Each month throughout the 2011-2012 school year, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will honor the positive actions of our community’s 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. “Do The Right Thing” partners law enforcement, local government, the business and Lee County educational community together in an effort to make a lasting positive impact on our community’s young adults.

More than a dozen students in Lee County schools were honored on Dec. 15 for “doing the right thing” in a Lee County Sheriff’s program that honors students who make positive decisions about the things they do every day at home or at school.

The ceremony was held in the Board Room of the School Board of Lee county in Fort Myers. Humanitarian concerns, honest, integrity, positive decision making and heroism was recognized. The program director is John McGraw who presented the awards and told those assembled the reasons for the recognition.

The following students are from the East Zone and include:

Alexi Hernandez of Lehigh Acres is a sixth grade student at Veterans Park Academy for the Arts in Lehigh Acres.

Resource Officer Adi Perez-Luna wrote that “during a Veterans Park teen dance a child lost her I-Pod (valued at approximately $200) on the dance floor with more than 140 children in attendance. An announcement was made in an attempt to locate the I-Pod. In a crowd as large as this group, this was almost an impossible task. Alexi found the item and turned it in. Her actions reflect honesty and integrity.”

Robert Allison of Lehigh Acres is an eighth grade student at Alva Middle School.

Assistant Principal Peggy Slichter wrote that “Robert risked hurting himself by trying to keep a female student from doing something destructive to herself. His actions reflect a deep caring for others, bravery and dedication to your peers. It shows that you care.”

Samantha Kratochvil of Fort Myers is an eighth grade student at Alva Middle School.

Physical Education Teacher Margaret Spradlin wrote that “Samantha came forward and helped by sharing information about a law enforcement matter that was being looked into. The information that she provided helped resolve the issue.”

Elijahtre Richards of Lehigh Acres is a seventh grade student at James Stephens International Academy.

Middle School Teacher Wanda Mays Noel wrote that “Elijah is always courteous, willing to help, and is serious about his academics, He is a great student, always willing to share his knowledge with fellow students. He is received well by his peers and his teachers. Never does he allow peer pressure to change or detour him. I remember him telling another student ‘you should be a bigger man and not let that bother you you should just squash the whole thing.’ I was so very proud of him every day since.”