PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five Reid Middle School students were honored for their community involvement on Wednesday.

 

The Say It Proud Awards, presented by the Berkshire United Way's Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, are given out to youth who make positive impacts. Three of the winning Reid students sit on the school council and two others on Students Against Destructive Decisions.

 

The partnership gives the awards to commend teens who make positive decisions and good choices as the organization strives toward creating a more positive and healthy environment for the city's youth. The organization says by honoring young people for their efforts, it helps further bond them with the community and reinforces their commitment to healthy behaviors.

 

"The Pittsfield Prevention Partnership believes that our community values the good choice our teens make and how hard teens work. The nomination of these five students for the Say It Proud Awards is a testament to how important their work is in our school and in our community." Reid Principal Linda Whitacre said.  

 

"All of these students are role models at Reid and have participated in positive activities, made healthy choices, and/or work hard every day to improve the climate of our school."

 

Debra Guachione, a teacher overseeing the Reid Student Council, presented the first award to Gianna Arace. Arace has been a member of the student civic committee and helping to run the annual boot and coat drive, bell ringing, go green activities, and the elementary school book drive. She is an organizer of the Above the Influence Skate Nights, middle school bowling nights, and provided support for other events such as sock day, team spirit day, and twin day.

 

"She is a special young lady with a huge heart. She never looks to take the credit and instead looks for opportunities to promote others," Guachione said. "Gianna, for the past three years you have made Reid a better place for our students and their families and we are very proud of you."

 

School Councilor Ellianna Christopher has been active in the school's building climate committee and helped organize a dozen school-wide initiatives including the annual feather sale to raise money for charity, a flower sale, a breast cancer awareness event, and Come See Reid Night. She wrote a presentation to the Moments House with the proceeds the school raised for the charity.

 

"Over time and throughout many important building-wide activities, she has become a leader. She has taken the initiative to get the job done. Other students look up to Elliana for her determination and organization. And, of course, her sense of humor," said Guidance Councilor Kristen Shepardson. 

 

Student Councilor Benjamin Vengalil was also an instrumental organizer for the Above the Influence Skate Nights, Thanksgiving Angels program, and the breast cancer awareness event. A budding journalist and member of the Raptor News Team, he has helped promote school-wide events and led groups during the Come See Reid Night and during parent-teacher conferences. 

 

"No matter what the task, Ben has approached each with rigor and pride. On behalf of the many community organizations you have helped and our school community, we congratulate you and want you to know how proud we are of you," Shepardson said.

 

Kileigh McGann of the Reid's SADD organization had taken the lead in holding a Thanksgiving food drive, the PPP's sticker shock program, an effort to post positive Post-It notes on all student's lockers, kindness month, and collecting box tops for education. She is alone one of the leaders in a program to bring students to Mount Greylock Nursing Home to play bingo. 

 

"To say Kileigh is a natural leader would be an understatement of her natural ability to lead others. Her incredibly positive attitude and warm and genuine smile makes everyone around her want to follow her lead," said SADD Co-Chairwoman Lynn Ashburn.

 

Caitlyn Mayhew, also a member of SADD, also took a leading role in the Thanksgiving food drive, sticker shock, and the Post-It note projects. She had also stood out in participation in a number of other classroom initiatives. 

 

"She is an outstanding student and is well respected by her diverse group of peers. She will be missed at Reid next year as she moves on to Taconic High School," SADD Co-Chairwoman Amanda Soar said. 

 

The students were presented framed certificates honoring their efforts as well as one-year members to the Berkshire Family YMCA, which the non-profit donated to the PPP as part of the Say It Proud award program.

 

"All the Say It Proud recipients have wings and you are flying," said PPP Coordinator Rich Johnson.