2,000 Hours of Service Leads Texarkana ISD Student, Sanders Wiggins, to Statewide Honor

Texarkana, TX — When people talk about leadership, they often focus on titles. For Sanders Wiggins, leadership looks more like showing up, week after week and year after year, quietly serving others.

That commitment has earned Wiggins statewide recognition. He has been named one of the top five students in Texas for the TASSP Teens Serving Texas Award, presented by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals.

This prestigious honor recognizes students who go beyond the classroom to make a meaningful difference in their schools and their communities. For Wiggins, that difference is measured in more than a single project. It is measured in thousands of service hours.

Over the course of his high school career, Wiggins has dedicated more than 2,000 hours to community service, leading efforts that range from large-scale student initiatives to helping neighbors with everyday needs.

His work has touched nearly every corner of the Texarkana community. Through student council leadership, he has helped raise funds, mentor younger students, and organize events that bring the community together. He has led donation drives for local organizations, provided school supplies to underserved students, and supported efforts to assist the homeless.

But some of his most meaningful work has been deeply personal, like taking out the trash for elderly neighbors for more than 4 years. This simple act reflects the consistency behind his service.

Wiggins has also gone far beyond service to his local community. He founded a nonprofit organization, As You Go, which builds prosthetic arms using 3D printing technology for individuals in developing countries. Through his work, he has already helped provide prosthetics to recipients in places like Vietnam and Uganda, expanding his impact far beyond Texarkana.

One of his most visible accomplishments came when he brought back a long-standing community tradition, a bonfire pep rally that had been paused during the pandemic. Wiggins didn't just revive the event; he built it from the ground up, coordinating logistics, securing permits, organizing student groups, and bringing together more than 1,000 attendees. The event became a symbol of unity across the district, connecting students, families, and the broader community.

“Serving others is the core of who I am," Wiggins said. “As I continue to grow, I see more and more ways to help. I believe a good leader is servant-hearted – that’s what I strive to be.”

As part of the award, Wiggins will be recognized this summer at the TASSP Summer Workshop in Dallas, where he will receive a commemorative plaque and a $500 scholarship in front of thousands of school leaders from across the state.

District leaders say the recognition reflects not only Wiggins’ work ethic, but also his character and commitment to others. “Sanders models the standard of leadership we strive to develop in our students,” said Dr. Doug Brubaker, Superintendent of Schools. “He leads with humility, serves without expecting recognition, and consistently looks for ways to make life better for others. This honor is well deserved.”

This award is a great reminder that sometimes the most powerful leadership does not come from a stage or podium, but it comes from a student willing to serve.