KEY LARGO SCHOOL STUDENTS AWARDED FOR ESSAYS ON RESILIENCE

Upper Keys Rotarians gathered at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery on June 13 to install its new president and board of directors. Rob Stober, immediate past president, handed the gavel to Frank Derfler, incoming president. A new board was also installed. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Michael Kesti, immediate past district governor; Tricia Hynes, board member; Anna Richards, president-elect; Bette Brown, board member; Mary Beth Harris, new board member; Kate Banick, treasurer; Claire Montang, new board member; and Terry Abel, past president. Pictured back row, from left, are Joe Miklas, past president, Bobby Dube, sergeant at arms; Matt Turk, secretary; Stober and Derfler. Not pictured are board members Chris Trentine and Joe Roth and new board member Dwight Hill. Upper Keys Rotary, founded in 1957, meets Tuesdays at 11:45 a.m. at Capt. Craig’s restaurant. For more information, check out keysrotary.org or contact Derfler at 305-393-6937. KEYS WEEKLY PHOTO

Key Largo School (KLS) eighthgrade graduates Marisol Sanchez and Kameron Vetter received special awards from Learning for Success Inc. (LFS) during the school’s promotion ceremony on May 25. The students participated in the KLS Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.

The awards were presented by Darren Pais, KLS principal; Debra Wardand, assistant principal; and Tiffany Zepeda, AVID teacher. Student awardees were chosen based on essays they submitted addressing resilience — using stress and overcoming adversity in our lives.

“Stress is vital to the development of kids and teenagers because you learn how to share your problems with others instead of bottling them up inside of you,” said Kameron Vetter in her essay. “You can become mentally stronger, and stress will prepare you for challenges in your future.”

“Adversity and challenges at a young age build resilience for a successful life because you can find selfdiscovery, you can prepare yourself for what’s to come, and it can help you find peace,” said co-award win- ner Marisol Sanchez. “When I have experiences with hardships I now know how to take care of myself and others.”

The special awards were sponsored by a grant from Publix Super Markets Charities.

“We’re thankful for the support we get from Learning For Success and the generous contributions from Publix Charities for our outstanding students,” Zepeda said.

AVID is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. It teaches skills and behaviors for academic success, provides intensive support with tutorials and strong student/ teacher relationships, creates a positive peer group for students and develops a sense of hope for personal achievement gained through hard work and determination.

More information about LFS is available from John Casbarro at 786877-0334, or kapowlfs.com. More information about AVID is available from Zepeda at Tiffany.Zepeda@ keysschools.com.