Plymouth Whitemarsh High School students collected food for a local pantry and reflected on a college-prep program that they say has reshaped their approach to school.

Students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) elective marked AVID Day on Sept. 18 with service projects and personal reflections, according to the Colonial School District. In teacher Jill Ruggiero's class, students gathered food donations and wrote notes to accompany them.

"Because of AVID, I became an independent woman, I made more friends, and I am the person I am today," said Blessed Jones, a 12th-grader.

Jones was one of several students who finished the prompt "Because of AVID, I…" as part of the celebration. Stella Ruggiero, also a 12th-grader, said the program pushed her to take harder classes and feel more confident. Brielle Dzwil, a 10th-grader, said AVID taught her to give back to her community.

Colonial was the first district in Pennsylvania to adopt AVID, launching the program in 2007. The elective runs at both Colonial Middle School and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.

AVID targets students in the academic middle. The multi-year course teaches study skills, note-taking, time management and how to stay engaged in class. In upper grades, students learn about the college application process and visit area campuses. The Colonial School District Education Foundation funds those college visits each year.

The program also encourages students to take honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Nationally, AVID operates in more than 7,400 schools, and the organization reports that 9 out of 10 AVID seniors in 2025 were college- and career-ready.

Service learning is built into the curriculum. Beyond the Sept. 18 food drive, AVID students at PWHS assembled 50 Helena's Hope Bags containing knit hats, gloves, socks and handwritten notes for The Giving Tree in November 2025. The Giving Tree partners with schools to feed the hungry and assist the homeless.

Students commit to the elective each year by signing a pledge at a special event. AVID students were also encouraged to sign up to volunteer at the Colonial School District Foundation's Foundation Day event on Monday, Oct. 5.