Twenty-five Apopka-area fifth, eighth and 12th grade students were recognized for their leadership essays at the Student Citizen Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 10, at Highland Manor on East Main Street in Apopka.
Principals and English teachers chose this year’s essay topic, “Leadership and the Importance of Teamwork.”
Sponsored by the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, the luncheon had representatives of sponsoring companies and organizations as Mayor Joe Kilsheimer and Assistant Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools Jesus Jara recognized students for their accomplishment.
“I think there’s a lot of talk today about the different generations – baby boomers, millenials, and myself, a Gen Xer,” said Brian Furgala of Gray|Robinson Attorneys at Law during his sponsor remark. “And sometimes it kind of sways over to who is the best generation. And my answer has been and always will be that it’s the next generation. And I think that’s why we’re here today, to celebrate the next generation.”
Further delving into the significance of leadership and the importance of teamwork was guest speaker Austin Block of the Orlando Solar Bears minor league hockey team.
Born in Denver, Colo., and raised mostly in Los Angeles, Block has spent the past two seasons with the Solar Bears, scoring a career-high 35 points in 51 games. He also enjoyed a four-year professional career across North America, Finland, Sweden, and Slovakia.
The two-hour event ended with door prizes consisting of gift cards and tickets to a Solar Bears game.
An extended story appears on page 1A of the Friday, May 12, edition of The Apopka Chief.
