March "Do The Right Thing" Awards Winners

Winners from the "Do the Right Thing" award program for March were announced during ceremonies yesterday at the police station. The overall winner was Devaisa Edmonds. Summaries of the students' efforts illustrate the consistent positive behaviors of doing the right thing. We congratulate each of them for their accomplishments.

Devaisa Edmonds – Devaisa is a senior at Lakeland High School. On Sunday, January 27, 2008, from his apartment window Devasia witnessed three young men viciously attack a man.The three culprits knocked the victim to the ground, kicked him, and stole his wallet.

In a social culture where “snitching” to police is highly frowned upon, Devaisa stepped up and showed Lakeland Police officers where the culprits were located and positively two of the three culprits which resulted in their arrest. Later in the day Devaisa became a victim himself when he was attacked by a family member of one of the culprits. In the attack Devasia’s eclectic scooter was damaged to the tune of $600.00. Yet again, Devasia stood tall and identified the suspect who attacked him, leading to that person's arrest.

Devasia stood up for what is right instead of giving in to pressure even though he became a target himself for coming forth to help solve a crime. It took a great deal of courage to do what he did. Devasia is a prime example of a young hero and how difficult it is to sometimes simply “Do The Right Thing!”

Ashley Haas – Ashley is a seventh grader at Crystal Lake Middle School. Ashley was “doing the right thing” when she welcomed a new student to class while all of the other students laughed and made noises.

Ashley volunteered to help the new student in class and helped her with questions. She also assisted the new student with assignments and her schedule. Ashley demonstrated “doing the right thing” and made good choices of a great leader. Thank you Ashley for your integrity and support!

Samantha Simon – Samantha is a fourth grader at Dixieland Elementary School. One of the students at Dixieland had to have surgery on her leg during the winter holidays and returned to school in a wheelchair. It was difficult for the student to negotiate the hallways and paths around the school.

Samantha stepped up to be the assistant that the recovering student needed so badly. Samantha pushed the student in the wheelchair to the lunch room and got her lunch each day. She assisted the student to other classes like art, music, computer lab, and the media center.

At the end of the school day Samantha got the student ready for dismissal, took her to the front of the school, and assisted her in boarding her bus. Because of the care and compassion that Samantha exhibited toward a fellow student, Dixieland feels she is deserving of the “Do The Right Thing Award!”

Angel Skaggs – Angel is an eighth grader at Southwest Middle School. On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Angel became a hero. On this particular day one of Angel’s friends along with three other students from Southwest Middle decided to “get high on triple C’s”. Triple C is taking large amounts of over the counter cold tablets to achieve a “high”. The girls in question took an assortment of the cold tablets that were stolen from a grocery store the previous evening. The girls ended up overdosing and began to develop symptoms of slurred speech, inability to walk, and hallucinations.

Once Angel discovered what her friend and fellow classmates had done she immediately told a teacher and asked to speak with Officer Edwards, the School Resource Officer. Each of the girls had to be rushed to the emergency room for treatment. Fortunately, each of the girls was okay after they were treated and released from LRMC.

Although this day began like any other day, it was anything but ordinary. Angel Skaggs became a hero when she made a conscious effort to help save her friend’s life as well as three other girls. November 14, 2007, could have had a different ending resulting in the death of teenage girls, but due to the quick actions of Angel, she saved the lives of her friend and fellow classmates. Angel should be commended for her being responsible and “doing the right thing!”

Robert Stephenson – Robert is a seventh grader at Southwest Middle School. During the first week in January 2008, School Resource Officer Maddox was standing in front of Southwest Middle School monitoring dismissal. Mrs. Brown, the school’s receptionist, was speaking with Robert. Mrs. Brown informed Officer Maddox that Robert had reported to her that another student wanted to fight him. The boy even bumped Robert in an effort to persuade him to fight.

Officer Maddox had Robert identify the individual who wanted to fight him.The person identified as the one wanting to fight had six friends with him waiting for the fight to occur. Officer Maddox spoke with the young man in question, in front of Robert, and confirmed that he was going to fight Robert after school. Robert was very quiet and never reacted.

Because of the peer pressure that exists in school today, anyone could have succumbed to the pressure and fought. At times in front of your peers it is very difficult to resist peer pressure as you can be persuaded into doing the wrong thing. Robert chose the more difficult path and chose to tell an adult which kept anyone from being injured, suspended, and maybe even arrested.

Since the recent death of a classmate Robert now thinks twice about his own actions and realizes how quickly a simple fight can result in a tragedy. Robert is to be commended fro rising above peer and personal pressure and “doing the right thing!”

- Sgt. Melanie Dixon & Officer Wayne Skinner