November 29, 2000
Optimist show appreciation for area youth
Students honored at annual Youth Appreciation Lunch
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Contrary to popular perception fueled by reams of negative press, many of today's youth are great kids. Whether as students, athletes and community members, they are a contribution to those around them.
To recognize this and promote a positive image for youth, the Optimist Club International proclaimed last week International Youth Appreciation Week. Locally, the Optimist Club of Traverse City held its annual Youth Appreciation Lunch Monday afternoon at the Traverse City Elks Lodge.
Optimist Club members recognized 50 area sixth graders for their outstanding citizenship, leadership and achievement in academic and extracurricular activities. The City of Traverse City also declared last week Youth Appreciation Week in honor of the annual event.
"These kids are good scholars and good citizens," said Ron Lemcool, president of the Optimist Club of Traverse City. "Society usually recognizes the bad things kids do and we take the time to recognize them for the good things they do."
Twenty-five elementary schools participated in the luncheon, each choosing two youth to represent the best and brightest of their sixth-grade students. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School chose four students to recognize because of their large class size.
While students and Optimist Club members had to wait an extra week for their celebration because of a snow day, their enthusiasm was not dampened one bit.
"I think it is really neat to be chosen," said Kara Birch, a sixth grader at Living God Christian School.
Proud teachers were pleased at the chance to recognize their standout students, though many times choosing just two from the class is a difficult task.
"We had a lot of kids to choose from, it is a hard thing to do," said Annie Floeter, a sixth- grade language arts teacher at Westwoods Elementary School. "The two picked represent Westwoods in the sense that we have many wonderful students there."
Schools chose their representatives either by student vote, teacher and staff choice or a combination of the two. The students came to the luncheon accompanied by a teacher or administrator from their school; someone who has worked closely with them every day, sometimes for years. As these adults introduced their students, phrases like 'positive role models,' 'epitome of what a student should be,' and 'true friend to everyone' filled the room.
"I look forward to seeing these students every day," said Floeter, summing up the feelings of many of the teachers.
Each student received a certificate and a ruler, plus the knowledge that, for at least one day, they were truly appreciated by both their peers and teachers.
"The kids are always excited to be chosen," said Mary Larrabee, a math and social studies teacher at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School. "We choose our students not by student voting so it was not a popularity contest. We were looking for kids who exemplify what the Optimist Club is all about: kids with leadership and kids who care about others."
Events like the Youth Appreciation Luncheon dovetail with the Optimist Club's mission to help youth. Other Optimist Club projects include a Bowl-a-Thon fund-raiser, an annual Christmas Shopping Tour for disadvantaged youth and support for the Traverse Bay Community Sailing program and the Traverse City Youth Ballet Company.
"Everything we do is for youth," Lemcool said. "That is the Optimist Club's motto: Friend of Youth."