Beach kid receives recognition
Beach teenager Chad Redenius, an 11th grade student at Cypress Lake High School, was among 12 honorees recently recognized during the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s “Do The Right Thing” Awards. The event, which was the first ceremony of the school year, was held Thursday, Sept. 17, in the School District’s Board Room.
Cypress Lake High School Principal Tracy Perkins said in her nomination letter: “Chad observed two male students involved in an altercation. Chad decided to get involved, and he pulled the two students apart. He handled the situation as an adult would have. His quick actions prevented possible injuries to both students.”
After being asked if he was proud of his son, Rick Redenius responded: “You couldn’t be more right about that.” Chad, who plays football for the Cypress Lake Panthers, is one of the team’s best receivers at tight end, as well as playing in the defensive backfield and returning kicks
The ceremony recognized certain traits such as humanitarian concern, honesty, integrity, positive decision making and heroism.
Each month throughout the 2009-2010 school year, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office honors the positive actions of our community’s students through the “Do The Right Thing” Student Recognition Program. The goal of “Do The Right Thing” is to reinforce positive behavior among youths and to establish students as role models for their peers. “Do The Right Thing” partners with law enforcement, local government, local businesses and the Lee County educational community in an effort to make a lasting positive impact on young adults.
The other 11 honorees included Fort Myers’ Jose Esau Cruz, a sixth grade student at Lexington Middle School; Lehigh Acres’ Clarence Jean, a fourth grade student at Sunshine Elementary School; Fort Myers’ Jacob Thomas Howard, a sixth grade student at James Stephens International Academy; Fort Myers’ Courtney Kaufman, an eighth grade student at Cypress Lake Middle School; Fort Myers’ Michael Bennard, an 11th Grade Student at Cypress Lake High School; Fort Myers’ Amber Nowling, an 11th grade student at Cypress Lake High School; Fort Myers’ Doniyor Kamalov, an 11th grade student at Cypress Lake High School; Fort Myers’ Adam Blair, an 11th grade student at Cypress Lake High School; Lehigh Acres’ Beatrice Madriga, a 12th grade student at East Lee County High School; Lehigh Acres’ Jonathan Burkhead, a seventh grade student at Alva Middle School; and Bonita Springs’ Astrid Arriaga, a seventh grade student at Bonita Springs Middle School.