Lathan Miller, a senior at Abington Senior High School, was recently highlighted by the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove for their Community Service Month commendations.

Miller is in his second year of Eastern’s Exercise Science and Rehabilitation and has officially been accepted to Virginia Tech where he will continue his education in Exercise Science or Kinesiology.

He is also a member of Abington Senior High School’s boys’ basketball team and has been actively involved in the Toys for Tots program through his church, Faith Ministries Church in Willow Grove, since he was 13 years old.

On December 6, his work with Toys for Tots was recognized with the United States Marine Corps Reserve Commander Award.

From Eastern’s announcement:

His Aunts and Pastors, Geneva Lee and Jennie Lee have worked for Toys for Tots and Faith to Faith Ministries, and they are the reason Lathan’s family got involved in their community service efforts. Another fundraiser that Lathan participates in at his church is a Back-to-School community service event for local families who need backpacks and school supplies.

“All year long we do community service,” said Lathan. “We do whatever we can to support the community. I love that all my family does these community service activities together, including my mom, my aunt, my church family, and my cousin who attends EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program, Jeremiah Lee. We are a part of an amazing church organization. It feels great because it is like being a part of another family even if we are not all blood related.”

Lathan enjoys helping others. He plays Basketball for Abington Senior High School and hopes to stay in sports for a long time, so he understands the value of his EASTERN program. In tenth grade, he visited EASTERN’s Open House and was intrigued by the new program, Exercise Science and Rehabilitation. Even as a first-year student in the program, Lathan was chosen by his Exercise Science and Rehabilitation Instructor to speak when tours come through their program and was featured in the video for the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools highlighting the value of career and technical education. He enjoys speaking on behalf of his program, which is something he would not have imagined he would do as a young man who struggles with Dyslexia. “I was lucky to find out early and had a lot of people to help me push through it and be successful.”

Lathan plans to continue helping with the Toys for Tots and Back to School fundraisers when he is on break from college. “If my pastors need help, I will be there,” said Lathan. “They are the driving force of our church and they are dedicated to giving.”

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Photo: Eastern