Christ the King Catholic School 8th Grader Honors City of Daphne First Responders Red Ribbon Leader Stella Pavao Delivers Schoolwide Project
Daphne, AL – Stella Pavao (pron. Pay-voh), an 8th grade student at Christ the King Catholic School, delivered 120 Blessing Bag “Survival Kits” on Monday, February 26, on behalf of the school to members of the City of Daphne Police Department to thank the city’s first responders for their service.
As part of the Drug Education Council’s Character Counts initiative, Pavao received the Superintendent’s Red Ribbon Leadership Award for Christ the King Catholic School (CTKCS). These student leaders work with their school’s Red Ribbon Coordinator to lead activities on their school campus during Red Ribbon Week in October and are also challenged to plan and execute a community service project to help their peers build a connection to the community and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
Pavao’s schoolwide community service project coincides with this year's theme, "We Love Our Veterans & First Responders!” She organized efforts across the entire student body at CTKCS to gather donations of different types of candy and treats to make blessing bag “survival kits” for local law enforcement officers at the City of Daphne Polic Department.
“I wanted this project to show our entire school’s appreciation for first responders so I decided Blessing Bags would be the perfect idea,” Pavao said. “Working with everyone on this schoolwide project made me feel like we connected in a meaningful way and for a good cause too. I couldn’t be more proud of all the work we did.”
Schools in Mobile and Baldwin Counties each nominated one student to receive the Leadership Award, who exemplify the 6 pillars of Character - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship - promoted by the Character Counts initiative and the Drug Education Council.
In addition to the character pillars, CTKCS teachers and 8th grade students nominated and selected students who consistently model Christian Leadership by living examples of the virtues of:
• Service – giving to others time and talents; considering others’ needs as important as your own
• Prudence – consistently exercising good judgment
• Justice – giving to others what is their due, respect, trustworthiness, obedience, courtesy
• Fortitude – demonstrating perseverance, patience, industriousness
• Temperance – exhibiting humility, self-control, honesty
• Charity – acting with kindness towards others, not in return for praise “We are so proud of Stella's leadership and our community's involvement in this service project,” said Christ the King Catholic School Principal Jackie Garlock. “Christ the King Catholic School extends a heartfelt "thank you" to our police officers for their unwavering dedication and service.”
Each Red Ribbon Student Leader must submit their projects by March 15, 2024. The student with the most votes will be honored at the Red Ribbon Leadership Awards at the Daphne Civic Center in September 2024.
