A.C.E. Award Recipient for 2010

Alnesha West is the A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) award winner.  Her teacher writes in the teacher narrative the following: “Alnesha is dedicated towards improvement in all areas of her life.  She was born profoundly deaf and learned to communicate using American Sign Language because she has no speech or hearing abilities….Due to her profound hearing loss, her academics suffered in the early years, but her signing vocabulary and communication grew exponentially….When she reached high school, Alnesha’s reading level was in the lower elementary range…Alnesha became determined to improve her language arts academic skills.  She commutes to our district from another district that does not have any other deaf students.  This is slightly over two hours of driving time each day…Since she began this dedicated study, she has improved her reading level by six grade levels in only three years…in her junior year she passed all sections of the graduation test on the first attempt.  Currently she is applying to art and design colleges and this June she will graduate with a college prep diploma. In her years here at our high school, she has won the hearts of hearing and deaf peers, interpreters and teachers simply by being honest, hard working and serious about learning.  Alnesha’s patience, confidence and dedicated attitude inspires those around her to have the courage to set goals and never give up.

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A.C.E.Award Recipient for 2009

Adrian Williams 

Tim Beers presented the A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) award to Adrian Williams from H.V. Jenkins High School.  The award, along with a $500.00 check, is given to a senior who has made dramatic changes in their behavior and overcome terrific odds in life.  Beers thanked the school  counselors who are the key people that help locate the deserving students.  Adrian has made such a change since first entering Jenkins as a special education student with a learning disability in academics.  In spite of his learning disabilities, Adrian has been a most successful student, and well thought of by his teachers.   He has passed all of his graduation tests.  He is “THE top special education student” in her career, according to Lois Cowart, head of the special education department at Jenkins.  Adrian thanked the club for the honor and was obviously moved by the recognition and his response caused the whole club to stand and applaud his accomplishment.  Congratulations, Adrian!