Celebrating strong character
School district honors 50 students with year-end awards
When it came time to select winners for the year-end Kids of Character awards, a committee of educators and community members had a plethora of exemplary examples.
So many that a total of 50 from Broward County’s public elementary, middle and high schools will be recognized — the most in the ceremony’s 15-year history.
“We felt it was important to recognize as many students as pos- sible in the sixth-largest district in this country,” said Teri Williams, instructional facilitator and coordinator of the school district’s character education program.
Students being honored May 4 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale have earned respect from peers and praise from teachers. They include Jennifer Baksh, a thirdgrader at Sandpiper Elementary School in Sunrise who patiently assists classmates, and Michael Gelman, a junior at Cooper City High School who goes out of his way to say hello to everyone he sees.
Austyn Jurascheck, a fifthgrader at Sheridan Hills Elementary School in Hollywood, is being recognized for his leadership abilities, and Sarah Gabrielle Anselme, a senior at South Broward High School in Hollywood, is being honored for her volunteer activities, which include giving presentations to middle schoolers about self-respect and teaching self-defense at a martial arts academy.
“I’m an only child, and I have no one else to look up to,” Anselme said. “So if I can impact one child by being their role model, that’s my motivation.”
There’s also Saeme Ennis, an eighth-grader at Millennium Middle School in Tamarac who’s a great team player in the classroom and on the basketball court.
“I play basketball for the school and a travel team,” Saeme said. “It’s taught me about cooperation and teamwork.”
Sabrina Ricciardelli, a fourthgrader at Tradewinds Elementary School in Coconut Creek, said it’s about doing the right thing and encouraging peers to pay it for- ward.
Sabrina assists classmates, sometimes guiding them step by step and offering praise along the way. She’s not only strengthened their skills, but also boosted their confidence, said her teacher, Allison Gray.
“I think helping other students gives them the courage to do the same for someone else,” Sabrina said.
Nicole Proffitt, a first-grader at Coral Cove Elementary School in Miramar, is being recognized for motivating students to complete assignments with praise, patience and sharing her special twist crayons.
For Kelly Pagano, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, it’s about going that extra mile. As part of Best
Buddies (which pairs students with peers with intellectual and developmental disabilities), Pagano and her buddy have become true pals, often going to restaurants and parks together.
“I really don’t see my friendship with Griffin as something I do in a program,” Pagano said. “He is always happy and always smiling and likes to talk or listen to me talk. Really, I just feel as I would be going out with any other fun friend.”
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staff members being recognized, and the awards ceremony will mark the debut of a new honor, the character education school of excellence award. Challenger Elementary in Tamarac was selected.
“Challenger exemplified a full school infusion of character education,” Williams said. “Every teacher, student and the parents are highly involved with the program. We toured the school and interviewed students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They were all able to speak about and relate to the character traits and able to share how they incorporated those traits into their lives.”