WHEREAS the State Board of Education’s Student Heroes Award recognizes Texas public school students who engage in unselfish acts of kindness, charity or support towards their fellow students or community; and

WHEREAS the SBOE members reviewed nominations and selected 15 students across the state as recipients of the 2017 Student Heroes Award; and

WHEREAS Amanda Aguirre, a fifth-grade student at Don Jose Gallego Elementary School in the Laredo Independent School District, created care packages for military dependent children and donated to Locks of Love; and

WHEREAS Jade Sosa, an eighth-grade student at Valley View Early College High School in Valley View ISD created a mentoring program called Project 2.0 “Do Something;” and

WHEREAS Harlie Montez, a Memorial High School senior in Edgewood ISD, volunteers with multiple programs, including a summer camp that helps incoming freshmen learn engineering and robotic concepts; and

WHEREAS ZaDarius Webber, a Klein Forest High School senior in Klein ISD, is an active volunteer, working with groups such as the North East Men of Distinction, North Houston Junior Frontiers Club, and the Klein Forest African American Heritage Society; and

WHEREAS Hunter Beaton, a sophomore at Boerne High School in Boerne ISD, started a program that is now going national in which children in foster care are given a “Day 1” duffel bag containing items such as toiletries, blankets, underwear and books; and

WHEREAS Madeline Neff, an eighth-grade student at Salyards Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, worked to create a campus culture of volunteerism in which students help fellow students, the school staff, and residents of a local residential care facility; and

WHEREAS Sarah Schilberg, a West Brook High School junior in Beaumont ISD, founded Bruins Aiding in Community Service and volunteers at a nursing home, serving breakfast and providing companionship to seniors with Alzheimer’s; and,

WHEREAS Dylan Keene, a third-grade student at Whitcomb Elementary School in Clear Creek ISD, voluntarily assists a classmate who is new to the country and who has a medical condition that requires her to check in regularly with the school nurse; and

WHEREAS Bao Catteau, a senior at Denison High School in Denison ISD, performs many volunteer activities such as mentoring a student through the Big Brother, Big Sister program, and collecting and delivering food through Meals on Wheels and Helping Hands; and

WHEREAS Corey Carroll, a Milano High School senior in Milano ISD, increased school spirit by creating and directing a drum line that will now continue after he graduates; and

WHEREAS Brock Crymes, a senior at Birdville High School in Birdville ISD, is the founder of the Birdville High School Senate and has served as a senior teen court attorney for seven years at the North Richland Hills Municipal Court; and

WHEREAS Emilee Gant, a senior at Lovejoy High School in Lovejoy ISD, volunteers with Special Olympics organizing events, games and award ceremonies and has coached a Special Olympics cheer squad for four years; and

WHEREAS Cooper Philpot, an eighth-grade student at Bailey Junior High in Arlington ISD, each month for three years has set up and hosted birthday parties at Safe Haven, a shelter for women and children who are escaping domestic violence; and

WHEREAS Cole George, a Lorena High School freshman in Lorena ISD, raised funds to buy a battery-powered adaptive fork that bends and levels to help a classmate whose disability affects her motor skills, which made it difficult for her to bring a fork to her mouth; and

WHEREAS Christabel Salinas, a fifth-grade student at Bean Elementary School in Lubbock ISD, organized a clothing drive and a coin drive to help needy humans and pets in her community; and

WHEREAS these amazing students have modeled caring and compassion in their communities; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education extends its heartfelt thanks to each of these students  and commends them for their unselfish volunteerism, good character and integrity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to each of them and that a copy be included in the permanent records of the State Board of Education.

WITNESS our signatures this twenty-third day of June, two thousand and seventeen, in Austin, Texas.

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Donna Bahorich, Chair

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Ruben Cortez, Jr., Secretary