David Thomas Judd is a senior at Brother Martin High School with a passion for reading and volunteering.
Judd founded and serves as president of the Brother Martin Bibliomaniacs Book Club, as well as editor-in-chief of The Pen and the Sword literary magazine. He is also highly involved in the Speech and Debate club – though he finds his book club the most rewarding.
Even though most students Judd has come in contact with dislike reading – because it can feel like homework, he says – he feels that this club is essential for Brother Martin.
“Students learn to love reading and make it a hobby of theirs for the rest of their lives. The most rewarding part of starting the Bibliomaniacs is knowing that I provided someone the opportunity to fall in love with books,” says Judd.
Education is a strong theme in Judd’s activism. In 2010, he volunteered with Catholic Charities to help an educational summer camp for families in need at Incarnate World School. As a camp counselor, he helped campers with their academic and athletic lessons. He taught the campers how to use educational computer software and also how to organize a football game.
“At Incarnate Word, I could actually see the good I was doing for these children. I saw it every time one of the children understood their lesson because of me, or when their face would light up with joy while playing a basketball game outside,” he says. “It was truly rewarding knowing that I helped provide an opportunity for impoverished kids to enjoy summer.”
Judd has also worked for Second Harvesters Food Bank by helping package food for needy families. For about a week, he would head to Second Harvesters to start the long day of picking through different food donations. While volunteering, he assembled thousands of packages with food and supplies.
His oldest brother, Kevin Judd, has inspired him to become an activist while still a student. Kevin was an Eagle Scout, and Judd would watch his brother clean apartments and repair vents and appliances at retirement homes for his Eagle Scott Project. Even though he was much younger, the experience still impacted him. He says, “I remember seeing how thankful the people were for my brother’s help and how happy that made him. I was exposed to the benefits of activism by my brother and it inspired me to pursue my own path of service.”
Judd is considering on becoming a teacher or journalist as his future career. He knows that wherever he goes for college, he plans on being active in anti-bullying and environmental protection groups.
