Do The Right Thing Awards
Several local students were among those recognized at the Do The Right Thing award ceremony in May. The program is sponsored by the Rochester Police Department and recognizes students who have gone above and beyond to do the right thing. These students have proven they are role models through their actions by demonstrating courage, leadership, selflessness, generosity, honesty, and maturity.
Brennan Carney, 10th Grade, Gates Chili High School
Luke Carney, 6th Grade, Gates Chili Middle School
Kalliopi Lang, Community Risk Reduction Specialist at the Gates Fire District, nominated brothers Brennan and Luke for the calm and mature way they handled a medical emergency while attending church. Ms. Lang often visits schools in the Gates Chili School District to teach students fire safety lessons and is an instructor for the Gates Fire District’s Junior Fire Academy, which Luke attended last summer.
In December, Luke was an altar server at the Sunday morning mass at St. Pius X Church. Altar servers are youth who assist the presider during the Mass. Just before communion, the other altar server fainted. Luke was the closest person to him. He remembered his CPR and first aid training from the Gates Fire District, shook him awake and assisted him until other help arrived. While this was occurring, Brennan, who was attending mass and saw what happened, calmly and without being asked, left the pew, went to the back of the church, and quickly changed so that he could take over for the ailing altar server. Brennan then joined Luke on the altar and helped finish Mass. Ms. Lang was impressed when she heard how both young men reacted during this scary incident.
Christian Catalfamo, 3rd Grade, Craig Hill Elementary School, Greece CSD
Elianna Catalfamo, Kindergarten, Autumn Lane Elementary School, Greece CSD
Siblings Christian and Elianna were nominated by their mother, Courtney, for their kind hearts and selflessness. After hearing their mother talk about the Ronald McDonald House – a ‘home away from home’ for families with hospitalized children, Elianna and Christian decided they wanted to volunteer there. Christian said he wanted to make a difference, especially around the holidays, for other families who are less fortunate than himself. He is a very sweet boy with a very big heart and wanted to help those in need, saying it was very important, especially in November, when you’re supposed to give thanks and give back to your community. Elianna was part of this discussion and was all in and excited to help as well!
One Sunday in early November, Christian and Elianna, along with their mom, aunt, and grandmother, volunteered to make dinner for the families that were staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester. Elianna and Christian decided what they wanted to make, then went to the grocery store with their mom to help buy what was needed. In the kitchen, they took charge, giving out tasks to their family members who were helping. That day, they helped cook dinner and dessert for 20 people.
Their mom said it was such a remarkable experience to watch her kids do good and help families in a time of need and hardship. The care and love they showed while making a home-cooked meal were truly heartwarming, and she is proud of both of them.
Brooklynn Rivera, 11th Grade, Greece Olympia High School
Brooklynn was nominated for her honesty and integrity by Greece Central School District’s Security Worker Jeanne Nettnin.
One morning before school this past December, Brooklynn found a purse in the school parking lot. She looked in the purse and found it contained quite a bit of money and personal information. Brooklynn immediately went into the school and gave the purse and all of its contents to a security worker. Ms. Nettnin said Olympia High School is lucky to have a student like Brooklynn. It would have been easy to keep the purse and its contents for herself, but she chose to do the right thing, with no expectation of anything in return. For that, Ms. Nettnin is proud of Brooklynn.
Kacee & Thierry Sotile, 6th Grade, Aquinas Institute
Twins Kacee and Thierry Sotile were nominated by their aunt, Sonja McCarthy, for bravely helping their grandmother (Sonja’s mother) during a medical emergency.
Thierry and Kacee were home alone with their grandmother, Monika Sotile, on a very hot, humid July day. The kids were in the house, and Ms. Sotile was outside by herself doing yard work when she collapsed from the heat. She tried to crawl to the back door but eventually passed out. When Thierry and Kacee went outside to play, they found her on the ground unconscious. Thierry stayed with her while Kacee went to the neighbor’s house to get help. 911 was called, and Ms. Sotile was transported to the hospital, where she was treated for dehydration and released, and is now okay. Ms. McCarthy is so grateful for her niece and nephew. This could have had a much different ending had they not found her and quickly worked together to ensure she received help.
Grayson Williams, Kindergarten, Walt Disney Elementary School, Gates Chili CSD
Family friend and Gates Town Board Member Andrew Loughlin nominated Grayson for his generosity and big heart.
Leading up to Kindergarten, Grayson attended Imagination Childcare Academy in Gates. During his time there, Grayson learned about fundraising efforts to help make the playground behind the school an inclusive playground to be enjoyed by children of all abilities. Their vision is that no child should feel left out. Grayson has been very interested in this project since he was three years old and has wanted to get involved and help it take off.
Last spring, Grayson built his endurance by hosting practice walks around his neighborhood, and then in June, he participated in the Walk-a-Thon fundraiser at Gates Chili High School. Between this and other fundraisers, Grayson has helped raise over $1,500 towards the playground over the past two years. His passion for this project and community is so great that he even donated money from his own piggy bank on two occasions and has encouraged others to get involved as well. Hopefully, Grayson and friends will be able to enjoy a new, inclusive playground in their neighborhood very soon. To learn more about Imagination Playground, visit https://imaginationplaygroundinc.org/.
For more information about the Do The Right Thing program, visit Cityofrochester.gov/DoTheRightThing.
