Maxine Chang Reyes is making moves

SHE is currently a captain in the US Army, yet she finds the time and the heart to work with her former primary school in Marlie Hill, Manchester, as she’s committed to making a difference in the lives of the students there.

In 2000, this dynamic woman and her husband adopted the school, where they have joined forces with the marliehill.org Foundation to begin work on the institution’s meal, medical, and athletics programmes.

Her latest project is to further improve the school’s technology programme, with the purchasing of equipment to expose the students to the Internet age.

Born and raised in Kingston, Maxine Chang Reyes is also the founder of the Doctor Bird Scholarship Award, which is designed to motivate future leaders to maximise their educational potential. The award recognises students who have shown a significant amount of dedication and perseverance in attaining educational excellence.

She says she loves to help those less fortunate, and this woman, who spent most of her childhood in Marlie Hill and Mandeville, says she makes time, even at work, to ensure that volunteerism is a part of her daily activities.

Currently the company commander for the army’s Recruiting and Retention School in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, she ensures that whatever activities members of her company get involved in, she is always there supporting the event or cause.

The Recruiting and Retention School has an outstanding outreach programme that collects food for a local food bank and clothing for the homeless or less fortunate. She also volunteers with a local middle school where she has mentored young girls and others in her community.

The officer, who holds a master’s degree in management and leadership, has served in this position for more than a year. The school sometimes houses up to 500 students at once and trains more than 6,000 annually.

Reyes is married to an army officer and they have a three-year-old daughter.