Kids who went astray earn applause and a Turnaround Award when they tap their inner goodness.
By Times Staff Writer
Published May 21, 2004
Winning a Turnaround Achievement Award takes hard work and perseverance. Students must overcome odds to get their lives on track.
It also takes connecting with a teacher or administrator who can offer encouragement and support, said award coordinator Anne Chatfield, reading supervisor in Hillsborough County School district's dropout prevention program.
"The potential to be wonderful is in all these students," Chatfield said.
Students are chosen by their schools for overcoming personal obstacles, family issues, terrible behavior and sinking grades.
The district honored 70 middle and high school students at an awards banquet last month at the Tampa Airport Westshore Hilton. Each received a personalized plaque.
The district began awarding Turnaround plaques in 1987. A winner in that first batch: Hillsborough sheriff's Deputy Ken Turner. Today, he's a member of the SWAT team and the vice squad's canine unit.
Over the next two weeks, City Times is showcasing the winners from South Tampa area high schools, including Blake, D.W. Waters Career Center, Jefferson and Robinson. Plant High did not have a winner.
This week, we highlight La'Trese Epps from Robinson High School and James Foster of D.W. Waters Career Center. Epps used to fight with classmates. Foster nearly flunked out after his father died. Now they are model students.
