NORTH PORT — Students were honored by Sarasota County superintendent of schools for doing the right thing, including a middle schooler who alerted officials to a girl who brought a loaded gun to school.
About 25 students from North Port schools recently gathered for the annual Do the Right Thing banquet at the Morgan Family Center in North Port.
The event is sponsored by the North Port Police Department, Sarasota County Schools Police Department, North Port Kiwanis, North Port High School Key Club and Holly's Hope.
Each student was called to the front to shake hands with North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison and other officers. This year, each student was also congratulated by school Superintendent Terry Connor, who was the guest speaker.
Connor told students they had good character.
"Someone is always watching your actions," he told students. "You did the right thing without knowing you were being rewarded."
Students were given prizes and awards for their good deeds at their schools and in the community.
Woodland Middle Schooler Kylie Davis heard a student brought a gun on campus. She saw the outline of the weapon in the student's backpack. She immediately ran to the office to report it. The school resource officer removed a Taurus 9mm handgun, fully loaded with hollow-point ammunition from the student.
Also honored were:
Stacie Aybar of Toledo Blade Elementary was awarded for being a peer mentor to two first grade students.
Imagine School of North Port student Garin Azor turned in lost eyeglasses.
Jackson Culbertson and Carter Peterson returned found money to a trusted adult who gave it to its owner.
Avery Deangelo was honored for having a lemonade stand to raise money for the food program at Imagine Elementary School to help those in need.
Xavier Ortega helps a middle school student get her large backpack off the bus every day.
Woodland Middle School student Ashley Bastardo who reported a social media post she thought to be a serious threat toward a school in South Carolina.
Finnley Mangin saw two vaping devices hidden under a water fountain at WMS and reported it to his teacher.
Glenallen Elementary School students Chase Creed and Makayla Rush help students who struggle with making connections with people.
Students Antione Havens and Dexter Jackson Jr. found a diamond ring at the Glenallen campus and immediately turned it into the office. It was returned to the owner.
Aria Proctor-Sewell and Adriana Lovo witnessed another student pull a knife out of their backpack and brandish it in front of other students on the bus. They told the bus driver, who called the school resource officer to investigate. The weapon was removed from the student.
Aubree Quarles received confidential information from a friend who was suffering. They went to an adult who could get the friend help.
Lamarque Elementary School student Cody Ostler consistently demonstrates leadership abilities by helping others.
Keylon Harper-Pace mentored a student who was confused with their work at Lamarque Elementary.
North Port High School Karelis Pinto heard a student had a weapon on campus and immediately reported it to the SRO who investigated.
Layla Toussaint, Megan Benoit and Steena Benoit helped a student who was having an allergic reaction to peanut allergy at NPHS.
Jayden Thomas helps others and has a positive attitude.
Stacie Aybar is a peer mentor at Toledo Blade Elementary.
Finnley Mangin reported two vaping devices hidden under a water fountain at the middle school.
Lamarque Elementary School student Matty Schnell, 11, is autistic. While spending time with his grandmother, she tripped and fell and hit her head and face on bricks. Matty saw blood and immediately called 911. He gave the dispatcher the information. She broke her nose and needed 30 stitches, but Matty helped save her.
Lamarque Elementary student Jayden Thomas is well-mannered young man that comes to school with a positive attitude.
Cranberry Elementary School student Annabelle Carillo is a great role model, polite and follows all school rules and classroom expectations. Fellow student Sofia Kosteniuk offers assistance to other students and is a positive role model.
Audrey Michauld learned another student had a picture of drugs on a cell phone. She reported it. They were syringes which were found on the street and removed.
Megan Hill is on the Cranberry Safety Patrol. She greets all students and helps pre-K students. Fellow student Ryla Lane helped a substitute teacher who fell in the classroom and needed medical attention at the school.
Imagine High Schoolers Jayden Cook and Ava Cecil turned in a wallet with a substantial amount of cash and gift cards which was returned to its owner.
Jack Coffee found keys on the Imagine campus and turned them in to an adult. They belonged to a staff member.
Woodland Middle Schooler Damon Jones is a student that can be trusted with all matters and displays all the characteristics of a good role model.
WMS student Jeremiah Provenzano witnessed a belligerent adult calling another student hurtful and belittling names. He told the bus driver who called the Department of Children and Families to investigate.
Toledo Blade Elementary School fifth grader Rylan Williams is very shy and reserved and dealt with a difficult transition in school and overcame it.
Sponsors included Lolablue, Prompt Towing, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Adams Publishing, A&B Screening, Soothe Hands Massage and Publix.
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