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September 12, 2007
The Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation (JTHF) is pleased to announce the
recipients of the 2nd annual Jeff Hayden Character Award for 2006-2007
school year as Elle Nguyen and Brian Smudski. This award was presented
to these fine young people last May as part of the year-end award
ceremony at Freedom Elementary School in West Chester by school
Principal Sabrina Hubert and her staff.
 Of
the entire Freedom Elementary sixth grade class, Elle and Brian were the
two students who demonstrated traits of which the school refers to as
‘Freedom Pride’. Every year, sixth grade teachers from the school will
choose one boy and one girl to be presented with the Jeff Hayden
Character award through a rigorous 3 step process. The teachers must
then make a decision based upon all aspects of which the student has
portrayed while attending the school, such items can include: academics,
specials, recess, lunch, bus, etc.
Freedom Pride, the school’s character education initiative, was
lauded as one of the nation’s finest and includes working with students
on the development of strong character as a means to both improve
academic performance and to prepare students for life.
On behalf of the Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation and Freedom
Elementary we would like to again congratulate Elle Nguyen and Brian
Smudski on a job well done and making us all proud.
The following speech was given at the awards presentation:
“… Good evening. It is an honor to present the Jeffrey Thomas
Hayden Character Award to two of our sixth graders tonight. This award
was established to honor Jeffrey Hayden. Freedom was Jeff’s school home
from first grade all the way through sixth grade. Jeff knew what Freedom
Pride was all about and that integrity builds a person’s character. Jeff
had the Freedom Pride Skills down. He had mastered them. In the middle
of his sixth grade year, Jeff was diagnosed with a inoperable brain
tumor. The Freedom family learned very quickly about Jeff’s character
and perseverance. Even on the days when he was not feeling his best, he
was his best; demonstrating kindness and compassion for others, showing
respect, citizenship, teamwork in the classroom and having integrity in
all that he did. How a sixth grader can reach out to others while
fighting such a ferocious battle with cancer is humbling to say the
least. Jeff lost his battle to cancer in September 2004, just shy of his
13th birthday. With this award we honor his character and all that he
taught us about the Freedom Pride Skills under the toughest conditions a
sixth grader can face.
Tonight’s recipients demonstrate this integrity as well. Choosing
these young people was not an easy process to say the least. It is a
rigorous task that involves looking at a student’s character in the
academic classroom and also in gym, music and art classes. It also
includes looking at their character at recess, on the bus, and any time
they are a representative for our school. There are so many fine young
men and women in this sixth grade class that demonstrate Freedom Pride.
Yet, Freedom teachers could select only two. Who are the finest? Who
consistently displayed and modeled integrity for their peers? Who showed
compassion for others no matter what their differences were? We believe
we have chosen wisely.
This year’s recipients of the Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Character
Award are Elle Nguyen and Brian Smudksi. Elle and Brian would you please
join me on the stage?
Elle Nguyen is a model of integrity. She demonstrates integrity in
all that she does. She doesn’t give up on herself or on others. She
works hard and gives her best in the classroom and among her peers. Elle
will give the extra effort needed to master new concepts. She reaches
out to her peers when they need help or they just need encouragement to
make the better choice. If you ask her peers they will tell you how
wonderful she really is and that she truly represents what Freedom pride
is all about. And Jeff Hayden would be thrilled to see an Ohio State
Buckeye fan receive this award. Congratulations Elle!
Brian Smudski is one those students you can always count on. Brian
has the confidence to be himself even if it is not popular with his
peers. He stands up for others and he stands up for what is right
without hesitation. He is not afraid to stand out among his peers as
being different. And he is not afraid to befriend someone that is
different or is shunned by others. He does not see the differences.
Instead he reaches out to everyone. Brian is a student that unique and
comfortable in his own skin. Brian’s respect for his teachers, his
fellow classmates and also for himself has given us a wonderful example
to follow. Congratulations Brian! …”
The Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation is a registered 501c(3) non profit organization that was created to Make a Difference in
the fight against pediatric brain tumors. For more information visit our
web site at
www.jthf.org
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