Cavalier Kudos program to highlight CCHS staff, fund activities

A new program at Carroll County High School will not only highlight the achievements of the school’s educators and staff, it will also pump in money to programs that could use a boost.

The program, called Cavalier Kudos, is a positive peer recognition program where any staff member may recognize another staff member for going above and beyond for them personally, another staff member, or a student. To do so, they will submit the details through a Google Form.

At the end of each month, entries will be shared with staff and each staff member who was recognized will be entered into a random drawing for two staff members to receive a free Chick-Fil-A lunch or an Ignite Life Coffee. This is where staff comes in. CCHS will use this process to select two staff members per month. This would be peers nominating peers. If two staff members are selected, they would each receive $500 to donate to a CCHS club, organization, or community service project of their choosing.

“Not only will Cavalier Kudos promote a culture of positive peer recognition and benefit students and programs inside the building, but it will also benefit our community through various service projects our students participate in,” said CCHS Assistant Principal Kristen Quesenberry. “I think it is the ultimate ‘pay it forward’! Our staff, no matter what their role or title at CCHS, are a phenomenal group of people who go out of their way daily to lend a helping hand, to do something special for someone who may be struggling, and there are those who can lift the mood in a room just by entering it! Although our staff positively contribute to CCHS for the right reasons and do so without the expectation of recognition or expecting something in return, we feel as if it is important to highlight and bring awareness to the good stuff going on in our building!”

The Cavalier Kudos program is the brainchild of Jerry Carter, founder of OneOfUs.Care and the man behind the popular Carroll County Sports Report blog. Carter has built a reputation as being a huge donor to Cavalier athletics. With Cavalier Kudos, Carter is turning his attention to Carroll County academics as well.

“With the contribution of Jerry Carter at OneofUs.Care, it allows staff to quite literally ‘pay it forward’ by designating where a total of $1,000 per month is allocated,” Quesenberry said. “This will provide more opportunities and offer extra support for our students, clubs, and organizations to pursue their goals and assist in making the collective vision of such clubs/organizations become a reality!”

For his part, Carter said the Carroll County Sports Report is a vehicle for him to get involved in Cavalier sports and athletics, but his true goal is to make an impact locally on the academic side.

“We are trying to help the youth in Carroll County period. It is no more than that,” Carter said. “This gives the academic side a fighting chance. And what the school chooses to do with the money each month is blind faith in that I believe this administration will make sure it gets used in the right manner.”

Each monthly winner selected for Cavalier Kudos will also have their picture featured on the OneOfUs.Care website for that month.

Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on X@AWorrellTCN