by: Anna Marie Trusky
Cheyenne Holliday thought there were a lot of students who were much more
deserving than she of a Connecticut Association of Public
School Superintendents (CAPSS) award.
That sincere modesty is just another quality that makes Cheyenne such a
terrific young person!
The CAPSS award is given to two eighth-grade students at Ledyard
Middle School each year for exemplary scholarship, leadership, and
community service. The students are selected by their teachers and
guidance counselors. Cheyenne was presented with her award certifi cate
by guidance counselor Patty Pollin at the December 7th meeting of the
Ledyard Board of Education.
Patty said that Cheyenne is a standout among many remarkable
students at Ledyard Middle School. “Cheyenne is aware of people around
her in a way that many of us aren’t. When she asks you how you are, she
really wants to know what’s going on with you. Her offers to help come
naturally,” Patty explained. “She is the first to volunteer and ask, ‘Can I help
you?”
When asked by a reporter about the ways in which she helps people,
Cheyenne demurred; “It’s just the right thing to do,” she said matter-of-factly.
According to Patty, Cheyenne looks out for others without being asked, helps her teachers, and
patiently works with other students who need extra time to understand
challenging concepts. She also enthusiastically assists her family with
an annual brunch sponsored by her Grandfather Glenn Dean’s business,
Coogan-Gildersleeve Appliances, to benefit the Mystic Area Shelter and
Hospitality (MASH), an organization that assists people who are homeless or in danger of losing their homes.
Cheyenne cooks up eggs as people bid on silent auction items; In 2011 the
event raised $4,000 for MASH.
In addition to being kind and service-minded, Cheyenne is a
dedicated student. “She is usually working on four books at a time. She
reads Shakespeare and has academic discussions with her teachers just for
the love of learning,” Patty said.
Cheyenne recalls, “During Hurricane Irene, when the power went
out, a lot of kids said they were bored, but I studied algebra to get prepared
for my AP algebra class, read a book, and worked on graphic designs.” Her
talent for computer graphics earned Cheyenne an invitation to work on
the school newspaper—another activity to which she gives her all,
often working on her own time. She has also worked on graphic design for
the LMS food drive, and created a poster for the school’s Toys for Tots
program. A member of the student council, she is currently working on a
coin drive for David’s Place.
In addition to considering a career in graphic design, the everinquisitive
Cheyenne is interested in a wide array of subjects, including
psychology, criminology, and law. “Cheyenne is interested in her future
and has many ideas about what she is working toward. With Cheyenne, it is
never about her, but about the bigger picture,” said Patty.
“If you pay attention and want to learn, school can be extremely fun,”
Cheyenne said. No wonder all her teachers agree that she is, as Patty said,
“an awesome role model”!
Posted on January 23rd, 2012 | category: Achievers, Smart People
