exhibit towards each other within a community through lending a helping hand is so powerful.”

At Minooka Community High School, Morgan maintains a 4.8 grade-point-average (weighted). She is also a National AP Scholar 2020, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar 2020, Yale Young Global Scholars Ambassador, Coca-Cola Scholars Program Regional Finalist 2021, UCLA Summer College Immersion Program Certificate of Completion with Distinction and MCHS Student of the Term.

Morgan is also a 2018, MCHS Scholar Athlete 2018 & 2019, National Student Leadership Conference Participant 2020 and IHSA Student Leadership Conference Participant in 2019.

She was a member of the varsity diving team during her sophomore year and varsity cheer team during her freshmen year.

Morgan is the co-founder and leader of Allies in Diversity Club, president of Interact Club (treasurer 11th grade; member since 10th grade), president of Spanish National Honor Society (member since 11th grade), vice president of the National Honor Society (member since 11th grade), a member of the school’s math team (member since ninth grade) and a member of the Equity and Diversity Committee Member (12th grade),

After Morgan graduates in May, she plans to study international relations, international business or economics.

Morgan has been accepted to Stanford University, Vanderbilt University, UNC Chapel Hill, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and University of California.

She hopes to become the CEO of an international nonprofit organization and Gifting for Thrifting on a global level.

For more information about Gifting For Thrifting, visit giftingforthrifting.com.