Rotary and Kaiser Permanente Honor Good Character of Local Youth

The Fairfield-Suisun Rotary Club and Kaiser Permanente shone a light on exceptional high school students at the “Sixth Annual Rotary/Kaiser Permanente Good Character Youth Awards” on Friday, February 7 at the KROC Center.

The students were nominated by their teachers as teens who demonstrate good character, ethical behaviors, or good deeds (e.g. helping younger students succeed in their studies, standing up to bullies, helping others in the community through volunteering).

The students received certificates of appreciation from Congressional, state, city and school district officials as well as a $50 cash award from Rotary.

Local dignitaries attending the event included Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering, Suisun City Mayor Lori Wilson, Suisun City Mayor Pro Tem Wanda Williams, Suisun City Council Member Anthony Adams, Suisun City Fire Chief Justin Vincent, Fairfield Vice Mayor Pam Bertani, Fairfield Battalion Chief Larry Palmer, Fairfield Fire Chief Tony Velasquez, Solano Community Board Member Quinten Voyce, County Office of Education Superintendent Lisette Estrella-Henderson, FSUSD Board President Judi Honeychurch and Board members Joan Gaut, David Isom, Jonathan Richardson and Craig Wilson, FSUSD Superintendent Kris Corey and Rotary District 5160 Governor Tina Akins.

Heading up the event were Rotary President Kelly Rhoads-Poston and Kaiser Permanente Site Coordinator Charvette Rojas.

“Over the years, we have come to know some pretty remarkable teens,” Ms. Rhoads-Poston said. “It’s hard not to tear up when you hear the incredible things they are doing in their schools and in the community for others.”

This year’s keynote speaker was William K. Wesley, JD, MBA, well-known author, motivational speaker and Fairfield Planning Commissioner. In his speech he encouraged them to continue to learn, build and maintain healthy relationships, take failures in stride and continue to give back to others.

“Giving back has two main benefits” he told them. “First, you help the world… which needs it…and second, it helps take your mind off of your stuff while helping others with their challenges.”

The 21 students honored were:

Junior Amataga, Aidan Anderson-Mason, Taijhan Lennitte-Dixon, Yenessa Hukom, Telicity Pisarcik and Mary Welch from Fairfield High School.

Jaylyn Hicks, Brandon Martin Becerra, Hector Mora Urbina, John Salazar, Aidan Salvini, Elvin Valenzuela Rios and Samantha Vasquez from Armijo High School.

Alyssa Linehan, Devin Ward and Ineise White from Rodriguez High School.

Kaily Brooks and Madison Meabon from the Public Safety Academy.

Isabella Biscocho and Eric Cortes from Early College High School.

Romeo Ollison from Sem Yeto High School.

As Charvette Rojas from Kaiser Permanente shared, “As a wise person once said, ‘A person with good intentions makes promises, but a person with good character keeps them.’ The stories of these 21 students demonstrating through their actions what is fair, honest, truthful and kind, should serve as an inspiration to us all.”