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6-06 MYCP Celebrates ‘Circle of Change’ at Awards Banquet

MARATHON, Fla. – With graduation just past and students off to summer jobs, adventures and pre-college plans, here’s one more look back at how a few of those leaders were honored at a recent banquet in Marathon. About 100 students, parents, siblings, teachers, administrators, and community members attended a first-ever “Circle of Change” Celebration and Awards Banquet held May 19 at Key Colony Inn in honor of the people that made this a banner year for Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP).

Monroe County School District Safe School Administrator Sunny Booker, who is the chief administrator for MYCP said, “This was a record year for our students with five Challenge Days, 17 students and adults attending a Next Step training in California, a successful student orientation ‘Field Day’ at Coral Shores, and watching our students shine in Dade County at the Youth Ethics Conference – this was an awesome year and we’re here tonight to honor all the students, families, teachers, and community partners that are the circle of change in our community.”

The evening started with a welcome from MYCP Founding Director Judy Greenman who retold the story of how Challenge Days came to the Keys and what a privilege it was to see the program now fully adapted into the Monroe County School System with support from people like Booker, Mike Henriquez and Superintendent Randy Acevedo. Both Henriquez and Acevedo were in the audience and Acevedo made the closing remarks.

A slide presentation was shown with pictures of all the major programs sponsored or hosted by MYCP including, Challenge Day, Next Step Training in California, Youth Ethics Initiative Conference in Miami, Student Awareness Day in Miami, leadership classes,the RAID Helicopter landings, the Gazebo project on Plantation Key, students’ random acts of kindness campaigns and much more. “It was wonderful to see families having dinner with their kids and see the pride as they realized how big this program is and what impact each student’s life has had in their school and in the county,” said Booker.

After the slideshow, CSHS Senior Rebecca Cole led everyone in the group Challenge Day type activity, “What’s in Your Wallet?” This activity was used to help engage the audience in getting to know all the others at their table by digging into their wallets, purses, or pockets, and finding an item of personal value and sharing with the entire table. Rebecca hopes to one day be a Challenge Day leader and used the banquet to practice.

District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter recognized several community partners with appreciation and achievement pins. As each person came to the podium she presented their pin and then in a group pose, she extended her gratitude on behalf of the students and staff for their support. In particular, Marathon Rotary Club President Alan Sells attended and was commended for his club’s continued provision that empowers student leaders from the whole county to become educated on International Humanitarian Law and in turn train their peers on ethical issues such as torture and the effects of monopolies. Sutter said, “Whether it is to support the delivery of one of their programs or to help ours, this mutually beneficial relationship with our partners ultimately creates a range of opportunities for our youth that is as diverse as their interests and needs. These are a few of the partners that make up our Circle of Change.” She thanked the American Red Cross, University of Florida 4H, Florida Learn & Serve, Florida National Guard, Girl Scouts USA, National Corporation for Community Service, Monroe County Sheriff Dept., Keys Jewish Community Center, Key Largo Library, BBBS, AHEC, Women’s Abuse Shelter, FUEL Youth Group, The Village of Islamorada Department of Parks & Recreation , Rotary Clubs of Key Largo, Marathon, Upper Keys, and Sunset Club of Key West, Youth Ethics Initiative, Emergency Management, Upper Keys Quilter’s Club, Forest Tek in Islamorada, Florida Fence Co., First State Bank, Free Press, FL Keys Native Nursery, Keys Engineering, Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Dagney Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Ron Jones of Chartwells, Dixie Aluminum in Islamorada.

The highlight of the night for some was the student reflections. One student from each of the three public high schools was selected to make a speech. Francine Swadley of Coral Shores High School gave an illustrative speech using a picture of a tool box and audience participation to draw out and share ideas on how to use their own set of personal tools to handle stress. Emmy Glinert of Marathon High School concluded her speech with a tear-filled thank you to Sunny Booker for making such a difference in her life. Booker responded with a jump to the microphone for a hug around her shoulders, standing by her side saying, “You would not believe this eloquent young woman was a shy girl when she came to our school. Emmy, you’ve made us all proud.” The last student speaker was Wade Acevedo of Key West High School. He shared about his experience speaking for the second year in a row at the Youth Ethics Conference in Miami and told how he engaged his peers in the discussion about monopolies and corporate ethics.

During the staff appreciation segment, three teachers in particular were recognized with kind words and bouquets of flowers. Booker commended these three teachers for their leadership roles with Challenge Day and other MYCP related activities: Marathon High School Youth Development Advisor Jill Glinert; Coral Shores High School Leadership Teacher Anjanette McGregor; and Key West High School Challenge Day Coordinator Heidi Golightly. Booker commented at the loss for our school district because all three teachers plan to relocate out of state this summer. Linda Pepin, from CSHS was recognized for her significant contribution to the CSHS Learn & Serve Gazebo project this year. Also, Cheryl Cooke CSHS teacher who was the first teacher to act as faculty sponsor for Challenge Day and her three years of teaching the Leadership Class was recognized for her groundbreaking work with MYCP.

The ceremony came to a close with a few special student awards. Key West High School Challenge Day Coordinator, and wind behind the maiden voyage of Challenge Days in Key West, Heidi Golightly passed the leadership torch on to student Wade. She’s been at Key West High School since 1992. In her speech she gave accolades to Acevedo for the strength he has already shown and expressed trust in his ability to continue with excellence.

Marathon High School star basketball player and student leader Justine Homes was recognized along with Mackenzie Keller, Jonathon Sanchez, Emmy Glinert, Samantha Mothner, and Katie Greenman with recognition for what they had done during their high school career with Challenge Day and the follow up club STARS.

Seven county-wide students were presented the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing more than 100 valuable service hours to the community.  MYCP recognizes students for the quality and leadership of service by awarding the President’s Volunteer Service Award annually. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United States to, “recognize the best in American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service, and civic participation,” Sutter said. This award requires students to perform at least 100 hours of community service within a 12 month period. Coral Shores had four students receive this award: Tyler Burch, Xotchil Musser, Francine Swadley, and Christa Boilini; Marathon students were Katie Greenman and Emmaleen Glinert. The other two students were Sara Michael of Champion Academy and Noah Sutter of Island Christian School.

Additional awards were presented to:

• Francine Swadley, Erin Fry, Oceane Leguiset, Aaron Holmbraker and Gaby Feilke, for participation in “field day” which is a pilot program aimed at lowering the dropout rate.

• Nikki Pravata for the second annual student Cultural Luncheon last fall.

• Erin Fry, for leadership in hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at San Pedro Church.

• Oceane Leguiset carried out another Learn & Serve project through an awareness campaign about International Humanitarian Law, genocide and the Holocaust.

• Monica Dixon planned and organized Coral Shores High School’s first Black History Month luncheon.

• Amy Griffin, Christa Boilini, Rebecca Cole, Aaron Holmbraker and Daniel Lavene, Francine Swadley, Katie Greenman, Emmy Glinert,and Alyssa Perez all participated in Next Step training provided by the Challenge Day organization.

• Sarah Taylor dispersed teacher appreciation bags consisting of items donated by members of the business community.

• Tyler Burch, Jake Gray, Nick Jackson and Matt O’Neill designed & planted the butterfly garden area in the Plantation Tropical Preserve, planned for the building of the new gazebo, and created a scrapbook all for the Children’s Memorial Tree Garden project in Islamorada.

• Members of the 4-H/Red Cross Seasons of Service “SOS” Team were recognized because they raised more than $1000 for the American Red Cross Measles Initiative and Stockings For Troops, projects, logged hundreds of community service hours and training with the American Red Cross for disaster relief in their first year of operation.

• Hanna Gray, Xotchil Musser, Noah Sutter, Katie Greenman, Ashlee Evinrude, Ali Aldrich, and Wade Acevedo for participation as presenters at the Youth Ethics Initiative (YEI) Conference in Miami. According to YEI officials, Monroe County is seen as a “poster child” for YEI because of the number of students we send every year and the quality of the team presentations.

Michele Sutter was also recognized by Booker for her tireless efforts in Monroe County Schools. She was presented a bouquet of flowers and accolades from the entire room with a boom of applause, cheers from the students, and a standing ovation.

In closing remarks, Superintendent Acevedo also received a standing ovation after stating, “When I took this position I committed to making safety first. I wanted Challenge Days for all of our schools.”

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project, Challenge Day, Next Step, or any other MYCP sponsored program call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.keysschools.com.