Cesar Gonzalez
Eighth Grade, Howard D. McMillan Middle
Washington, D.C. Trip Winner
Despite initially struggling to focus in class, Cesar has matured and become a respectful student who always tries his best. He is a well-liked student by both his peers and adults at school. Recently, Cesar was instrumental in assisting during an emergency situation involving the school’s security guard. As soon as he saw that the security guard was in distress, he immediately alerted a teacher who instructed him to run to the office and notify staff and administrators to call rescue. Due to his quick actions, the security guard was able to receive the assistance needed and after a few days at the hospital, made a full recovery. During this time, Cesar was constantly asking for updates on his condition and now the two of them have a great bond. Though this was a high-stress situation that even an adult would struggle with, Cesar’s calm demeanor during an emergency demonstrated compassion, care, and maturity beyond his years.