By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

They’re polite. They care about others. They’re respectful. They want to do what is right.
And in the Davie County School System, young people who exhibit those characteristics are all over the place. Last week, the system recognized the best of the best – handing out character education awards to two students at each grade level in each school.
The students were presented their awards at ceremonies in the Davie High School auditorium.
“This is one of our favorite events,” said Superintendent Jeff Wallace. “Seldom do people get recognized for doing the right thing. Parents, this wouldn’t happen without you.”
That sentiment was echoed by every speaker.
“We are humbled and honored to be here to celebrate these students ho we are proud of every day,” said Marie Helms, vice chair of the Davie Board of Education. “Students, it’s about the choices you have made.”
And the guest speaker – Davie County Teacher of the Year and Cooleemee Elementary educator Carmen Lawrence – received that character award when she was a student.
“Tonight’s a pretty big deal,” she told the elementary winners. “You’ve been chosen out of all of your classmates. You guys are the real stars. It shows you’re setting good examples for your classmates.”
She told the students the character they’re showing today will stay with them for the rest of their lives. “I didn’t know that would shape me into who I am today,” she said.
Lawrence encouraged the students to stay true to their values and to stand up for others.
“It takes a lot of courage to go to that kid on the playground by himself … but not only does it show kindness, you’re helping your school. You’re laying the foundation for your future. Good character doesn’t fade away. It will make you a better friend, a better student, and a better person.
“Always stay true to the best version of yourself.”
School board member, Con Shelton, thanked “any significant adult” who helped shape the children who they are.
“To have good character is one of the greatest lifetime rewards,” Shelton said. “It’s a reflection of my community, of Davie County as a whole.”
Cooleemee Elementary
Theodore Hernon, Taliyah Dubose, Jace Winstead, Marlei Sandimanie, John Waller, Kaylee Uroza, Alexander Aboytes Manzano, Aerington Eaton, Jarrett Belcher, Aubree Rombach, Iker Gomez-Cano, Kenzie Gales, Dellaray Hicks.
Cornatzer Elementary
Harper Smith, Cooper Hendrix, Cooper Owen, Audrey Diaz, Evelyn Garretson, Caleb Hernandez, River Walters, Maddox Lineback, Chase Luliano, Kinslee Canter, Olver Hendrix, Layla Romero Salgado, Cameron Brooks.
Mocksville Elementary
Evalee Hicks, Jake Miller, Kelty Garwood, Ranger Carroll, Angela Florido-Nila, Santiago Violante-Garcia, Kyleigh Miller, AJ Rice, Grayson Young, Jazmin CastilloGuiterrez, Leonardo Pastor De Leon, Lillian Baltazar-Vargas.
Pinebrook Elementary
Lyla McCann, Austin Pita, Nia Munford, Asher Carney, Aubrey Hedrick, Yeray Rodriguez Pastor, Marlee Joey Stanley, Rhett Hancock, Irie Stanberry, Kaleb De La O-Solis, Reese Rominger, Gabriel Jones, Sophia Machado Tabora.
Shady Grove Elementary
Piper Bresky, Lawson Hecht, Brinley Kahler, Grayson Hutton, Sinclair McClamrock, Gret Stout, Graeson White, Isobel Walton, Samuel Miller, Charlotte Alligood, Graham Dombrosky, Alison Daugherty, Marshall Harper.
William R. Davie Elementary
Denver Eldred, Emersyn Johnston, Zaidh Zavaleta Guerrero, Eleanor Robinson, Holly Gray, Mac O’Neill, Colt Cannon, Isabelle Martin, Landon Morgan, Natalee Anthony, Finley Phelps, Owen Bracken, Maggie Hendricks.
Davie Virtual School
Jeffrey Sorto-Hernandez, CAroline Anders, Annayiah Tenor Emanuel Cheek, Cate Barrett, Aidan Arnett.
North Davie Middle
Megyn Goodin, Hais Li Nag Thao, Trevor Burcham, Emerson Hewitt, Alana Brooks, Zariya Oliver, Reagan Wilson, Cedric Defensor, Harper Dyson, Elijah Defensor, Chloe McCune, Zoey Dillard, Adrian Hernandez-Antonio.
South Davie Middle
Braylen Simms, Eliyana Ngum, Miguel Aguilar Tapia, Zoe Nichols, Aubree Sanchez, Malachi Wilson, Nyeta Chambers, Aiden Rombach, Amelia Elledge, Kady Joyce, Eric Nabors, Malachi Miller, Fred Lorenzo.
William Ellis Middle
Gavin Trivette, Michael Samet, Alexiah Poag, Hayden DeVore, Kenniel Fontanez Rodriguez, Conner Cornatzer, Neriyah Johnson Piper Williams, Douglas Davis, Daniela Morales, Zoe Summers, Ayden Davis, Sebastian Putra.
Central Davie Academy
Amiyah Mitchell, Travis Brown.
Davie Early College High School
David Hernandez-Moreno, Alyssa Sutherland, Sophie Carter, Devin Hernandez-Mosso, Parker Faircloth, Gracie Hauser, Vidhi Sharma, Jesus Heranndez-Brito.
Davie High
Mary Asbury, Jasmine Cristobal, Diego De Jesus Castro, Annaleigh Deel, Shan’trell Parris, Octavian Settecasi, Carter Sink, Noah Sister, Tyrone Speller Jr., Nicholas Sutcliffe, Braylon Arnold, Addison Bost, Elijah Chaffin, Keara Dowd, Leah Gibson, Esly Gomez De Leon, Michael Imes, Lukas King, Ahmad McGee, Edris Oliver, Carden Stroud, Ryan Tate, Aleah Connor, Noah Hamilton, Austin Imes, Precious Jimerson, Beatriz Lopez Salgado, Sara Martinez Ortiz, Lila Moore, Ella O’Toole, Nickalai Self, Alexa Villa Sandoval, Sean Lane, Silas Marion, Elliot Newsome, Caitlyn Nicholson, Cora Nicholson, Riley Potts, Carson Queen, Barrett Taylor, Caroline Thompson, Karson Young.