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The actions of a few bad apples often color the perception of entire generations of young people, but a group of students from Cupertino is proving that today's teens are devoted to giving back to their communities.
Seventeen students from the Cupertino area were honored as part of Optimist International's Youth Appreciation Week on Nov. 5.
Receiving awards were Princess Castaneda and Matthew Ryan from Cupertino High School, Karen Chuang and Daniel Reginato from Cupertino Middle School, Rotem Raviv and Peter Kim from Hyde Middle School, Shira Yomtoubian and Alex Park from Miller Middle School, Vikram Reddy and Sabeena Bali-Dingra from Kennedy Middle School, Robert McClure from Cupertino Learning Center, Paige Harkness and Ian Carter from Homestead High School, Jennifer Rindge and Gary Habbow from Monta Vista High School and Kristen Yaskawa and Eugene Berson from Lynbrook High School.
The event at Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino featured a keynote speech from Capt. John Hirokawa with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department and a performance by the Monta Vista High School Jazz Combo. The clubs in Optimist International's Tech Zone, including the Cupertino group, staged the event in concert with the organization's goals to serve local youth and encourage volunteerism within the community
Mike McKenna, sergeant-at-arms with the Santa Clara club, said that the Optimists asked local schools to nominate students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to serving the community. Serving as candy stripers, volunteering in nursing homes and mentoring disabled children were just a few of the activities these honorees have done. "The biggest thing is that these kids get recognized not for sports or academics, but just for their involvement with the community," McKenna said.
Optimist International also works with Fremont Union High School students through junior versions of their organization called Octagon clubs that promote public service at the high school level. Octagon members in the Cupertino area recently helped at the Optimists' recent Christmas party for local disadvantaged children by dressing as elves. Many of those receiving awards participate in Octagon clubs and inspired staff members at their respective schools to attend the awards ceremony, which McKenna said boasted more 300 guests.
"It was great that they took the time to come," he said. "This kind of recognition is how we keep these kids going."
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Photograph courtesy of Optimist Club