Superintendent’s Award
for Outstanding Character, Citizenship Announced
A group of Covington High School science students and teachers won the Superintendent’s Award for Outstanding Character and Citizenship for 2013, with the announcement made by Superintendent W. L. “Trey” Folse, III at the May 16 School Board meeting in Covington.
Their “Hand-In-Hand” project is a service learning event which teaches basic scientific concepts to visiting second grade students from several area elementary schools. The project originated seven years ago.
“This is a great yearly project that encourages science education among our younger students,” Superintendent Folse stated. The project not only benefits the second grade students, but also allows the high school students to develop leadership skills, serve the community, and deepen their own knowledge of science.
The finalist in this year’s Superintendent’s Award program is a Lancaster Elementary student group named “Little Citizens – Big Change.” Three students representing the group, Jence Simms, Lauren Hebert, and Julia Marcas, and Principal Susannah Welch were congratulated by Superintendent Folse. He explained that it all started when seven-year-old second grade student Jence Simms decided to sell lemonade and use the profits to help “make a difference” in the world. With the help of a friend in the fifth grade, the lemonade stand raised $130, and they decided to donate the profits to the Humane Society of Louisiana to help neglected horses.
Since then the local students’ group has grown in membership and helped raised funds for Hurricane Isaac victims, held an Earth Day yard sale, and delivered Christmas dinners with the Covington Rotary Club. Many more projects are planned. For more information, one can visit http://www.little-citizens.org.
“The Superintendent’s Award was created to honor people and programs that showcase outstanding character and citizenship,” Superintendent Folse explained. “Capital One Bank has sponsored the award for many years, and they have been a great partner with the School System.”
