Students honored for good grades, attitudes

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- They are the quiet helpers, the good listeners, the

responsible students and the caring souls.

Wearing proud yet embarrassed smiles, students from six Costa Mesa

schools accepted awards Thursday afternoon for those many traits that

often go unmentioned but not unappreciated.

“Kyra is very helpful -- always listening and following directions,”

said Carrie Burt, a fifth-grade teacher at California Elementary School,

who nominated Kyra Molter, 11, for a stellar student award.

It was the second set of awards given out in a new recognition program

created by the Eagle Pride Foundation -- a group made up of parents in

the Estancia High School zone -- and the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club. The

program recognizes students who will eventually attend Estancia High.

The award is intended to inspire the children to continue their

outstanding behavior, academically and personally, and to give them a

positive image of Estancia High, said Kiwanis President Joe Panarisi.

Two fifth-graders from each of the five elementary schools and two

eighth-graders from TeWinkle Middle School were nominated by their

teachers for the award in each of the academic quarters. Students are

chosen for being well-rounded, exemplary children, not just for academic

accomplishments, said George Cote, president of Eagle Pride.

The first round of Eagle Pride-Kiwanis student awards were handed out

in November. Although the two groups sponsor the awards, Panarisi said it

was he, Cote and Cote’s wife, Becky, who conceived the idea and make it

happen for the students and their families.

Because it is so new, students said they don’t really know why they

are getting the award, but they all had guesses.

“Sometimes I help the teacher grade papers, and sometimes I help other

people,” said Lorena Trujillo, 10, with a shy smile.

Lorena and Homer Gomez were the two award recipients from Wilson

Elementary School.

“One thing I do is go to another class and help them take the STAR 9

test,” Homer said. “I give them the password.”

California Elementary’s Kyra had the right idea too.

“Because I’m respectful and maybe because I listen good,” she said. “I

help around the class and help other kids do stuff when they need help.”

FYI

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Adams Elementary School: Ryan Esfanhani, Sara Delacruz

California Elementary School: Taylor Carpenter, Kyra Molter

Rea Elementary School: Laura Terriquez, Andy Navarette

TeWinkle Middle School: Lauren Harrington, Chase Raymond

Wilson Elementary School: Lorena Trujillo, Hector Gomez

Victoria Elementary School: Kaitlyn Smith, Jordan Mellin