Alexia is a six-year-old kindergarten student at Eastover Elementary School. During lunch in the cafeteria in January, she noticed that one of her classmates was choking. Alexia stood up and waved her arms to get the cafeteria monitor’s attention. The classmate coughed hard and the object in her throat came loose, but Alexia’s quick action could have saved the child’s life. Alexia did the right thing by calling an adult to help in a dangerous situation.

Alex is seven years old and in the first grade at Tuckaseegee Elementary. Recently, a first grader slipped and fell in the cafeteria, dropping her tray in front of a table full of third-grade students. Unfortunately, the third graders didn’t get up to help her; instead, many laughed at her. Axel ignored the older third graders, bent down to help the girl up, and started picking up the food that had fallen on the floor. He then walked the girl – who he didn’t know – to the window to put her tray away. Axel’s classmates have taken notice of his bravery and he is an example of doing the right thing, even when it may be tough. The next time someone falls, his classmates will be there to help because of his leadership.

Destiny is a ten-year-old fourth grader at Elon Park Elementary School. During dismissal, a kindergarten student did not follow her teacher’s instructions. She was supposed to be picked up in carpool, but she instead walked home with a neighbor and her children.

When the kindergartener wasn’t in the carpool line, several staff members searched the building, the buses and the carpool line for her. Destiny lives in the child’s neighborhood. When she saw how worried everyone was, she approached a teacher and said the child may have walked home with the neighbor, since she does that from time to time. School staff called the neighbor and learned that’s exactly what happened.

Destiny did the right thing when she recognized how serious the situation was and shared this important information with school staff.

Shayar is just four years old, but he already knows when to do the right thing. Back in October, Shayar called 911 to report that his mother was sick and wouldn’t wake up. When MEDIC and police arrived at his house, Shayar let them inside, where responders found his mother lying on the floor, nearly unconscious.

Shayer’s father arrived home moments later, saying Shayar had called his cell phone to say his mother was sick.

While all this was happening, Shayar was also taking care of his younger brother and sister. It’s amazing that this four-year-old called 911, called his father and took care of his siblings, all during a frightening emergency.

Ernesto is in the tenth grade at Olympic, and is a positive influence on his classmates. On at least two occasions, a student has made a negative comment about another student using a racial slur. Both times, Ernesto stepped in and used humor to put down the student making the slur while defending the victim. His response shows he knows how and when to do the right thing, because he left the class focused on him, instead of the inappropriate comments.

Corey is a nine-year-old fourth grader at Mountain Island Elementary. One day, he ran out of the restroom and said he needed to tell his teacher something. She asked him to get back in line and tell her when the class went out for recess. Moments later, he got out of line again, and his teacher reminded him to wait until the class was outside. As soon as the class stepped out the door, he left his place in line and told his teacher that another student had brought a knife to school and was showing other students in the restroom. The other student admitted he had a nail clipper that had two small knives attached. Corey did the right thing by persisting in his efforts to tell his teacher when he saw a classmate with a potentially dangerous item.

Jamal is 13 years old and in the eighth grade at Piedmont IB Middle. In November, he visited the school counselor to report that one of his classmates had what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette, a lighter and a handgun. The student showed the gun to other children and Jamal was worried about his safety, as well as the safety of all the other students.

During the investigation, staff learned the real-looking gun was just a shell with the working insides removed. The marijuana cigarette also looked real, but had crushed leaves inside. The lighter was real. Jamal proved he knows when to do the right thing by immediately telling an adult what he had seen to keep his school safe.

Elvis is a 13-year-old eighth grader at Jay M. Robinson Middle. A student who had been having issues with depression and a sleep disorder went into the bathroom one morning before homeroom. Elvis walked into the bathroom moments later and saw the student swallowing a handful of pills. Elvis told him to spit the pills out and squeezed the boy’s cheeks until he spit them onto the floor. Elvis then flushed the pills and immediately reported the incident to the school resource officer. By stepping in when a classmate was in trouble, Elvis showed he knows how to do the right thing.

Courtney is 14 years old and in the eighth grade at South Charlotte Middle, but she shows wisdom and maturity beyond her years. One afternoon, several students made a mess on the bus. The bus driver moved all the students from the back of the bus to the front until the students who made the mess spoke up.

Most of the students grumbled and complained under their breath, but Courtney stood up and asked permission to speak. All the students on the bus quieted down while she calmly pleaded her case, explaining that it wasn’t fair for everyone to be punished for a couple of students’ actions. Her speech was so effective, the three students who caused the mess stood up and confessed. Courtney did the right thing by addressing what she saw as an unfair situation with maturity and strength.

Vadahl is a 15-year-old ninth grader at West Charlotte High. On his way home from school one day, he found an elderly woman in the street who had been stabbed. Vadahl carried the woman to a pay phone, called 911, and waited with her until the ambulance arrived. In all likelihood, because he did the right thing, Vadahl saved her life.

Cande is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Bradley Middle. During outside time at school, she saw a classmate cutting herself. The girl begged Cande not to tell, and other friends said they wouldn’t tell anyone about it. Cande knew her friend needed help and did the right thing by telling the principal what was happening. She learned the next day that her friend was getting the help she needed. Cande was worried her friend would be angry with her, or that their other friends would give her a hard time about telling, but made the decision to do what it took to get help.

Matthew is 13 years old and in the eighth grade at Cochrane Middle. One morning in November, he heard two boys talking about beating up another student. He tried to talk them out of it, but the boys didn’t listen. When the fight started, Matthew immediately grabbed the student who was being attacked, moved him inside the building, and told a teacher what was happening. He then went back to the boys who started the fight and tried to calm them down and deescalate the situation. Matthew did the right thing by trying to stop the fight before it started, then protecting the victim and telling an adult. Many staff members also complimented Matthew on his choices, because he sometimes has to work hard to control his own anger.