All 46 Partnering Schools Honor One Student at Community-Sponsored Event
More than 370 guests will gather on May 31, 2012 to celebrate 46 outstanding Spokane Valley students who personify the Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE) character traits. The 2012 PACE Awards begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center,1100 N. Sullivan Rd.
Gold sponsors Dishman Dodge Chrysler and Numerica Credit Union will be joined by fellow PACE partners, elected officials, honored students and their families and friends to recognize and celebrate good character while enjoying a chef prepared dinner and student entertainment.
PACE officially launched September 2010 with 12 founding partners including the four Spokane Valley school districts (East Valley, Central Valley, West Valley and Freeman.) Since then, PACE has grown to include 104 partners and 46 schools working together from a common list of monthly character traits to promote good character. Reader boards displaying the character trait of the month now line the city streets as reminders of good character.
At the start of the 2011-2012 school year, PACE President Ben Small shared his vision of a ceremony to honor students who embody the character traits throughout the school year.
“Recognition is such an important part of bringing character to light,” Small said. “This is the first time we’ve gathered in such a celebration, and we are grateful to our event sponsors for making this event a reality for these well-deserving students.”
Each Spokane Valley school that partners with PACE selected one student to represent their school and be honored for their good character with a 2012 PACE Award:
Adams Elementary School – Meghan Salsbury
Arthur B. Ness Elementary School – Hunter Tiffany
Broadway Elementary School – Corinne David
Central Valley Kindergarten Center – Eric Radmer
Chester Elementary School – Joel Thompson
East Farms Elementary School – Greta Helfenstein
Freeman Elementary School – Ronni (Veronica) Keizer
Greenacres Elementary School – Brooke DeRuwe
Liberty Lake Elementary School – Jack Lavelle
McDonald Elementary School – Rylee Felgenhauer
Opportunity Elementary School – Gracie Priddy
Orchard Center Elementary School – Katelyn Buffkin
Otis Orchards Elementary School – Olivia Roberts
Pasadena Park Elementary School – Justis Wells
Pioneer School – Erika Sankovich
Ponderosa Elementary School – Meggie Cross
Progress Elementary School – Ryan Anderson
Seth Woodard Elementary School – Connor Shillam
South Pines Elementary School – Reese Strom
Sunrise Elementary School – Mara Albretsen
Trent Elementary School – Jaylynn Buehler
Trentwood Elementary School – Cierra Wolf
University Elementary School – Michelle Geer
Valley Christian School – Jolynn Pope
Barker High School – Shannon Braithwait
Bowdish Middle School – Daniel Barajas
Centennial Middle School – Darby Howat
Central Valley High School – Cora VanDyke
Continuous Curriculum School – Lydia Tombarelli
Contract Based Education – Chase Pritchett
East Valley High School – Joshua Ambach
East Valley Middle School – Paul Yount
Evergreen Middle School – Ellie McDonald
Freeman High School – Peter Underhill
Freeman Middle School – Avery Oja
Greenacres Middle School – Noah Whitman
Horizon Middle School – Lexi Ivankovich
North Pines Middle School – Steven Jensen
River City Leadership Academy – Griffin Stiles
Spokane Valley High School – Ivan Bityukov
Summit School/Spokane Valley Learning Academy – Lauren Walker
University High School – Taylor Shae Martins
Valley Christian School – Chantal Coyner
Washington Academy of Arts & Technology – Rachael DesAutel
West Valley City School – Shawen Christensen
West Valley High School – Jacqueline Swanson
The monthly PACE character traits from September to August are: respect, responsibility, citizenship, caring, fairness, honesty, diligence, trustworthiness, courage, integrity, generosity and gratitude. For more information about PACE, visit www.pacecommunity.org
