Grade school students recognized for making a difference

November 18, 2009

By JoAn Bjarko

The Wellington

 

Three students in Wellington (Colorado) each won tickets to a college football game and earned $250 for their schools by making a difference in their community.

The Qwest Play-Maker Awards went to Madysen Routh and Megan Eisenach at Eyestone Elementary School and to Luke Stevens at Rice Elementary School. Sponsors of the awards are Qwest and Colorado State University.

In her nomination letters, Eyestone fourth-grade teacher Kelly Vance called Madysen hard working, kind, caring, honest and exceptionally polite.

“Mady is extremely responsible,” Vance wrote. “Her schoolwork is always complete. She returns all required paperwork on time and often goes above and beyond what is asked of her.”

Vance told how Madysen, at age 4, joined the Junior Red Cross Team of America and, with her older sister, raised money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Vance wrote that Megan “is an amazing student with a sweet, quiet disposition.”

“Megan sets the example for appropriate and respectful behavior, and others follow,” Vance wrote. “I look to her to lead the class and compliment her often for always being on task and ready to learn.”

Both girls are members of the school running club, “Cats on the Run.”

Each student received four tickets to a CSU football game. Madysen took her sister, Natally; her mom, Arien; and her dad, Tim. Megan took her sister, Sarah; her mom, Katie; and a good friend. The $500 the girls earned for Eyestone will likely be used toward a literacy project.

At Rice Elementary School, third-grade teacher Elaine Foster said Luke is a great example of how to be respectful and polite, and he demonstrates good citizenship.

“He is always trying to do the right thing, whether on the playground, in the lunchroom or in the classroom,” Foster said. “He’s good at helping his classmates remember the rules in a positive way.”

Luke’s guests at the CSU game were his dad, Travis; his grandfather, Robert Bates; and his cousin, Trevon Hinker.

Luke said he was both surprised and excited to win an award. “I thought that was awesome for every teacher and every person” to benefit from the $250 for the school, he said.