Students recognized for ‘doing the right thing’

By Staff | Apr 21, 2009

Some 18 area school students were to be honored on Thursday April 16, in the Board Room of the School Board of Lee County, Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers for “doing the right thing.”

This month’s students come from Lehigh Acres, Alva, Fort Myers, and North Fort Myers.

Each month throughout the 2008-2009 school year, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office honors the positive actions of students through the “Do the Right Thing” Student Recognition Program. The goal of “Do the Right Thing” is to reinforce positive behavior among youths and to establish students as role models for their peers. The program partners law enforcement, local government, the business and Lee County educational community together in an effort to make a lasting positive impact on the community’s young adults. The following were to be honored:

Austin Estrada of Lehigh Acres is a 4th trade student. Savannah Kolz of Fort Myers is a 4th Grade Student. Both attend Sunshine Elementary School.

They were honored for going to the assistance of a fellow student in the lunchroom and attempted to dislodge the food by patting the student on his back. They also helped to regain his breathing. An adult was summoned who also assisted the child.

Yarymar Legrand of Lehigh Acres is a 2nd grade student at Sunshine Elementary School.

She found a bicycle at the neighborhood playground and told her dad she wanted to get it back to its rightful owner. She took it to the bike rack next to the bus top, locked it up and put a note on it, hoping someone would recognize it and call her. When the rightful owner saw it later that day, she knew it was her missing bike and it was returned to her.

Brandon Wilt of North Fort Myers is a 5th grade student at Dr. Carrie D. Robinson – Littleton Elementary School.

Brandon went on a school bus radio and called the School District Transportation Department after the driver of her bus fell ill and managed to get the bus over to the side of the road before fainting. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene to take care of the sick bus driver.

Chase Kajak of Lehigh Acres is a 8th grade Student at Alva Middle School. Kaylea Hunsicker of Lehigh Acres is a 4th grade Student at Alva Elementary School.

Chase came to the defense of a student who was being bullied. Afterwards the student who had been bullied talked with Chase. She mentioned that her family was going through some tough times. As a result of the conversation, the student cut their own Christmas celebration short and helped the student’s family, which was going through rough economic times. They bought gifts for each of the seven children and also bought clothes for them. Then they put together a full Christmas dinner for the family.

Sammy Neal of Fort Myers is a 3rd grade Student at Bayshore Elementary School.

Neal reported a potentially dangerous situation that could have put other students in danger. By coming forward and reporting the circumstances, School personnel were able to intervene and prevent any unsafe actions from occurring.

Carlos Orta of Fort Myers is a 4th grade Student at Bayshore Elementary School.

Orta saw a child being bullied and tripped while playing soccer. He went over to help the child up and to see if the boy was okay. He stood up for a child being picked on.

Victoria Stabenow of Lehigh Acres, is a 5th grade Student at Lehigh Elementary School.

Victoria was with her family at an area pet store when a man nearby collapsed and hit his head on a cage. Victoria called out for her mother and then yelled out in a loud voice “can we have some help over here?” The man was administered CPR and paramedics were called.

Kevonshae Davis of Lehigh Acres is a 4th grade student at Veterans Park Academy.

When Kevonshae was leaving school, she noticed an older student on the elementary school side of the campus who was on the ground. She notified authorities who went to help the student.

Patrick Fox of Alva is an 11th grade student at Riverdale High School. One of Patrick’s friends had property taken from him. Several days later Patrick saw what he believed was the stolen item. He gathered information and called his friend’s mother who in turn contacted the detective working the case. Law enforcement was able to follow up on the information Patrick had provided and make an arrest in this case.

The following five students will be honored together:

Deandra Bryant lives in Fort Myers. Sonia Pascual lives in Fort Myers. Elise Ramirez lives in North Fort Myers. Brittani Ross lives in Lehigh Acres. Alice Garcia lives in Fort Myers. All five students are in the 10th Grade at Lehigh Senior High School. These five students volunteered together for a Habitat For Humanity Project. They brought forth their talents and combined energies to help a family in need of a home.

Julio Martinez of Lehigh Acres is a 2nd grade student at Treeline Elementary School.

Second Grade teacher Ms. Erica Siegwardt, of Treeline Elementary School, wrote in the Nomination Letter that “Julio has been ‘caught’ doing the right thing more times than I can count. He is a good friend to his classmates. He is a trustworthy student whom I can always count on and he is such a motivational person. The rest of my class looks up to him. He daily commits various acts of kindness, including helping his classmates, giving them ‘High-Fives’ when they receive an “A” on a test, to help them tie their shoe laces, etc. He is a great kid.”

Tamia Young of Lehigh Acres is a 2nd Grade student at Treeline Elementary School.

Tamia was honored because of her continuous kindness toward her fellow classmates. She is always the first one to pat a friend on the back to congratulate them on a good grade or clap for them when they reach their academic goal. She has often been seen whispering “good job” and “good thinking” to her classmates.