Recognizing Citizenship at Trinity Episcopal School

2012 Citizenship Honorees

Each May, Trinity Episcopal School recognizes students who have been singled-out by their teachers as good citizens.  Unlike academic awards that are objectively defined, citizenship is determined by a subjective sense of the individual as a member of the community.  Forming this opinion is rarely easy.  There is goodness in all of our children, so it’s usually hard to choose just one or two from each class to exemplify citizenship.  Yes, we are proud of the ones we honor, but this tradition is not about these few; it is about all of us, students, parents and staff.  This tradition forces us to be intentional about what good character is, to name it, and to look for it.


Here, in a “nutshell,” is my take on good citizenship at school: a good student citizen is polite, responsible, and kind.   I feel very proud of our students when I see them treat adults, especially visitors, politely….making eye contact, opening doors, saying “excuse me” when appropriate, and including “ma’am” or “sir” in conversation.  This kind of deference of children to adults helps to underscore the proper order of things.  The folks who have been on the planet longer have something to offer us, but only if we will let them.  Respect of authority is essential to opening our minds to learn, whether from a teacher, a textbook or a trusted website….it is hard to learn from anyone or anything you do not respect.  Secondly, I describe a solid Trinity citizen as responsible.  These are boys and girls who “paddle their own canoe,” so to speak, as appropriate for their age.  A strong student citizen is able to manage things in their lives without lots of adult intervention.  I’m talking about students who do their homework, keep their word, clean up their messes, own their mistakes, keep trying if at first they don’t succeed, wait their turn, ….basically, these are the students who, by the way they live, can’t help but make the world around them a better place.  And, third, a solid Trinity citizen is kind.  These are students who have a heart.  They care for others and it shows by how they treat their friends, how they share what they have, and how they show compassion for people in need.  A student who is kind cannot be a passive bystander when another is being bullied.  Their heart gives them courage to speak out when something is unjust.  These are students who volunteer to help someone on crutches, call to check-in with a friend who is sick, or enthusiastically participate in school service projects.


It is no accident that citizenship tends to run in families.  Taking the time to recognize citizenship also honors  parents, grandparents, and guardians who intentionally teach “right” from “wrong,” and who themselves model what they preach.  These are parents who hold-on to a cookie until the toddler says, “Thank you,” who expect their children to complete chores at home, and who show compassion in their own families and beyond.


Hearty congratulations to this year’s honorees and their families:


K/Heaton- Brody Rogers and Evelyn Gault; 1st/Mullins- Hudson Mims and Emily Mataro; 1st/Funston- Isabella Alvarado and Dean Roberts; 2nd/Schwab- Sara Gabriel and Noa Seigel; 2nd/Panfilli- Anna Shepherd and Sydney Scarbrough; 3rd/Humphrey- Will McQuitty and Landon Parsons; 4th/Kelemen - Aidan Knupple and Rocio Prida; 4th/Spurlock- Christof Gault and Elizabeth Pennington;5th/Gaido - Megan Leasure and Carrington Traylor; 6th/Cucco - Charlie Cragar and John-Austin Gaertner; 7th/Sjostrom -Paloma Prida and Krista Freed; 8th/O’Malley - Jordan Bassett and Joanie Kelso.