Five Catawba County Schools Shining Stars were recognized at the Catawba County Board of Education October meeting. Tyler B., Zachary H. and Trevor H. of Balls Creek Elementary, Sherry R. of Jacobs Fork Middle, and Sarah L. of Fred T. Foard High were named Catawba County Schools Shining Stars for October.

Pictured above are Trevor H., Sarah L., Tyler B, Sherry R. and Zachary H. Each student received a Shining Star trophy and certificate and a meal coupon and certificate from Texas Roadhouse. Their schools also received a certificate.

 Following are their nominations.

Tyler B., Zachary H. and Trevor H.

Grade 6 - Balls Creek Elementary

Nominated by Hope Spear

Typically Shining Star Nominations are done for only one student.  However, these three gentlemen have achieved “Good Citizenship” together as a team.  It would be unfair to mention one without mentioning the other two. These three gentlemen have shown the idea of good citizenship by thinking of others. They have taken it upon themselves to organize a whole school canned food drive.  Tyler, Zachary, and Trevor created, initiated, and implemented this entire food drive themselves. These young men saw several families in our school who were in need of food.  They took it upon themselves to help these families. It has taken them a great amount of time and dedication in order to have this program run smoothly.

Starting at the beginning of the school year these three young men took initiative and set up time to meet with Mr. Benton, our vice principal, to begin to plan this Food Drive.  After the meeting they spent time to think through the details and plan exactly what they wanted to accomplish with this food drive.  They also spent their own free time to create posters which were then distributed to every child in school.  These posters let all the students at Balls Creek Elementary know of the need for canned foods and the dates of the food drive.  This planning caused them to lose their own recess time to get all of the work done.  For sixth grade boys this is a huge sacrifice.  However, they never asked if there was another time for them to get this work done.

Once the food drive began these boys took time out of their day to collect the food from every class.  This meant they had to take home the work they would miss in class to go and collect the food.  Each of them not only made up the missed work, they also committed themselves to helping others by collecting the food.  They each felt that this was an important task because it provided food to families in their own school who were in need. 

Each of them plays different roles in order to get this project accomplished.  Tyler B. is the motivator and the organizer.  He is always thinking ahead as to what the three of them would need to do next.  Zachary H. is the consistent hard worker that sets the example and forces the other two to keep up with his level of work.  When it is time to go get the food he is the first one of the boys out the door and the other two are moving to keep up with him.  Trevor is the “accountant”.  While Tyler and Zachary are out collecting the food from the individual classrooms, Trevor is counting up the cans the other two have collected.  In a matter of 45 minutes all the food is picked up and accounted for.  

Over and over again these boys have shown good citizenship.  They saw a need in their own school and decided they could help to fix it.  As they set out to help others I don’t think they realize the impact they are making on their fellow students.  They set a quiet and humble example of what it means to take care of others in their community.  They do not do it to get praise or notice; they do it because they know it helps others.  By organizing this activity they are allowing their fellow students to take care of each other.

These young men are leaders in their community of learners.  They set the example of what it means to care for others and show good citizenship.  As a teacher, they daily make my heart beam with pride at their thoughtfulness for others.  These gentlemen are the type of student that every teacher wishes to have in their class.  I have the privilege of teaching all three.  I do so knowing that they will go on to change their world just like they have changed their school community.

Tyler B., Zachary H. and Trevor H. shine like stars in my class, sixth-grade, Balls Creek Elementary School and Catawba County Schools by showing good citizenship.  I look forward to hearing what they are going to do next in their lives.

 Sherri R.

Grade 8 - Jacobs Fork Middle School

Nomined by Team 4., M. Butts, A. Ruth, L. Holland and K. chest

Sherry is a self-motivated learner that actively seeks the teacher's assistance for clarity and deeper content knowldege. She is easily engaged in cooperative learning groups with peers. In fact, she assists peers in an unassuming way and without teacher prompting. She maintains a high academic average while juggling extracurricular activities at school. She is a member of the band, Battle of the Books and FCS.

She is incredibly thoughtful and self-less. She will voice concerns on behalf of peers and maintains terrific lines of communcation with her teachers. In addition, she is very involved with her church food pantry. In fact, Sherry sacrificed the receiving of of her birthday gifts in lieu of requesting donations of non-perishable food items.

Her philanthropic idea gained news notoriety so that her church was able to receive and stockpile an estimated 10,000 items that will benefit impoverished families in the community. Sherry's altruism is unprecedented at this age. She is truly a testament to the American ideal of citizenship and humanity.

Sarah L.

Grade 11 - Fred T. Foard High School

Nominated by Angela Smith 

Sarah is a sweet, generous girl who has been through more in her short life than most people will go through in their whole lives.  At a young age, Sarah was diagnosed with cancer.  Twice, during her elementary school years, she was given radiation therapy that was so intense that she had to seclude herself on the top floor of her house while the rest of the family lived downstairs.  For weeks at a time, Sarah could not see anyone and could barely talk to her family.  Sarah’s mother would bring her meals and would leave them at her bedroom door.  Sarah could not open her door until her mother was safely downstairs again.  Once the treatment was complete, every consumable item Sarah owned had to be thrown away (including books and toys) and her whole house had to be decontaminated.  She still has routine checkups that she attends and each checkup brings the possibility of another lapse with the cancer.  On top of the cancer, Sarah has also had multiple surgeries on her ears for various problems.

 But despite all of this, Sarah remains one of the most positive, upbeat people that I have ever had the pleasure to teach.  She is an excellent student who works hard even at subjects that she does not enjoy.  I know this because I taught her geometry!  She is so very supportive of her friends and classmates and goes out of the way to help others.  Sarah is a member of the Fred T. Foard marching band and also dances for Studio B in Mt. View.  She is an active member of her church and keeps her faith close to her heart.  She is not at all timid in sharing her beliefs or in telling a friend or teacher that she will “pray for them.” 

Sarah is an amazing person.  The more I find out about her, the more I see what a jewel she is.  I hope that my own daughter grows up to have Sarah’s courage, compassion, determination, and faith.