Annual Dinner Celebrates Students Who Inspire Peers

By Carla M. Collado
Staff Writer

The roughly 90 Long Beach students who will take the stage at the 2008 Most Inspiring Students Awards on May 29 may not be the best athletes or the best academic students. But the majority of them have overcome more hurdles during their short lives than most people face in a lifetime.

“The criteria is inspiration — how do you deal with a difficult situation?” said Judy Seal, director of the Long Beach Education Foundation, which is sponsoring the event. “They’ve all overcome or are in the process of challenging very formidable obstacles.”

Take William Evans, for instance. Despite having lost his grandmother (who raised him) and mother and having an out-of-control father, the third grader at Burnett Elementary School has managed to maintain a positive attitude, great sense of humor and is compassionate and well behaved, according to principal Lucy Salazar. When he broke both of his wrists, he still worked hard enough to earn a proficient score on his writing assessment. He is an Honor Roll student who never gives up on anything, Salazar said.

Leland Montero, an eighth grader at Marshall Middle School, faces multiple challenges as well. Though he is deaf and has autism, Montero has a 3.3 grade point average. He is a successful AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) student who continues to strive for knowledge, excellence and has performed above and beyond many of his peers, according to teacher Charlie Malone.

Then there’s Jonathan Fisk. The eighth grader at Hill Classical Middle School was diagnosed with the blood cancer Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year. Although he was home-schooled while undergoing treatment from May 2007 to January 2008, he maintained a 4.0 grade point average (which he’s had all three years at Hill). Fisk is involved in drama and music, will attend Poly High School’s PACE program next year and eventually plans to attend the University of Southern California to become a doctor.

“We’re trying to make it so that we celebrate these kids’ lives,” Seal said. “These kids make it look easy … because they want to live so desperately. They want to live to the fullest, the maximum.”

Teachers, counselors, nurses and principals work together to nominate a student from each school in the Long Beach Unified School District for the Most Inspiring Students award. The event, which has been taking place for about 11 years, honors students for overcoming and transcending obstacles while inspiring others.

This year’s awards dinner starts at 6 p.m. at the Long Beach Hilton and will be hosted by Mike Murray, past LBEF president, and Frank Mottek, news anchor for KNX 1070 Radio and KTLA-TV. In keeping with the event’s “Jungle Book” theme, Murray — who is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient and has faced his own set of challenges in life — will perform a Mogley dance for the students.

“Mogley really overcomes his obstacles and comes to terms with his existence in the jungle,” Seal said as one of the main reasons the “Jungle Book” theme was chosen.

Keynote speaker Louis Zamperini will address the students. The 91-year-old is a street kid turned Olympic runner turned World War II hero. He’ll share his story of surviving 47 days adrift at sea after his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean in 1943 and of being rescued by the Japanese Navy who then imprisoned him for two and a half years in their camp.

The Millikan Concert Choir also will perform at the event and Baloo, the “Jungle Book” bear character, will make a special appearance.

“It’s to show the parents that the Long Beach Unified School District not only gets what you do every day, but they appreciate and honor you for it,” Seal said of the awards dinner.

Last year, the LBEF raised $30,000 at the event, she said. This year’s proceeds will benefit the Spirit of Sue Fund, which offers grants to teachers and schools for activities such as multicultural and special education events.

Tickets to the 2008 Most Inspiring Students Awards cost $100 per person, or $1,000 for a table sponsorship (includes recognition in the program). To make a reservation by May 25, call the LBEF at 997-8054.