SAUGUS – Belmonte Middle School eighth-grader Tia Trabucco represented Saugus as an ambassador for Gov. Deval Patrick?s Project 351 this past January, and after a day of volunteering and community service, the 14-year-old may be reunited with some of her fellow ambassadors at the end of April for an Earth Day project.Trabucco spent last Martin Luther King Day at the State House with hundreds of eighth-graders from all 351 cities and towns around Massachusetts. The day kicked off with a speech from the governor, followed by community service and then a huge pizza party to cap off the day?s activities.?It was fun,” said Trabucco. “They picked us up on buses and we went down to the State House, and the governor talked to us. He talked to us about a whole bunch of stuff then we went to places to volunteer. I was kind of surprised out of all the people that they picked me.”Trabucco had never been to the State House before and was surprised to see how big it was. But she said she was even more surprised when Gov. Patrick himself actually talked to her.?It was cool,” said Trabucco. “I got to talk to him. He asked me my name and where I went to school. He was nice.”Trabucco said she was a little nervous at first to be with so many new faces, but she wound up meeting three girls representing Lynn and is now Facebook friends with another student from Salem.?Two of them were in my group so we talked most of the time,” said Trabucco. “I didn?t know any of them when I went into the State House, but when I got out I was already sitting next to a bunch of people on the bus so I was OK after that.”Trabucco spent the day at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Towers in Roxbury, a home for low-income elderly people where she helped make blankets for the residents.?We did a bunch of different things,” said Trabucco. “Some people painted murals, some people made care packages for them, and knitted gloves and hats. We made blankets for them. We cut felts, and tied them and braided them.”Trabucco, who is a member of the Belmonte community service team, said making the blankets was a unique experience because she got to give the blankets directly to the residents and see their reaction firsthand.?They were really nice,” said Trabucco. “I liked them. I felt good when I gave them the blankets. Usually when I help out with community service we raise money ? we donate, but it was really different to actually be with the people and see how they react when you help them personally.”On April 22 – Earth Day – students from Project 351 will be teaming up with Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit group that provides items like clothes and educational supplies to under-privileged kids, for a Global Youth Service Day.The project is called Spring Greening and students will be collecting gently used children?s clothes and shoes.Aside from being a peer mediator, Trabucco also runs track and cross country, and is a member of the community service team, is a peer tutor and a web leader at the school.Belmonte principal Geoff Bruno said Project 351 is about finding students who are a “positive member of the school community” who stand out for their character.When it came time to name this year?s ambassador, Bruno said Trabucco was an easy choice.?When I put the criteria out that was passed on from 351, Tia?s name just shot right to the top of the list,” said Bruno. “The thing that?s cool about that is she?s really unassuming and humble about what she does. It was cool to be able to tell her and watch her react that way. She?s so involved and is a positive role model. We looked for someone who is a youth leader and who?ll represent Saugus well.”Bruno said Trabucco will “absolutely” be missed next year when she moves on to high school.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].