NKSD students, others honored for leadership

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 11, 2023

Educational Service District Region 114 recently hosted the annual Regional Awards Ceremony for the Washington Association of School Administrators, where school districts from the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas recognize outstanding community leaders.

Additionally, this year’s ceremony included honoring student leadership.

Student Leadership Awards

Consideration is based on leadership and serving as a role model by participating in, and organizing, events that promote diversity, equity and individual differences.

Vaipaia Woo-Ching — KHS

Woo-Ching is a sophomore at Kingston High School and promotes access, equity and social justice through activities inside and outside of school, a NKSD news release states. She promotes academic achievement, while also helping to cultivate a safe environment for learning. A peer tutor, she supports other students daily and begins conversations to address concerns.

Julia Beatty — NKHS

Beatty, a senior at North Kitsap High School, is ASB president and has been a uniting force in the school for four years, the release states. She understands how to bring people of diverse backgrounds together. She asks challenging questions that have led to change, lifting more student voices. Beatty is a champion for all the students.

Community Leadership Awards

Kingston Cares and ShareNet were recognized for their work providing nutritious meals to students and families in Kingston-area schools weekly and during school breaks.

Kingston Cares Food4kids program, led by Jane Mack, provides and delivers meals to over 120 students who lack access to other food programs during school breaks. Between 2011-2022, Food4Kids has provided over 96,300 meals, 11,000 in 2022 alone.

ShareNet’s Food to Grow On (Food2GO) provides portable food to students dealing with food insecurities. This program fills over 100 backpacks each week during the school year. Jerry Uslund accepted the award.

“A child who is hungry, a child whose basic needs are not being met, cannot learn. Kingston Cares and ShareNet in Kingston have been essential to the success of our children. The pandemic highlighted the vital role that these organizations play in supporting our children each and every day,” said Laurynn Evans, NKSD superintendent.