December Character Champion
Safe Streets Coalition and Topeka City of Character will be holding a press conference on December 2 at the Great Overland Station at 12:15 p.m. to announce the recipient of the Champion of Character award for demonstrating character that significantly improves the health, safety and quality of life in the community.
This month’s recipient of the Champion of Character Award is Kasey Sturgeon, a 9 year old 4th grader at Pleasant Hill Elementary.
Kasey Sturgeon was nominated by Amy Miller and Jodi Sturgeon for demonstrating the character qualities of Gratefulness. She has delivered thank-you cards to the firefighters who work on Thanksgiving Day. She has also delivered hand-made Christmas ornaments to the firefighters who work on Christmas Day.
Kasey was also the visionary behind the Emergency Services Showcase, held annually in Topeka. At age 6, Kasey saw a news story regarding a child losing it’s life in a fire. She immediately became concerned that the child might have hidden from the fire fighters since she knew how scary the men and women look and sound when wearing all their gear. After much discussion and many tears, Kasey asked her Mom why they couldn’t teach others about the firefighters she knew. From that idea, the Emergency Services Showcase was born.
The Emergency Services Showcase began in 2007 with Kasey’s dream. In May of 2009 representatives from several Fire Departments, American Medical Response, American Red Cross, Shawnee County Sheriff, Topeka Police Department, State Fire Marshall, Shawnee County Emergency Management, and local hospitals participated. In all, 27 Emergency Services organizations had equipment and personnel at Garfield Park and Community Center available. It is a great opportunity for the public to meet the men and women who make it their business to help save lives in our community. More information about the Emergency Services Showcase can be found at their website at esstopeka.org.
Kasey is also interested in music. Kasey plays the double bass in Beginning Orchestra and has been taking private drum lessons for approximately a year now.
“We think that for the holiday season, Kasey is the perfect nominee to be our Character Champion”, stated Cindy Patton, Executive Director of Topeka City of Character. “What a great example of Gratefulness and Benevolence she is for all of us in this community!”
The awards are presented by the Kansas Character Recognition Council of Topeka/Shawnee County. Senator Laura Kelly, Mayor William Bunten, City Councilman, Jack Woelfel, Chief of Police Ronald Miller, Shawnee County Commissioners Shelly Buhler and Ted Ensley, Director of Shawnee County Corrections, Richard Kline, District Attorney Chad Taylor and Shawnee County Sheriff Richard Barta are all members of The Kansas Character Recognition Council.
Anyone may make nominations for Character Champions. Nomination forms may be obtained by downloading a form at the Topeka City of Character website at www.topekacityofcharacter.org. Nomination forms may also be found at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka Capital Journal office or by calling the Topeka City of Character office at 273-4330.
Future press conferences recognizing Character Champions will be set for the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon at the Great Overland Station immediately preceding the Safe Streets monthly meeting.
For further information about the Character Recognition Initiative, contact Cindy Patton, Topeka City of Character office, 534 S Kansas Avenue, Suite 820, Phone: 640-7403, Fax: 354-1901 or email: topekacityofcharacter@gmail.com.
January 5th, 2010 - 21:23
Kasey’s a GREAT kid! Of course, I am a bit biased, being her mom. She deserved this award, and so many more. Her love of all first responders, especially our fire fighters, is all encompassing. She has such a HUGE heart. Thank you, for reconizing her for all she does.