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Local Students Honored As Inspirational Heroes
May 13, 2009
Forty outstanding Escambia County students were honored Tuesday afternoon at the 15th Annual Cox Inspirational Hero Celebration, including a student from both Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle and Carver/Century K-8 School.
The event honors students that have faced significant challenges, including the loss of their parents, physical illness, handicaps and language barriers.
Dustin Todd Parker from Ernest Ward Middle School was honored as the Cox Inspirational Hero from Ernest Ward Middle School.
Coty Chance of Molino was honored as the Cox Inspirational Hero from Northview High School. Coty was the only one of the 40 student heroes to offer an acceptance speech Tuesday afternoon.
Arkelle Elliot was honored as the Inspirational Hero from Carver/Century K-8 School.
The students received a Hero Medallion and commendations from U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller; state Rep. Dave Murzin and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp.
The biographical information from both Coty Chance and Dustin Todd Parker is below.
Coty Chance, Northview High
Coty Chance has brought sunshine into Northview High School for the past three and one-half years. Every day he greets everyone with a smile and a loud good morning or hello. His constant energy and dedication to his responsibilities inspires others to do more.
Coty’s outlook is that when he can be nice to others, they in turn will be nice to others. He always goes out of his way to be a gracious helper and to ensure that everyone cares about each other.
Coty feels that his proudest personal success is being able to complete his assigned work. He is also very proud that this year he was able to also teach other students’ the responsibilities that he so carefully and completely does here at school. Coty is an avid Cross Country runner and especially has enjoyed success running for the Northview Cross Country team, winning numerous awards, participating in the charitable run for “Major Jim Ross” and being presented with the Cross Country Coaches Award. Coty will graduate this year with a 2.80 grade point average. He will leave the halls of Northview High where he will be missed, but never forgotten. We are sure he will continue to carry on and make people smile.
Coty has brought smiles to the halls of Northview and into the lives of the school personnel and students. Coty not only has a magnificent voice at the football games, but Coty has shown just how great a positive impact that students with dedication to their school and work can have on others lives and those they meet.
Dustin Todd Parker, Ernest Ward Middle
Dustin is a member of the national Junior Honor Society, President of the Student Government Association and a manager of the football team. He enjoys helping others and recently went door-to-door on his electric scooter in his neighborhood to raise money for the “Honor Flight.”
Dustin’s accomplishments are in spite of a mobility problem know as Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Although he was told he may not walk, Dustin was able to get on the regular school bus the first day of school and is now able to ride a bicycle.
Information for Arkelle Elliot from Carver/Century K-8 was not available.
Comments
18 Responses to “Local Students Honored As Inspirational Heroes”
Cody I knew you were special the first day I met you! your birthday. You were so lay back and did not cry. I loved you ever since. You are a nice loving person and through the years of nursing you have been an Inspiriation me I have kept up with your progress even though I could not be there. Your running, I understand it is wonderful.I know you will continue. I will always keep up with you. I know you will continue to be inspiritional to every you met through your life.This is not the only reward you will recieve.
Dustin,
I’m friends with Josh Wolfe, your chemo partner from 1999. You are such an inspiration to the rest of us. Keep up the good work and come see us in Desoto Parish Louisiana if you can. We both work for the DeSoto Parish Library. I work at the Mansfield Main Library location and Josh works at the Logansport Branch Library in Logansport.
Bethany May
Dustin,
This is Josh Wolf. We received radiation therapy together in the summer of 1999. It is fabulous to hear that you are doing well and great to see you. Feel free to email me at jwolf100680@yahoo.com at any time.
Josh
I know both Coty and have had the pleasure of meeting Dustin, and both very well deserve their recognition.
Great job!
—Colton
Congrats Dustin!!!!!!!!
Coty,
I loved you the moment I met you. I have never met a nicer young man. Your genuine care for me when I visited your church was very instrumental in my returning again and again. Do you remember how you and your friend met me at my truck, opened the door for me, and escorted me into the building, and back out to the truck again after service, and invited me back…….. with genuine sincerity? You did all this without prompting from anyone. It was not a “duty.” It was real……..real, like you, Coty. I am so glad we have shared the same church home ever since. You were one of the reasons I stayed. I had to bend over to hug you back then. Now, I have to stand on my tip toes and stretch to hug you. I went through some dark days back then, and you helped me through them, whether you knew it or not. God has really blessed you, Coty, for I see His Countenance on you. I pray that you continue to walk with Him and He with you, and that you continue to bless one another, all the days of your life and forever. You are becoming my understanding of a real man. You deserved this award.
Dustin,
I do not know you, but I know you must be a fine young man. Congratulations to you. I hope I make your acquaintance some day.
Congrats to Coty and Dustin!!! Coty…the bus ride home wouldn’t be the same without you and evereyone loves the handshakes! Dustin…you are a great friend and a true inspiration to us all! I am so proud of you!
Oh Yes, Way to go Dustin Parker. I am the bus driver and I am so proud of you.
Well I know this is probably the last year you will ride my bus but I will alway be thinking of you. The walk down the drive way and the sunglasses you wear. Oh yes just the cool dude you are. Just keep up the good work. Watch out Cody your brother is coming to Northview.
Congratulations, Dustin!!!!
You came into my office about this time 3 years ago and became my “Sunshine.” You have blessed EWMS with you inspiration, motivation, and wonderful attitude. I am soooo proud of you and proud to be your principal. EWMS will miss you…you better come visit. Love you and WAR EAGLE!!!!!
Mrs. Perry
What can I say but I Love U so much!! I would say I was surprised with this honor but I always knew God made U special for his purpose and U will do what no one else can do, go were no one else can go, say what no one else can say without bringing offensives and bring the SUN with U!!! OXOXOXOXOX
Congratulations, Dustin!
You are truly an inspirational young man. It has been a pleasure to see your smiling face at Ernest Ward for the past three years. You have been a blessing to me. Life goes on, and kids grow up and move on. We will surely miss you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gayle Hanks
GO COTY!!!!
What an AWESOME beast you are, Dustin! You’re VERY SPECIAL . I’m so glad God mad us friends. I’m so very proud of you.
Congrats to Arkelle Elliot and all the students!
We are very proud of you, Arkelle! Congratulations!
Eric & Leslie Johnson
Way to go Coty!!!!! I am Coty’s bus driver ,and he has truely been an amazing inspiration to me also. He is such a great guy and he has such a great outlook on life…I admire him so much for that. I am gonna miss seeing his beautiful smile and hugs every morning and evening. I am so very glad I got to be his bus driver ,he has definately made this the best year as a driver that I’ve ever had!! Coty there is no doubt your one in a million,don’t ever change. I’ll miss you dearly!!!
I got to know Cody through the Northview NJROTC program 2 years ago as a parent of a cadet. I knew right away that he was a very special young man and I also noticed how he would not only go out of his way to talk to the other students, but to the parents also. Such a free spirit!
Cody is always so pleasant and happy and what I noticed most is how he loves to compliment the acheivements of others. He is such an inspiration to not only Northview’s students, parents and staff, but to humanity in general. We could use alot more Cody’s in this world! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get to know him.
My compliments goes out to his parents, as you have raised such a fine young man that I know you are both very proud of.
Cody, don’t ever loose that qaulity about yourself, as it is so uplifting and appreciated by many. And may God Bless you as you graduate this year and leave high school behind to see where life takes you!
As a substitute teacher, I have been greeted by both these gentleman. I am amazed at their positive outreach in the community. It definitely gives those of us who aren’t challenged as they are a reason to notice how we are acting on a daily basis. Thank you God for their smiles and wonderful attitudes!