May 2011

Tyler Allen Blythe Elementary School Tyler is eight years old and in the second grade at Blythe Elementary. He has Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy and uses a wheelchair to travel long distances. Tyler is a spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He appeared on the local MDA telethon in September, and he was on the school's closed-circuit TV to encourage students to contribute to the MDA through the "Touchdown for Tyler" fundraiser. Tyler has also appeared at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with NASCAR drivers, at Lowe's corporate offices to encourage the employees to give to the MDA, and at fire stations to encourage donors to "fill the boot". Tyler also recently participated in the MDA Muscle Walk held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and encouraged many Blythe teachers, friends and family to donate and participate in the walk with "Team Tyler". He is never afraid to speak up for MDA, and tells everyone that the money is to help find a cure someday. In addition to Tyler's fundraising efforts with MDA, he is a super student and a good friend to all of his classmates. He also helps a classmate read. Tyler sits with the student, reads with him, plays with him and is a good friend. Tyler is an exceptional boy, and he can always be found doing the right thing. Michael Bandril South Charlotte Middle School Michael is 13 years old and in the seventh grade at South Charlotte Middle school. He was working on writing exercises with other classmates when he saw an Army knife fall out of a student’s pocket. The student picked up the knife, opened it and started playing with it. The student told Michael not to tell anyone about the knife; Michael didn’t want to break a promise, so he crossed his fingers behind his back while assuring the student he wouldn’t say anything. At least three other students saw the knife, but no one did anything. Michael was worried someone would get hurt, so he did the right thing and told the teacher.  The student was arrested for having a weapon in school. Michael said his parents always encouraged him to do what is right. Kimberly Barnes Southwest Middle School Kimberly is 12 years old and in seventh grade at Southwest Middle. She found a $50 bill in the cafeteria after lunch. Kimberly tried to turn it in to the school office, but wasn’t able to. She took the money home and told her mother what she had found. Her mother brought the money back the next morning. A CMS cafeteria worker lost the money while cleaning up after lunch. The worker later met with Kimberly to thank her for doing the right thing. Brittany Blitstein Cornelius Elementary School Brittany is a nine-year-old fourth grader at Cornelius Elementary. Her class studied a unit called "Nature's Delicate Balance," and started a project to plant and tend an organic garden. The students' harvest is being donated to a local food bank to provide healthy, fresh vegetables to needy families. Brittany knew the class needed more plants. She did the right thing when she decided to sew pillows at home to sell to students to raise money for the project. Her teacher said, “Her concern for the community at large and for her classroom community is outstanding.” Raymond Nathan Brooks Lake Wylie Elementary School Nathan is a seven-year-old second grader at Lake Wylie Elementary. He is an extremely caring and kind companion to one of his classmates we’ll call Don. Don has a degenerative muscle disorder that makes it difficult to use his hands. When they go to music class, Nathan has Don wheel his chair right next to him so he can help with the music book and any class activities. Nathan holds the heavy book at an angle so they can look at it together. When it was Don’s turn to hand out the books, Nathan immediately stepped in to help by going to the bookshelf and taking the books down, knowing Don would not be able to reach them. Don could not carry as many books as the other children so Nathan made sure Don had just the number of books he could handle. When it’s time to play instruments, particularly the large xylophones, Nathan decided to hold the instrument in front of Don so he could play it. His teacher told Nathan it wasn’t necessary, but Nathan felt that Don should have a chance to play the same instruments as all his other classmates. Nathan’s teacher said, “In all my years of teaching, I don't believe I have seen a student this young exhibit such qualities. I believe Nathan will become one of our good citizens of North Carolina.” Congratulations to Nathan for always doing the right thing. Whesley Carey Hawk Ridge Elementary School Whesley is a 10-year-old fifth grader at Hawk Ridge Elementary. One evening, he was helping his mother care for his twin brothers when he noticed smoke. A candle that had been moved away from the twins caught a silk plant on fire. Whesley immediately took action, showing his brothers how to crawl on the floor to avoid the smoke and get out of the room safely. The smoke caused so much damage in the house, the family moved to a hotel for two weeks while it was cleaned up. Whesley did the right thing when he showed quick action and bravery in a scary situation. Joseph Elyea Hawk Ridge Elementary School Joseph is 11 years old and in the fifth grade at Hawk Ridge Elementary. One evening, as he was getting ready to go to bed, his mother came in to say goodnight and collapsed in his bedroom. She was in good health and there was no warning she had any problems. Joseph did the right thing when he got his dad and called for an ambulance while his father performed CPR. The defibrillator revived his mother, but she spent three weeks in the hospital recovering from a heart attack and broken ribs. Joseph showed strength, maturity and responsibility during this scary situation and while his mother was in the hospital. Jacqueline Williams Whitewater Middle School Jacqueline is a 13-year-old seventh grader at Whitewater Middle. In January a special education student had a seizure on the bus lot. She collapsed and fell to the ground. Jacqueline, who is also in the special education program, ran to the nearest administrator and explained that one of her classmates had collapsed and needed help. She told the school staff member she thought the girl was having a seizure. Jacqueline was named student of the month for doing the right thing. No picture available Alexus Stinson Rocky River High School Alexus is a 17-year-old tenth grader at Rocky River High. She approached a teacher between classes and handed over an expensive smartphone with a nice case. Alexus said someone had dropped it and she wanted to turn it in. Earlier in the week, Alexus had also done the right thing by stepping between two students and stopping a fight before it happened. She also wrote a statement about the situation.