Upward Bound gives high-fives to students for improvements

CRYSTAL RIVER -- During a special breakfast recently at Rock Crusher Canyon, middle and high school students celebrated the success they have enjoyed in their lives.

The Rotary Club-sponsored Upward Bound program recognized students, chosen by their schools, who have made substantial improvements in their attitudes and schoolwork.

The students were treated to doughnuts, eggs and sausage, as well as individual recognition and certificates.

The guest speaker was Rotarian Jim Falkenburg, president of the Citrus County Education Foundation and retail advertising manager for the Citrus Times. He focused on four points to encourage the students to sustain their successes. The first three are: have a positive attitude, be accountable and have good character.

The fourth point: "You've got to overcome defeat and trial. You've got to do it one day at a time," he said.

The Upward Bound program was started by Rotarian Ray Darling in 1990 to encourage students who have changed their ways to keep the upward momentum.

"We started with the primary schools," Darling said. "It was so successful, we extended the program to the high and middle schools."

Renna Jablonskis, director of student services with the Citrus County school district, addressed the students with a story about her grandson's efforts to learn to walk. She applied the child's trials and errors to their lives.

"If you're down, you can pick yourself right up," she said.

The students recognized at various schools were:

Withlacoochee Technical Institute: Edward Allen, Brian Alling, Richard Baker, Eva Frankenfield, Clinton Meyers, Katie Ostrowski, Aaron Radank, Lynn Stambek.

Crystal River High School: Elizabeth Heston, Ashley Baggott, Evon Brown, Casey Baum, Jeannie Beasley, Felicia Bishop, Gregg Sphon, Rachel Clark, Colleen Kenney, Josh Dampman.

Lecanto High School: Joseph Schwartz, Brandon Tellier, Matthew Priest, Justin Massey, Sarah Gamble, Ivy Danford, Stevie Smith, Tabitha Fallon, Ricky O'Steen, Casey Clayson.

Citrus High School: Rachel Burns, Carl Clark, Kimberly Cohen, Krystal Davis, Christina Pace, Elise Rodrigues.

Renaissance Center: Tim Marasco, Robert Perez.

Citrus Springs Middle School: Melvin Coates, Johnnie Davis, Nakia Cleveland, Ezra Fowler, Christine Goater, Kristen Hessinger, Alyssa Joachim, Scott Mehlenbacher, Courtney Michel, Tasha Pinney, Jeremiah Yeager, Angela Cooper, Tanner Klaus, Jolie Vonholten.

Lecanto Middle School: Anthony Grady, Ashley Brower, Nicole Talbot, Monique Gardenier, Kelly Barter, Jessica Calbi, Daniel Bates, Roy Courtney, Tim Hughes, Rachel Swisher, Justin Plante, Sam Wright.

Inverness Middle School: Anthony Belcastro, Dennise Bray, Daniel Clarke, Daniel Conigliaro, Joshua Manion, Tyler Mathis, Penny Nevills, Chris Parrish, Amber Smiling, Kristin Smiling, Joshua McKinney.

Crystal River Middle School: Megan Allison, Jake Bennett, Benjamin Cunningham, Ciera Dorsey, Steven Frechette, Zachary Griffin, James Kenyon, Alyssa Lolly, Bernadine McCoy, Ricky Rentz, Keith Siddell, Badal Trivedi, Danny Works.

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