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The Milwaukee North Shore Rotary Club honors local students who exemplify leadership through its Service Above Self Award. This recognition is presented to those who demonstrate dedication to serving others and consistently go above and beyond in their commitment to the community.

Homestead High School is proud to announce that Lillian Dyer has been named a recipient of this award. 

“‘Service Above Self’ isn’t just a title for Lilly - it’s the way she operates,” said Eric Ebert, Principal of Homestead High School. “Through her leadership in school and tireless work with outside organizations, she has modeled what citizenship and service truly look like for our entire school community. We are incredibly proud to have her representing Homestead.”

Lilly has shown a commitment to service through her extensive volunteer work and leadership roles. Her involvement spans numerous organizations, including the Miracle League of Milwaukee, GiGi’s Playhouse, the American Heart Association, and the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin among others. She has raised funds for causes such as the MPD K9 Foundation and Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, where she was also selected to serve on the Youth Leadership Council. 

At Homestead High School, she served as an Adaptive Physical Education Aide and is a Peer Buddy with Best Buddies, building meaningful one-on-one relationships with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Lilly shared that her most significant service experience was volunteering for the summer program at Balance Inc., an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with IDD. “I started volunteering at Balance Inc. in 2023 because of my younger brother, Griffin, who has Down Syndrome and has been a constant source of inspiration in my life. Growing up alongside him shaped my understanding of inclusion and gave me a deep appreciation for advocacy.” said Dyer. 

Lilly loved her volunteer experience so much that she made the decision to work for Balance Inc. year-round. The connections and friendships she formed sparked her drive to be more active in the special needs community. Serving as a board member for Homestead's Best Buddies, she has been able to extend opportunities for inclusion and advocacy across the school district. 

Lilly plans to pursue a career in Pediatric Occupational Therapy after she graduates from Homestead High School in June.