Local Youth and Educators recognized with American Youth Character Awards

Highlighting and honoring young people whose lives and achievements demonstrate an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character, Citizens for Safe Schools hosted the 2023 American Youth Character Awards at the Klamath Community College Conference Center on Monday night. These awards are a great way to acknowledge skills and achievements that sometimes go unnoticed.

In cooperation with the national Character Counts! Coalition, Citizens for Safe Schools host this awards process and ceremony every year, soliciting applications from schools and individuals in the Klamath Basin. The Awardees are selected not based on academic merit but rather, based on applicants’ demonstration of strength of character, namely the six pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Six youth awardees were selected, and each youth received a certificate and $100, and two teachers in the community were selected as the Character Builder winners, receiving $500 to be used in their classroom for character initiatives. Awards this year were made possible through the generosity of these local businesses; Precision Painting, Summit Funding, Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corporation, Rachael Spoon at State Farm Insurance, and Margot Durand at Fisher Nicholson Reality.

Monday’s ceremony honored the following awardees, who were each acknowledge by Citizens for Safe Schools Executive Director Robyn Pfeifer, and the educator, adult, or entity who nominated them:

Jamar Cuellar
Jamar is a student at Klamath Union High School who was nominated by Matthew Hill, who specifically emphasized Jamar’s commitment to the pillar of trustworthiness, and the role he takes in trying to help others in school.

Chelsea Gilmore
Chelsea is a student at Mazama High School who was nominated by Holly Montjoy, for her tremendous spirit of volunteerism, mentorship, and her caring, empathetic personality.

Jazzmene Cline
Jazzmene attends Gilchrist High School, who was nominated by Rick West. Jazzmene is student body president and a leader in the student counsel. She is motivated to be the best version of herself she can be, it’s witnessed by all who know her in the community.

Elijah Scott Archer
Elijah is a student at Gilchrist High School, and he was nominated by his teacher Rick West. Elijah lives all six pillars of character every day. He is a positive role model for all other students and has taken on many responsibilities and community service activities.

Ameesha Hazarika
Ameesha is a National Honor Society member at Klamath Union High School who was nominated by her teacher Lisa Danskin. She says that Ameesha displays the six pillars of character every day, who truly cares about giving back to her community.

Nakia Williams
Nakia Williams is a student at Ponderosa Middle School, who was nominated by her teacher Amanda Thompson, who says that Nakia really shines when it comes down to respect, kindness, and understanding.
In addition to our youth awardees, two local educators who have demonstrated a strong dedication to inspiring strength of character in our young people were also selected:

Rachel Belenfant, of Chiloquin Elementary. One of her nominators Stacey Ramirez said, “She works tirelessly every day to teach her students how to be kind to each other. Rachel has high expectations for her kindergarteners, and she is able to hold these high expectations because she creates a strong and caring relationship with each of them”.

Tom Smith, of Klamath Union High School. His nominator Matthew Hill said, “I think the best evidence of Coach Smith’s modeling of the Six Pillars of Character is this: Klamath Union High School hired a new football coach since Smith stepped down. The athletic director gave players the chance to “interview” the finalists, and Coach Smith’s team drilled into the culture- and relationship-building of football, because Coach Smith imbued in his players an emotional, moral, and spiritual foundation that winning football starts with character, not X’s and O’s.”.

Many nominations were received for this years awards, and the selection panel was inspired and impressed with each submission. Honorable mentions include:

Youth– Abigale Cook and Grace Wilson of Klamath Union High School, Malea Cordova of Roosevelt Elementary School, Elijah Adam Tequianes-Reyes of Ponderosa Middle School, and Olivia Hendrick of Henley Middle School

Educators and outstanding community members– Julia Lindquist of Fremont Elementary/ A.d. Hay Schools, Marissa Evans of Henley Elementary, Alyssa Sweeney of Ferguson Elementary School, and Jose Hernandez of Friends of the Children

Now more than ever, it is important that our nation commit to those ideals of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship that have made our nation so great.  Citizens For Safe Schools would like to extend their warmest congratulations to all of the 2023 Nominees and Awardees for living up to these ideals.

For more information about Citizens For Safe Schools visit www.citizensforsafeschools.org.