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 Spring-Ford Intermediate School sixth-grader Stephanie Hodge was honored this spring by the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education in Harrisburg for winning the 2007-08 Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award.
The award was established nine years ago to honor the memory of Nicholas Green, a 7-year-old who was killed in a drive-by shooting while he was visiting Italy. It recognizes students who are working hard to make the most of their lives and develop their unique gifts and talents.
Students were asked to submit essays explaining how they excel in one of three areas: academics, the arts or community service and leadership. They also had to describe how they became interested in their activity, what impact the activity had on them and how the student’s future plans are affected by the activity.
Stephanie chose to explain how she excels in arts. The sixth-grader said she fell in love with performing in kindergarten, when she was selected to dance in a production. She enrolled in dance and drama classes and then decided to tie her talent for writing in with her love of performance.
She began writing her own musicals, and this year penned “Remember the Ladies,” a production that celebrates the women who fought for the right to vote. Stephanie served as producer, director and lead actress for the show. She also collected canned goods as admission fees and donated the collected items to a local food panty.
“As a result of my activities, I truly feel as though my eyes have been opened to the world and all of its different aspects,” she wrote. “If I pretend to be a character of my imagination, I can become her, and therefore see life in a different light.
“Reading does the same for me, and my writing and drawing sum it up. I have learned to observe life and be a part of it at the same time. I do hope that I have opened someone else’s eyes to all that a child can be,” she continued.
One person who has seen that is Connie Willauer, gifted support teacher at Spring-Ford Intermediate School. Willauer wrote a recommendation for Stephanie as part of the award process. In her letter, she wrote that Stephanie “truly shines” in the arts and has impressed many with her performances, writing samples and visual artworks.
“She is as selfless as she is talented. With her friendly, outgoing personality and a very positive attitude, she enriches the classroom for all of her fellow students,” Willauer wrote.
Stephanie said she was “surprised and excited” to learn she had been selected from a statewide pool of nominees for the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award. She received a $500 U.S. savings bond and a certificate of excellence from the National Association for Gifted Children.
She also was honored by the Spring-Ford School Board for her accomplishment.
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