News : Riley and Kylie honored again: To be Junior Grand Marshals of PIP Kiddie Parade

Riley Ries and Kylie Miracle will be the Junior Grand Marshals for the Kiddie Parade.

Recent VSHS graduates Riley Ries and Kylie Miracle have been selected as the 2015 Party in the Park Junior Grand Marshals. They will begin the weekend’s festivities by leading the Kid’s Parade through downtown Vinton on Thursday evening at 6:30 PM.

“Both of these individuals have been incredible role models for our community’s youth and I believe that our committee has made an excellent selection,” VPRD Director Brad Barker said. “Both of these young adults have been actively helping others within our community and this recognition of their phenomenal service is our way of saying thanks.”

Riley is the son of Paul and Karilea Ries and has been involved in speech and debate, cross country and FFA while a student at Vinton-Shellsburg. Riley has also volunteered his time for the school district’s 1:1 technology program where he has assisted in preparing computers for student use. He plans to attend Washington & Lee University in Virginia in the fall and will major in both history and politics.

Kylie is the daughter of Rich and Lori Miracle and has been involved in cross country, track, soccer, debate and FFA while a student at Vinton-Shellsburg. Kylie plans to attend Wartburg College in the fall and will major in both biology and nursing.

Aside from being highly involved in school activities and excellent students, perhaps the most impressive fact about Riley and Kylie is their involvement with the Vinton-Shellsburg’s Operation Backpack program. They both initiated this program last year and spent their 2014 summer seeking donations from local individuals, businesses and groups. Raising more than $13,000 over the past school year, they were able to send home food every Friday to 95 K-5 students from some of the district’s neediest families. Not only was Riley and Kylie responsible for the startup of this program and giving it wings, but they also devoted countless hours of their time (along with their friends and other V/S student volunteers) in unloading and packaging the food together in bags to be sent out every week. These two students and their effort in spearheading Operation Backpack will also be recognized by Iowa Governor, Terry Branstad, at the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Congratulations Riley and Kylie on your selection as our Party in the Park 2015 Junior Grand Marshals!

For more information on our 2015 Party in the Park activities, please contact us at 319-472-4164, by visiting us on the web at vprdzone.com or friending us on Facebook (Vinton vprd).