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

WHEREAS the SBOE members reviewed nominations and selected 15 students across the state as recipients of the 2018 Student Heroes Award; and

WHEREAS Mayely Carrasco, a sophomore at Odessa High School in the Ector County Independent School District, provided support and encouragement to classmates through the creation of a suicide prevention support group; and

WHEREAS Horacio Garcia-Rojas, a junior at IDEA McAllen College Preparatory School, has funded 23,000 free chemotherapy treatments by collecting 23 million caps as part of the “Caps for Chemo” program; and

WHEREAS with a simple Christmas wish for a blanket for her brother, Crystal Pacheco, a first-grade student at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Edinburg CISD, became the spark that launched a blanket drive that raised 1,500 blankets; and
 
WHEREAS Caleb Elam, a junior at Furr High School in Houston ISD, is involved in nearly a dozen community service projects that include food drives, mentoring, tutoring, and assisting non-profit organizations; and

WHEREAS; Samantha Sanchez, a sophomore at Ronald Reagan High School in North East ISD, was so moved to provide blankets to homeless children that she created a non-profit foundation called Sam’s Covers and to date has delivered 1,600 fleece blankets; and

WHEREAS Hannah Keller, a junior at Stratford High School in Spring Branch ISD, has found a multitude of ways to help and befriend refugees and under schooled classmates, including creating the One World Club; and

WHEREAS Callie Jourdan, a senior at Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches ISD, is a Red Cross volunteer who exhibited leadership and a calm demeanor as she helped staff a shelter after Hurricane Harvey hit the coast; and,

WHEREAS Kathryn Fouch, a sixth-grade student of Pecan Trail Intermediate School in College Station ISD, created the No One Sits Alone Initiative to help all students feel included and appreciated; and

WHEREAS Damiano “D.J.” Sanders, a fifth-grade student at Raguet Elementary School in Nacogdoches ISD, takes care of others in need, whether it is carrying their books, giving them a pat on the back, or providing encouragement; and

WHEREAS Lance White, a cancer patient and junior at Cedar Park High School in Leander ISD, used his own experience as a springboard to create Lift Brigade, a charity that provides support for pediatric cancer patients and their families; and

WHEREAS Ella Pursley, a student at North Ridge Middle School in Birdville ISD; has provided more than 700 hours of community service, hosting birthday parties for homeless children and serving as a buddy to special needs children; and

WHEREAS Braden Munn, a senior at Highland Park High School in Highland Park ISD, heads the Community Service Council, provides math tutoring, serves as an orientation counselor, and is a liaison between the school and community; and

WHEREAS Eghosa Egbenoma, a sophomore at James Bowie High School in Arlington ISD, has volunteered in every aspect of the DFW Metroplex Toys for Tots program for the past four years; and

WHEREAS Blake Travis, a fifth-grade student at Dagan Elementary School in Lewisville ISD, launched and has rapidly grown a toy drive that provides gifts for hospitalized children; and

WHEREAS Tinsley Drake, a fourth-grade student at Jose S. Ramirez Elementary School in Lubbock ISD, handcrafts jewelry that she sells to raise funds to support Open Door, a charity that assists homeless people; 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 kind 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 fifteenth day of June, two thousand and eighteen, in Austin, Texas.

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Donna Bahorich, Chair

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Ruben Cortez, Jr., Secretary