Vice Mayor Frank Matarrese and the Alameda Kiwanis Club honored ten local eighth-grade students from seven middle schools with Hope of America Awards at a special luncheon. The students were accompanied by parents and teachers and received a certificate of achievement signed by Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer and a plaque from Kiwanis President Cheryl Saxton. AUSD Board of Education President Sean McPhetridge and Vice Mayor Matarrese spoke to the gathering about the importance of education. The Hope of America Award is given to eighth-grade students who demonstrate outstanding capacity for leadership, ethical and moral character and academic competency. Kiwanis is an organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child at a time. Kiwanis meets Wednesday at noon at the Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue. For more information visit www.alamedakiwanis.org.
Front row, left to right: Julie Nguyen-Wood Middle School, Molly Clem-Lincoln Middle School, Evian Jiang-Lincoln Middle School, Yazan Natouf-Academy of Alameda, Samantha Zimmerman-Bay Farm School
Back row, left to right: Cheryl Saxton-President Kiwanis, Ladan Kahin-Encinal Jr Jets, Marlene Delgado-Academy of Alameda, Harrison Sims-St Philip Neri, Zavier Annis-St Philip Neri, Isaac Acree-Paez-Alameda Community Learning Center, Frank Matarrese-Vice Mayor of Alameda, Sean McPhetridge-AUSD Superintendent
Photo by Al Wright-Raintree Studios
