Annual Student Recognition 2009

This morning we hosted our Annual Student Recognition at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Arizona.  This is a time for our staff to recognize students who have made progress in their behavior and school work during the last year.  We invite our staff, students, student parents, and school or district representatives to join us to join us for breakfast and an awards presentation.

The event started with a welcome and introductions of school districts by Dr. Beth Collins.  Then we presented a video that we produced to introduced people to our alternative education programs.  The video showed clips of staff and students “in action” at the local schools. (We will be posted the click to YouTube soon.  Check back here for a link.)

After the video, we started presenting the student awards.This year students were awarded with the following awards:

• 180 Degree Awards
• William T. Randall Civility Award
• William T. Randall Literacy Award
• Marge Covey Home and Family Awards
• Marge Covey Education and Career Awards
• Marge Covey Community and Service Awards
• Marge Covey Hobbies and Recreation Awards
• Renaissance Awards

Each award has a criteria and the staff at each location nominate students for the awards.  Seeing the students and hear of their accomplishments is a highlight of the school year for our staff. 

This year we had a speech given by a former Kids at Hope Central student who has turned her life around and is about to graduate from high school a year early.  The student did a great job of encouraging students to remember that “"what you are doing today will make a difference tomorrow!"  It was great wisdom for a high schooler!

After the speech, Rick Miller from Kids at Hope recognized two outstanding Blueprint Education staff members for their work with students.  Jeanne Lind, Principal at Kids at Hope Southwest, and Derrick Kennard, Counselor at Kids at Hope Central, both received Treasure Hunter of the Year Awards.  Both were surprised by the award.  

Personally, I look forward to this annual event.  It is a chance to remember why we choose to work in education.