School-age Youth Give Us Reason to be Hopeful [Opinion]

PALM SPRINGS —It was a truly inspiring afternoon in Palm Springs.  More than 200 people filled the auditorium of Palm Springs Unified School District’s Desert Learning Academy to cheer for the eight outstanding school age youth who were selected from over 300 nominees as this month’s “special recognition winners” and the 47 high school seniors, representing all 14 high schools in the three Coachella Valley School Districts, who were awarded $60,000 in scholarships by Do The Right Thing – Greater Palm Springs (DTRT).

DTRT was founded in 2023 and encourages socially-desirable behavior in school-age children and showcases “good kids” who are making an effort to improve themselves and the community. The goals of DO THE RIGHT THING are to help foster self-esteem in young people by reinforcing positive behavior and to establish these young people as role models for their peers; to build bridges of trust throughout the community; and to publicly acknowledge and thank youth who are “doing the right thing.”

Each month, DTRT-GPS receives over 300 nominations from teachers, parents, police officers, and other adults in the community in recognition of students’ good deeds, attitudes and behaviors and all of the nominated students are recognized for doing the right thing.  Between five and nine of the nominees are then selected for “special recognition” each month and are highlighted at an awards ceremony at the Palm Springs Police Department.  Over the past two years, DTRT has honored 120 monthly “special recognition” winners, representing 41 different local schools, at award ceremonies at the Palm Spring Police Department.  To date, over 2300 local students have been nominated and recognized.

The nominations detailing why the student should be considered for recognition were read by Dr. Terri Ketover, founder and President of DTRT, as the student being honored and family members stood on the stage in the front of the auditorium next to DTRT-GPS Vice Presidents Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills and Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Tony Signoret as well as local elected and school leaders.  The joy on the student’s faces and obvious pride of their families and teachers was palpable.

To hear how these wonderful young people have worked to improve themselves, often overcoming adversity, or how they have helped others, was incredibly moving and lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance.  One young woman who was recognized for doing the right thing had struggled with and overcame addiction and other challenges and was on now on course to graduate high school.

It is rare that people in the audience don’t tear up as they hear these stories.  Learning about these students provides great hope for the future, knowing that there are so many young people who are working to make our community a better place.

After the eight award winners were recognized, 47 scholarships were awarded to deserving graduating seniors with donors who funded these scholarships presenting them to the students.  The scholarships are truly important as it helps these students successfully transition from high school to further education or the workforce as every one of the scholarship recipients is in need of this financial support. The only criteria for these scholarships was that the students graduate high school and are in need of financial assistance.

Founded in Miami, Florida, in 1990 by Dr. Ketover, there are now 70 DO THE RIGHT THING chapters throughout the United States, England, and Germany, and the program has impacted more than 600,000 children. Police chiefs from around the country attest to the importance of DTRT programs in their cities and the demonstrated effects they have witnessed both in the behavior of young people and the relationship of their officers with the community.

The members of the DTRT-GPS Board of Directors are: President, Terri Ketover, Co-Chairs Senator Barbara Boxer and Geoff Kors, Vice-Presidents Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills and PSUSD Superintendent Tony Signore, Secretary-Treasurer James Williamson, and Garry Kief.

You can learn more at https://www.dotherightthingps.org.

 

Photo courtesy of I Want To See Productions / Photos By Lani.