Washington County Students Recognized As 'Good Hearts,' Inspiration To Others

FAYETTEVILLE -- Students from every middle, junior and high school in Washington County were honored Tuesday by the Fayetteville Sequoyah Kiwanis for their good hearts.

Some 32 students received the Youth Excellence Awards. Many have physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy or deafness, and several are in single parent homes. All of them were recognized for rising above their situations to excel in the classroom and serve as role models for fellow students.

Winifred Mokwuyem, 15 and a freshman at Woodland Junior High School, described the honor as nice.

Born in Nigeria, she came to the United States two years ago for the education opportunities, she said. She left Nigeria when she was 4 years old, moving with her mother to Germany. She was described in her nomination as a "shining star" for settling in to her new school and new country.

Janet Collins, Woodland counselor, described Mokwuyem as a caring, nurturing person who makes good grades and is determined to do well in school. Her mother remains in Germany.

"I am thankful for this award," Mokwuyem said. "It is really sweet."

Kolbie Eiland, an eighth-grader at Elkins Middle School, could barely contain his excitement as Kiwanian Elaine Walker read his story as a kidney transplant recipient who doesn't look at his physical condition as a debilitating situation. He smiled broadly as Walker read his nomination.

Kobe Johnson, a seventh-grader at Holt Middle School, is confined to a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy. He makes good grades and turns homework assignments in on time. He doesn't think of himself as a disabled student but in his desire to overcome challenges, thinks of himself as a seventh-grade r.

Lexie Jordan, a seventh-grader at Lincoln Middle School, is on the school newspaper staff, leads a book club for fourth- and fifth-graders and volunteers at the Lincoln Public Library.

Sydney Moore, a seventh-grader at Sonora Middle School in Springdale, sat with her father and brother.

Sarah Downum, her science teacher, said Moore was nominated because of her "extreme perseverance and fortitude through the sudden death of her mother last fall."

Moore said she likes "pretty much everything" about school and math and science are her favorite subjects.

"She holds herself to a high standard. She took time out of the gifted and talented class until she had all A's in her other classes," according to her nomination.

Downum said the Youth Excellence award, "confirms to Sydney everything she has endured. It gave meaning, from her perspective and people recognize that."