Outstanding Youth Leaders
The Ira Sachnoff/Jerry Neale Award is presented each year to outstanding middle and high school Peer Leaders who have demonstrated personal growth and commitment to the Peer Resources program. This honor is awarded to students who have proven to be inspiring, talented, exemplary resources for their peers.
The following is a list of this year's awardees, described by the person that nominated them, their Peer Resources coordinator.
Marina Middle School
Cullen G.
"Cullen joined Peer Resources this year and didn't know anyone. Since then, he has made friends with all the students in the program, encouraged more boys to join and was voted a project leader by his peers. He is responsible, reliable and knows how to have fun. His laugh alone is contagious and his personality helps him make so many friends in our program."
-Marina Middle School Coordinator, Sarah
Mission High School
Andre N.
"Andre is always helping others. I can count on him hands down. I know he will take care of business. He is the male voice for boys to respect women. He was a mentor and he inspired his mentee to also want to be a mentor. He helped his mentee so much because his mentee last year is my best mentor this year."
Mission High School
Dennette J.
"This student is a go-getter. She is my energizer–the one who gets students pumped to do things. She helps students come together in a positive way. She is leading girls group and is a mentor, tutor, conflict mediator and a peer educator. I've seen her help so many students in this school. Her mentees to stay in school and helps students to understand sexual harassment."
-Mission High School Coordinator, Marisol
Balboa High School
Paradise V.
"Paradise is one big walking courageous heart. He is positive while keeping it real. He has been in many ways the public face of Peer Resources. He takes on any task that needs to be done. He inspires his peers to take themselves, and their work and opinions seriously while having FUN."
Balboa High School
John T.
"John teaches others and me about acceptance and selflessness. He is wise, funny, big-hearted and very open-minded. He is generous with anything he has, from money to time to listening to educating. He is truly a peaceful person who is a peacemaker. He shows tremendous love, understanding and patience for folks whether they drive him crazy or not. When I think of the intent of Peer Resources, why it was founded, I think of him."
-Balboa High School Coordinator, Sarah
Visitation Valley Middle School
Leona C.
"Leona's questions have encouraged others around her to analyze and examine their personal thinking and actions. She will stand up for others and speak up against what she thinks is not fair. She also happens to be a great peer educator and dedicated conflict manager."
-Vis Valley Middle School Coordinator, Rosalia
Gloria R. Davis Middle School
Shakeyla O.
"This person is willing to share with all. She's not caught up with who's popular, but who's right for the job. She assembled her own cast, directed them and everyone was cooperative. This was an amazing feat–teachers aren't always this successful."
-Gloria R. Davis Middle School Coordinator, Ron
Lowell High School
Lauren W.
"Lauren is the most accepting, tolerant student that I work with. She constantly lends her support without any motivation. She truly embodies the ideals of Peer Resources. She takes it on herself to model activities and motivates other students to work cooperatively! After 4 years of Peer Resource, she is truly a veteran."
-Lowell High School Coordinator, Luis
ISA High School
Patrice M.
"This student is an incredible mentor. She meets with her mentee outside of class and is always looking something up on the Internet to help her get information to share with others. Something has happened to this young person and she is a changed human being."
-ISA High School Coordinator, Lauren
June Jordan School for Equity
Rochelle E.
"Rochelle is a true team player and outstanding leader. She is ALWAYS a pillar in every activity we do. She supports those who are having a hard time. She constantly uses her own experiences to help others find their own solutions"
-June Jordan School for Equity Coordinator, Oriana
Luther Burbank Middle School
Sheraton L.
"Sheraton has proven her dedication to being a peer leader in many ways. She worked hard in both her creation and editing on our film, and showed up both evenings for editing. I can always count on her for presenting. Sheraton is an amazing youth leader; she leads with respect to all those that enter her life."
-Luther Burbank Middle School Coordinator, Katie
Lincoln High School
Daena T.
"Daena brings a lot of joy and laughs to our Peer Resource class. She isn't afraid to ask questions when she doesn't understand something, and she is quick to lend a shoulder if someone is upset. Every night, even on weekends, she would call students to remind them to meet their shadows in the morning. She showed a lot of patience, perseverance and independence and really helped that program be a success."
-Lincoln High School Coordinator, Christopher
Aim High Academy
Joseph S.
"This person is a performer and has a great sense of humor. He does well academically and is a natural leader. He is very fair and is able to hear both sides of the story without judging. Joseph has great leadership potential and has been a great part of Peer Resources."
-Aim High Academy Coordinator, Christine
Galileo High School
Bana D.
"I can always count on Bana. She can create something wonderful with very little supervision. This year, she volunteered her lunchtime to take the time to teach a classmate dance steps so that she could be able to perform. She is a conflict manager, peer educator, project leader and mentor."
-Galileo High School Coordinator, Jackie
O'Connell High School
Maria U.
"Maria is an outstanding mentor. She takes her role very seriously. Her paperwork is like a case manager's. She sincerely cares. She is an amazing role model and she is creating strong relationships."
-O'Connell High School Coordinator, Gary
Thurgood Marshall High School
Tashay C.
"Nothing about this person is shy–that is why she is such a great student. She is very verbal about her experiences and lives to educate students. She is a proud young woman who oozes confidence and has helped Peer Resources have a loud voice on issues. Her experiences, voice, confidence and "Bear it all" attitude have added genuineness to my class that may not have otherwise existed."
-Thurgood Marshall High School Coordinator, Lashonda
Community Bridges Beacon
Whitney S.
"As a past Peer Resources peer leader, this person has acquired lots of tools to collaborate and connects with youth in her community. She works very hard and with a positive attitude. She has conducted presentations on her own."
Community Bridges Beacon
Maira F.
"This student is very charismatic, willing to help others. In many situations she has shown her dedication and commitment to our program. She constantly participates and collaborates with her teammates when the group is disruptive. She reminds and brings back the group's focus."
-Community Bridges Beacon Coordinator, Gerber