Golden Heralds salute top students

BRIAN BLANCO

The winners of the 2008 Golden Herald Awards. BRIAN BLANCO/bblanco@bradenton.com

• Golden Herald Awards

2008 Golden Herald Award Winners Art: Gemma Hynds, Saint Stephen's Episcopal Athletics: Jasmine Thomas, Palmetto Business: Megan Guice, Lakewood Ranch Citizenship: Cassandra Yoder, Lakewood Ranch Computer/Technology: Norman Hayes, Palmetto English and Literature: Allison DeGroat, Manatee Foreign Language: Thy Le. Southeast General Scholarship: Dacia Thompson, Saint Stephen's Journalism: Melissa Quinn - Lakewood Ranch Mathematics: Nicole Dalzell, Southeast Music: Stephanie Oldano, Southeast Science: Shaina Rosenauer, Lakewood Ranch Social Science: Kendall Pheasant, Braden River Speech and Drama: Diana Heaven, Palmetto Vocational: Devan Cheaves, Manatee HONORABLE MENTION Art: Katlin Kenney, Southeast Athletics: Dawna Kuiken, Manatee School for the Arts Business: Travis Bell, Bayshore Citizenship: Lillian Roberts, Southeast Computer/Technology: Gregory Burgess, Palmetto English and Literature: Heather Durkee, Southeast Foreign Language: Laura Gonzalez, Southeast General Scholarship: Muaaz Hassan, Braden River Journalism: Farah Britto, Southeast Mathematics: Jody Jackson, Bayshore Music: Javisha Strong, Manatee Science: Jamie Schindewolf, Southeast Social Science: Bethany Martin, Braden River Speech and Drama: Caitlin Tribble, Manatee Vocational: Isaac Lima, Southeast

By BETH BURGER

BRADENTON --

Those were among the accomplishments of high school seniors recognized at the 31st Golden Herald Awards, where 160 students were recognized for their commitment to their schools and community.

Proud parents snapped pictures and a few hands waved from balconies to students as they took their seats.

Jasmine Thomas, 18, a senior at Palmetto, won a Golden Herald Award in the area of athletics.

Her aunt and mother erupted in applause when her name was called, hugging each other in joy.

"I'm so proud of Jasmine," said Thelma Thomas, Jasmine's aunt, who lives in Bradenton.

She approached the stage to congratulate her at the end of the awards ceremony.

As Jasmine started to turn to leave the stage to come greet her family, her aunt said, "Don't get off the stage."

Jasmine got on her knees to hug her before standing again.

"I have more opportunities now," she said.

Jasmine said she plans to study sports medicine at Manatee Community College.

Her volunteer work as a big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manatee County allowed her to help others.

She said being a mentor gave her a chance to help young children and provide them extra support and encouragement.

"I didn't get that same opportunity as a kid," she said.

The program, which was started in 1978, has honored more than 3,900 high school seniors.

Each local high school is invited to nominate two students per category. There are a total of 15 categories in areas ranging from art to mathematics. All students have to have good grades and show outstanding character.

Winners of the Golden Herald Awards receive $2,000, a gold medal and a trophy. Students who receive an honorable mention receive a trophy and $500.

In addition, Dacia Thompson of St. Stephens Episcopal School received a two year lease on a 2008 Ford Mustang from Autoway Ford of Bradenton. Her name was drawn by Todd Hoskins, Autoway general manager.

Cassandra Yoder, 17, of Lakewood Ranch won in the citizenship category. She found her passion in helping others when she spent a month in Malawi in Africa where she worked at an orphanage.

She came home to Manatee and started a non-profit organization, Taking Back Lives, to help educate women and provide AIDS awareness in Africa.

"My belief is that people inherently want to reach out and make a difference, but many times don't know where to start. I never would have imagined my life unfolding the way in which it has this past year," Cassandra wrote in her essay. "It began as a seed planted many years ago between friends from opposite sides of the world and has grown into a full-blown passion that I hope never withers away."

Yoder said she plans to attend the University of Florida and has aspirations of becoming a doctor. She plans to put her award money in a trust fund for school.

Kay Yoder, Cassandra's mother, proudly looked at her daughter.

"I'm really excited. She didn't think she was going to get it. She worked really hard," she said.

2008 Golden Herald Award Winners

Art: Gemma Hynds, Saint Stephen's Episcopal

Athletics: Jasmine Thomas, Palmetto

Business: Megan Guice, Lakewood Ranch

Citizenship: Cassandra Yoder, Lakewood Ranch

Computer/Technology: Norman Hayes, Palmetto

English and Literature: Allison DeGroat, Manatee

Foreign Language: Thy Le. Southeast

General Scholarship: Dacia Thompson, Saint Stephen's

Journalism: Melissa Quinn - Lakewood Ranch

Mathematics: Nicole Dalzell, Southeast

Music: Stephanie Oldano, Southeast

Science: Shaina Rosenauer, Lakewood Ranch

Social Science: Kendall Pheasant, Braden River

Speech and Drama: Diana Heaven, Palmetto

Vocational: Devan Cheaves, Manatee

HONORABLE MENTION

Art: Katlin Kenney, Southeast

Athletics: Dawna Kuiken, Manatee School for the Arts

Business: Travis Bell, Bayshore

Citizenship: Lillian Roberts, Southeast

Computer/Technology: Gregory Burgess, Palmetto

English and Literature: Heather Durkee, Southeast

Foreign Language: Laura Gonzalez, Southeast

General Scholarship: Muaaz Hassan, Braden River

Journalism: Farah Britto, Southeast

Mathematics: Jody Jackson, Bayshore

Music: Javisha Strong, Manatee

Science: Jamie Schindewolf, Southeast

Social Science: Bethany Martin, Braden River

Speech and Drama: Caitlin Tribble, Manatee

Vocational: Isaac Lima, Southeast