Front Row (left to right) Nathan Reed, Daren Bruce Hanshaw Jr., DanielSpencer, and Angel De'Dios. Back Row (left to right) Director John McGraw, Apryl Stauber, DaltonWilliams, Caitlyn Dickerson, Taylor Fleming, Sarah Levine, Tia Smart,Jazlyn Dorr, Rebecca Walker, Nicole Weigold, and Sheriff Mike Scott.

Several students from the East Zone were recognized by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office last week during its monthly Do The Right Thing ceremony held in Fort Myers at the school board’s office.

John McGraw, the coordinator said that each month throughout the 2010-2011 school year, the Sheriff’s Office honors the positive actions of the community’s students through the student recognition program. The ceremony was held April 21.

He said the goal of the program is to reinforce positive behavior among youths and to establish students as role models for their peers.

Some 20 students were honored at the award ceremony. The following students are from the East Zone of Lee County:

• Daniel Spencer of Lehigh Acres is a fifth grade student at Mirror Lakes Elementary School. Counselor Kim Conrad wrote who nominated Spencer said he transferred to their school late last school year. Since that time he has overcome difficulties and has made great strides, she said.

“Daniel gets along well with staff and others. He occasionally makes mistakes, as we all do in relating with others, but he is quick to apologize and remedy the situation. Recently he was given the honor of being a school patrol person in the morning. As I observe Daniel doing his job, I watch him greet each and every student. He is quick to give them a high five, handshake, or a hug,” Conrad said.

“As the school counselor, I know most of the students in the school and I have seen Daniel lift up many students who seem sad, preoccupied, or having just the general ‘early morning blues.’ Today, I noticed Daniel’s efforts were paying off as a student approached him to give him an early morning high five. Daniel is so deserving of this reward because he is making a difference in his life and in the lives of others,” she said.

• Apryl Stauber of Fort Myers is a sixth grade student at Gateway Charter School. Debbie Allington (mother of Apryl Stauber) nominated Stauber and said that “Apryl was looking for ways to help raise money for the Lee Memorial Military Support Program that sponsors her brother. She has done several projects on her own, one involved going around our neighborhood and collecting donations. She raised $225. Another project was ‘Jeans Days’ at her school to raise money to cover the monthly shipping costs for the care packages that are sent to our local deployed soldiers. On March 7 a check was presented to Kim Gaide, coordinator for our Military Support Program in the amount of $2,100 from the ‘Jean Day’ held on February 25,” she said.

To date since May 2003, 34,000 pounds of care packages have been sent and 979 local troops and their families have been supported by the program.

• Dalton Williams of Lehigh Acres is a sixth grade student at Alva Middle School. Resource Officer Deputy Bill Patton who nominated Williams said that “while in the school cafeteria I observed one of the kitchen staff getting behind in their job of stacking trays and taking out the trash. Dalton also became aware of this situation and on his own decided to take charge and help. Dalton starting to take trays from other students waiting in line and cleaned them off and stacked them. He continued to perform this task until the kitchen staff member returned from taking out the trash. I was pleased to see one of our students pitching in to help when so many just walked past the situation. Dalton showed great character by helping out in the school cafeteria,” he said.

The following three students were honored together:

Taylor Fleming lives in Lehigh Acres. Sarah Levine lives in Fort Myers. Tia Smart lives in Lehigh Acres. All three are twelfth grade students at Lehigh Senior High School.

School Resource Officer Deputy Andrew Penny who nominated them said that “Taylor, Sarah and Tia organized a presentation and assembly, at school, to raise awareness of the dangers of ‘Texting and Driving.’ Their presentation was delivered to the entire student body and has, no doubt, reached many young drivers and influenced their decision to not drive a motor vehicle while being distracted.”

The following three students were honored together:

Jabari Irons, Kimberlyn Boberg and Julissa Jean-Bart live in Lehigh Acres. All three are tenth grade students at Lehigh Senior High School.

School Resource Officer Deputy Andrew Penny who nominated the students said that “Jabari and his friends, Kimberlyn and Julissa, acted fast and decisively when a fellow student had a seizure in class. Jabari called for an ambulance while Kimberlyn and Julissa kept the classmate safe and comfortable until the ambulance he called had arrived.”

All the students were presented trophies and T-shirts before an audience of family members and school officials.