William Edmondson never looked for a pat on the back for his extracurricular activities at St. Joseph High School.
“The one reason we were put on this earth was to help others,” said Edmondson, 17.
He was like a big brother to freshman students, showing them the ropes and giving them encouragement. He played on the basketball team, joined the Spanish Club, sang in the chorus and volunteered at a hospital.
But his efforts aren’t just listed in the school yearbook. He and 180 other youths were recognized with the first-ever Excellence in Elgin awards, for kids whose everyday acts of kindness and service often go unnoticed.
“We’re trying to do something to recognize outstanding young kids,” said Joe Wars, co-chairman of the Elgin Human Relations Commission, which co-sponsored the awards with the Excellence in Elgin Committee. “There are thousands of kids who are unsung heroes.”
Community leaders could write a letter nominating a youth for the award. A panel of judges selected the winners, who were invited to a ceremony last weekend at Hemmens Auditorium.
Some winners were candy stripers, artists, peer counselors and church youth leaders.
“Many youth are honored for academics and sports, but there are areas where others have excelled,” said Denise Bell, the city’s equal opportunity administrator. “We’re showcasing a variety of talents and people who have come to us from all walks of life. This is a celebration of Elgin’s ethnic diversity.”
Nine-year-old Melissa Cintron and her 8-year-old sister, Angela, won the award for their involvement with Juventud Unida, a folklore dance troupe that performed during the ceremony.
Siliny Trichane, president of Larkin High School’s cross-cultural club, was surprised when she opened the letter informing her that she won the award. “It shows that all my hard work has paid off,” said Trichane, 17, who recently was host to a Russian student and attended a Global Youth Forum at Harper College.
Terrence Kennedy, 18, played running back at Larkin High School and won a football scholarship to Tennessee State. But he didn’t receive the award for his talents on the field. He won for organizing food drives for the homeless, singing in the church choir and being a mentor to teammates. “A lot of young football players looked up to me,” he said. “I showed that sports are nice but that there’s more in life to be recognized for.”
