Optimists recognize local and area youth

Maricopa’s Optimist Club held their annual Youth Appreciation Awards dinner on Thursday at the Santa Cruz cafeteria. The club recognized local and area students for their contributions, not necessarily academically, in terms of good attitudes and hard work in school.

Students and their families heard guest speaker, and Optimist Club member, Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez. Vasquez told them, “I don’t envy you. There are so many temptations out there in the world–violence, sex and drugs. You’ve got a tough, tough job, and the biggest temptation is just about everything.”

Sheriff Chris Vasquez urged students to stay in school and to study and work hard.

“You can be whatever you want to be,” added Vasquez. “The only roadblock is you, yourself. Stay in school, study hard and work hard.”

Vasquez urged parents to raise their children by teaching them right from wrong and letting them know there are consequences for their choices. “When they get older, they will not depart from that,” he noted.

Optimist President Ted Ledbetter, assisted by Sheriff Vasquez, presented framed awards to the following students:

Maricopa Elementary
Kobie-Charles, William
Pablo, Tommy
Piet, Freddy
Sorenson, Anastasia
Wright, McKenna

McKenna Wright, with proud mom Leslie, shows off her award from the Optimists.

Pima Butte Elementary
Bustamante, German
Chapman, Jana
Ormrod, Kylie
Starkie, Mykaila

Santa Cruz Elementary
Carlin, Madyson
Thacker, Kyle

Santa Rosa Elementary
DeLao, Diana
Gil, Kiara
Horn, Baylee
Kim, Caitlin
King, Caitlin
Presti, Nick
Phillips, Nezerae
Raske, Jewel
Yi, Faith

Maricopa Wells Middle School
6th grade:
Andert, Tim
Farley, Tristen
Henriquez, Sobeida
Mohrbacker, Brianna
Perez, Abraham

7th grade:
Faber, Randi
Gonzalez, Jorge
Palafat, Justin
Schuller, Jason
Thompson, Brianna

8th grade:
Ahmsaty, Amanda
Bullion, Angela
Hunt, Kilter
Silvia, Christopher
Thounsonant, Phethida

Kilter Hunt, Maricopa Wells 8th grader, receives his award from Sheriff Vasquez.

Maricopa High School
Afsharimehr, Azita
Armstead, Elijah
Calhoun, Cheyenne
Cyr, Johnnie
Davis, Vince
Garcia, Raymundo
Hardt, Meredith
Hermosillo, Cesar
Morales, Cassie
Ngai, Kevin
Nicks, Chelsea
Page, Adam
Palmerin, Jose
Rockwood, Angelina
Stewart, Lepa

Vah-Ki Middle School (Casa Blanca)
Apkaw, Laquinta
Brown, Anisa
Castillo, Lorenzo
Chatlin, Candice
Davis, Joseph
Delowe, Valencia
Escalante, Daniel
Escarsega, Emily
Jackson, Nicolette
Johnson, Erik
Jose, Leticia
Justin, Gabriel
Landrum, Amy
Ortega, Valerie
Pacheco, Unique
Pardonnet, Camille
Peters, Zachariah
Romero, Luis
Ruvalcaba, Angel
Ruvalcaba, Cristian
Saraficio, James
Sotelo, Angelina

A large number of students and their families attended the Youth Appreciation Awards dinner.

The Optimists, whose motto is “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” will hold their annual bike and toy giveaway on Saturday, Dec.16, in the school parking lot on Honeycutt Avenue. Residents need to enter at 9 a.m. for the 11 a.m. drawings.