The students were recognized at the sixth and final “Do The Right Thing” Award Ceremony for the 2012-13 school year at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology on Monday, April 8.
The Collier County Sheriff's Office adopted the "Do the Right Thing" program in January 1988, and has honored hundreds of children for acts that reinforce good behavior, positive acts, and outstanding accomplishments in the community.
The following students have been recognized for April:
Matthew Doyl, kindergarten, Pelican Marsh Elementary School
Instead of asking for birthday presents, Matthew asked his friends to bring a pair of shoes for the Laces of Love program. As a result, he donated seven pairs of shoes to be distributed to students in need.
Owen Houston, second grade, Laurel Oak Elementary School
Owen was inside the play area at the Coastland Center when he noticed a mall employee holding a little girl. Owen and his family asked the girl if she was lost and started asking other parents if she was their child. A security guard asked if someone remembered seeing the girl with anyone. Owen said he saw her with an older girl and remembered what she looked like. He was able to locate the girl’s big sister who was still inside the play area.
Milla “Mia” Barlow, third grade, Osceola Elementary School
Mia found $30 on the ground at her school and turned it in to her teacher. It was later discovered that the money was intended for a family to purchase a yearbook and had been misplaced.
Alexander Circiumaru, third grade, Vineyards Elementary School
While wrapping up lunch in the school cafeteria, Alexander noticed $8 on the ground. First he asked his friends if the money belonged to them but it did not. Instead of keeping the money, Alexander turned it into the school’s Youth Relations deputy.
Gavin Steel, fourth grade, Pelican Marsh Elementary School
One day after dismissal a father reported to office staff that his son, usually a bike rider, never arrived at their usual meeting spot. Unsure why he was not there to greet his father, school staff began communicating with one another via walkie-talkie in attempt to locate the student. Gavin, who attends the afterschool program, overhead the call on the walkie-talkie and told the supervisor he heard the student say he was going to a friend’s house. With this information the father was able to locate his son.
Allison Guajardo, fifth grade, Avalon Elementary School
Allison discovered a Collier County government identification card and Florida driver’s license on two separate occasions. In both cases, she turned them into the school’s Youth Relations deputy.
Emily Peak and Julissa Montalvo, fifth grade, Highlands Elementary School
Emily and Julissa notified school staff after learning one of their friends was feeling depressed and possibly suicidal. The youth relations deputy contacted the student’s parent who immediately got assistance for their child.
Henry Hiemstra, 11th grade, Everglades City School
While leaving school one day Henry discovered that someone had damaged the passenger-side door of his truck. He knew who caused the damage but instead of confronting that person in anger, he reported it to the principal and let school administrators handle the situation.
Juan “Alex” Meza, 11th grade, Naples High School
Alex discovered a Fujifilm FinePix camera on the ground and turned it in to the school’s Youth Relations deputy.
ABOVE: Photo by Joe Geoffroy/CCSO
