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MYCP Honors Dignitaries, Teachers, Students, Community Partners at 2nd Annual Awards Celebration

MARATHON, FL (934 words) – In a one-hour awards ceremony more than a half-dozen county-wide political leaders, as well as more than 150 community partners, administrators, teachers, parents and students were recognized and honored for being the change they want to see in the world at the 2nd Annual Monroe Youth Challenge Program Awards Celebration. The event was hosted May 10 at Sombrero County Club in Marathon.

The school district is MYCP’s most significant partner. Under the leadership of Superintendent Randy Acevedo, MYCP has been able to turn its focus toward achievement in the classroom. Booker said, “Our primary method is through service learning. We have been able to partner with schools to provide students hands-on learning experiences that assist them in being to make their community a better place.”

Amy Kochanasz, of the Project Coordinator for the State Farm Florida Service Learning Program in Tallahassee sought out Superintendent Acevedo and said, “I’ve never seen a county have such an incredible service learning program.” Earlier in the day Sutter had taken her on a tour in the Upper Keys where she saw several service learning projects and met students who worked on them. “At Montessori Island Charter School, the kids gave her a presentation on native plants and even taught her how to use a GPS,” said Sutter.

Kochanasz toured Plantation Hammock Preserve and saw the students mitigation plantings. She toured Plantation Tropical Preserve where Coral Shores students built a gazebo and butterfly garden and later saw the student-created scrapbook for the Children’s Memorial Tree Garden. At the awards celebration she heard student monologues from “Can You Hear Them Crying” Holocaust drama created for National Youth Violence Prevention Week and held the “Have No Fear, Walk with Me” children’s story written and illustrated by students at Plantation Key School to raise awareness and donations for the American Red Cross Measles Initiative. Each project was made possible by a service learning grant and was presented in a power point presentation at the awards celebration.

The school staff present who were honored for their participation in MYCP service learning and other projects are teachers: Lourdes Dick and Sara Fabian of Marathon High School; Donna Brinkman and Joanne Dunn of Plantation Key School; Cheryl Cooke, Tracy Dobson, and Anjanette McGregor of Coral Shores High School; and Glynn Archer Elementary Assistant Principal Henry Boza.

A first for MYCP, WEOW 92.7 FM’s Rude Girl and Clear Channel’s Mark Mills were presented a Media Partner of Year Award from MYCP Public Relations Coordinator Nancy Lucas and MYCP Director Sunny Booker. “Rude Girl really pushed for us to get volunteers at last year’s Challenge Day in Key West and it made a huge difference,” Booker said. Mills attended a media familiarization breakfast hosted by MYCP earlier in the year and has been thoughtful on how to coordinate with MYCP. He invited the MYCP Puppets of Prevention Team to attend the Sun 103 Kid’s Day and recently contacted Booker to partner with Publix so students in need get brand new back packs filled with school supplies.

In a surprise event, MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter sat teary eyed after Superintendent Randy Acevedo read a letter from the Keys Jewish Community Center in the Upper Keys thanking her for all she’s done to support violence prevention in youth through Holocaust, genocide, and International humanitarian Law education. She received a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 170 at MYCP Awards Ceremony.

Following, three Volunteer of the Year Awards were presented. For the Upper Keys it was given to Jimmy Anderson of the Monroe County Public Health Department. The Middle Keys award went to Katrina Wiatt of Conch Key. Key West’s award went to Key West High School Senior Wade Acevedo – the first time it’s ever been presented to a student. “I couldn’t have done all these events this year without him. He is incredibly helpful and reliable. He will just do anything audio visual tech work or whatever and tries to anticipate what I need to get the job done,” Booker said.

Members of the School Board, Monroe County Education, more than 20 community partners, and 30 volunteers were also recognized and presented with a gold, black, and red “MYCP Be the Change” lapel pin.

The final highlight of the night was when more than 50 students throughout the county who attended the awards celebration were presented with Be The Change Service Awards from Superintendent Acevedo and MYCP Director Sunny Booker for volunteer efforts with MYCP. Superintendent Acevedo said, “It is great to see so many of our young people being positively impacted by this organization. As a parent many years ago I was impressed with Challenge Day and the follow up programs. I am glad that the schools, community and students have embraced it. Thank you to the MYCP staff, community partners and volunteers for what you do to support our kids.”

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information call MYCP Director Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 or visit www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp.