Too often when we hear or read about youth in the news media, it’s framed by some negative event or action.
Crime, vandalism, drugs, drinking and driving ? these are contexts in which the youth of today usually make headlines.
But there are many, many good kids out there we hardly ever or sometimes never hear about.
Kids who help others. Kids who make a difference. Kids who make positive choices. Kids who are role models.
Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance honored 148 such kids ranging from elementary to high school age at its Annual Youth Recognition Ceremony held last night in the Oxford High School Commons.
‘Every year I’m amazed by not only the number of kids (who are honored), but by what they’ve done,? said OAYA Caseworker Hank Szlenkier.
From a high school student who donated bone marrow to save his brother’s life to a pair of brothers who worked together to save a friend’s life at a local lake to a group of middle school students who put on a fund-raiser to help a needy family, Szlenkier said he was very impressed by this year’s group of honorees.
Szlenkier said the purpose of the awards is to ‘recognize youth who may not get recognition in any other arena.?
The award is designed to not only recognize kids for their positive actions, but to encourage them to continue doing good things, thereby ‘raising a generation of people who help communities and each other,? Szlenkier said.
Individual Honors
Oxford Elementary School
Amanda Dangel ? Amanda donated her hair to Locks of Love recently. She is a very unselfish person and this is just one way she demonstrated that.
John Hull ? Hull participates in the Read Naturally program three times a week. John is always the first student there and the last to leave. He works tenaciously during this time period.
Brittany Basela ? Brittany voluntarily helps take care of our classroom pet. She holds the python snake every week while her cage is cleaned. Brittany has a special rapport with our snake, Precious. She wants to be a veterinarian some day.
Erin Jones ? Erin is new to Oxford. She jumped right into our classroom routine and voluntarily helps to take care of our classroom pet, a ball python, Precious.
St. Joseph School
Angela Bennett ? Angela volunteered her time to OAYA for the haunted house fund-raiser, the Christmas Party and other functions.
Daniel Axford Elementary
Joey Green ? Joey represents the best when it comes to citizenship and student achievement. He has been a role model for others in both his behavior and work ethics. Joey not only has displayed these skills in the classroom, but also on the playground.
James Anderson, Kaylee Blanchard, Anthony Bruce, Brandon Cappuccilli, Katherine Economou, Mary Everett, Hannah Ex, Cassandra Galbraith, Eric Giese, Alex Grodzicki, Jessica Helton, Hannah Hunt, Oksana Kurka, Katherine Longpre, Maddison Maier, Kimberly Matsumoto, Evan Palmer, Liliane Pyscher, Claire Smith, Andrew Stadler, James ‘JJ? Stanbury, Maryann Stockard, Taylor Taraski, Carly Vandamme, and Chelsea Wilkerson ? These students have visited Hope Senior Apartments twice this school year. A program of plays, verses and songs was presented. Students made gifts for each senior and received a gift from them. Students viewed the seniors as grandparents and the senior views the students as gandchildren they don’t see. Both are anxious for a return visit.
Clear Lake Elementary
‘Have Fun Here? (School Welcoming Home Team): Skyler Buffmyer, Jenny Carr, Sam Harris, Jessica Hayward, Erin Hocker, Shane Kerbelis, Maegan Marks, Robby Ross, and Jade Vickery ? These students have made new students of Clear Lake Elementary feel welcome by visiting them shortly after their arrival and bringing them a card, doing short and fun interviews, and taking their pictures.
Oxford Middle School
John Krug ? John and his brother, Brendon, exhibited extraordinary courage and maturity when a friend of theirs started to have serious breathing and heart problems while they were playing at a local lake. The two brothers worked as a team keeping their friend calm while one of them went for help.
Ronald Adams, Brittney Cardinale, Tonie Cooper, Katy Crippen, Joey DeBaene, Kayla Gotz, Rick Lemieux, Jacqueline Mitchell, Colson Odell, Sarah Potter, Amanda Ryskamp, Gabrielle Stadnick, Leah Steffes and Scottie VanWagner ? All these students helped organize a fund-raiser for a needy family that was created in Mrs. Decator’s homebase. The fund-raiser included a bake sale during parent/teacher conferences and the organization of a seventh grade activity night. All proceeds are being donated to this family.
Oxford High School
Aleashia Capogna ? Aleashia has demonstrated an unaparalleled ability to assist young children in her role as menot during the 2003-04 school year. She displays a willingness to give of herself to others in a time of need.
Nichole Crosson ? Nichole is energetic, dependable, committed, involved and influential on the lives of children at Lakeville Elementary School. Over the last year, our first and second-grade classroom has been the recipient of Nichole’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of children.
Samantha Marshall ? Samantha volunteered four times a week in my kindergarten classroom. The children loved having her come and help them with reading, writing, letter identification and sounds, and mathematics. She came every day, despite having a very heavy class load, work and National Honor Society.
Chad Shaver ? Chad is student coordinator of the Oxford School District Math Pentathalon. He commits at least two hours a day to this program and a reading tutoring program at Lakeville Elementary during the school year. Chad has also initiated a new reading program at Oxford Public Library.
Staci Wade ? Staci tutors a student who struggles with academic classes. All year she has volunteered time to help, tutor and guide students to work harder, ask for help and assure them that they can do better with more effort.
Laura Haas ? She is a high school student who helps out teachers and students at the elementary school.
Sarah McKeehen ? Sarah has volunteered at the Independence Township summer camp program; at Sarah’s Sitting (a baby-sitting service); repairing homes; and watching an elderly victim of Alzheimer’s disease.
Chad Rossbach ? On April 2, two students began fighting in the hallway. A number of students stood by, while a staff member tried to break it up. In attempting to do so, the staff member was inadvertently struck. Chad, without hesitation, stepped into the fray and stopped the fight without injuries.
Jackie Wylie ? Three days a week Jackie works with struggling readers in the Read naturally program. Jackie is punctual, patient, and a positive role model for these third and fourth-grade students. On the other two days a week, Jackie assists the media specialists by cataloging and checking out books.
Brandon Worden ? Brandon risked his health by providing his own bone marrow to give his brother a chance for life. The bone marrow transplant worked and Brandon’s unselfish, heroic deed saved his brother’s life.
Brendon Krug ? Brendon and his brother, John, exhibited extraordinary courage and maturity when a friend of theirs started to have serious breathing and heart problems while they were playing at a local lake. The two brothers worked as a team keeping their friend calm while one of them went for help.
Peer Mediators
These students have been peer mediators who assist other students in solving conflicts. One day each week, these students are available to others for peer mediation. Often the role involves helping to maintain peaceful environments for all students during noon recesses.
Leonard Elementary ? Zachary Astrino, Alex Barile, Caitlin Couch, Olivia Crib, Annie DeKome, Kelsey Mangone, Janice McCoy, David Pearlman, Samantha Perez, Rielly Petersen, Kelly Wujkowski.
Oxford Elementary ? Haille Chamaro, Jacob Ex, Kaitlyn Harriman, Olivia Jones, Nick Mueller, Kyle Shick, Emily Simpson, Katrina Smith.
Clear Lake Elementary ? Janner Balderee, Rachel Hermanson, Jenna Mallard, Jessica McLean, Mara Mezsets, Jamie Miller, Charlie Patten, Ashley Pointe, Emily Stzelecki, Elizabeth Walleman, Krystal Warda, Du Xiong, Jamie Armstrong, Samantha Black, Logan Carpenter, Lindsay Keenist, Brooke Kovacic, Zach Marsh, Justin Mezsets, Connor McGarry, Leah McLoskey, Matt Mitchell, Salena Pritchett, Kati Schleuter, Adam Silorey, Jesse Thirey.
Lakeville Elementary ? Jessica Brasington, Rochelle Deplaunty, Amanda Halbert, Kayli Kammerer, Miranda Kleberg, Prescott Line, Sierra Schweig, Logan Standifer, Joselyn Villagomez.
Student Council Volunteers
Clear Lake Elementary ? Brie Barry, Ryan Brendel, Kendall Burr, Keegan Cantara, Abbey Dattalo, Kristin Domenico, Beth Downs, Vito Giannola, Dakota Peasley, Samantha Ross, Jessica Seledotis, Jocob Stumph.
Lakeville Elementary ? Chris Alder, Nick Balch, Arin Bisaro, Emily Cleland, Machenzie Crosson, Maurgan Deeg, Kristen Deighton, Kyle Goehring, Brittney Harkin, Cody Harris, Riley Hayes, Kelsey Kadrich, Taylor McNeil, Anthony Moore, Jack Paruszkiewicz, Trevor Young.