KC Healthy Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of Greater Kansas City’s children, has announced the recipients of six $1,000 first place awards for I Am Here, the nonprofit’s youth photo contest designed to empower students to speak out for healthy communities. The winning classrooms will use their awards to promote student wellness.
The winning classrooms are:
- 3rd Grade: Border Star Montessori, Katie Wolfe, Kansas City Public Schools
- 4th Grade: Stony Point North Elementary School, Ray Lipovac, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
- 5th Grade: Meadowbrook Elementary, Sarah Farsace, North Kansas City School District
- 6th Grade: Prairie Elementary, Laura Moore, Shawnee Mission School District
- 7th Grade: Summit Lakes Middle School, Heather Crain, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
- 8th Grade: Missouri City School, Jill Payton, Missouri City School District
At a ceremony this spring, students will give “Shark Tank” style presentations and ask audience members to get involved in their projects. A grand prize winner will be announced, and that school will receive $2500 to make lasting change in their community.
Through the contest, teachers helped students think critically about how their surroundings – walking trails or broken sidewalks, safe playgrounds or blighted lots, schoolyard gardens or fast food restaurants – impact their health. Hundreds of students were involved in the contest and submitted captioned photos illustrating how their communities help and hinder healthy habits.
The ceremony will be March 2, 5:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center at 4801 Rockhill Road, KCMO 64110. Tickets can be purchased online and event proceeds help KC Healthy Kids reshape our region for a brighter future. Funds raised also benefit Greater Kansas City’s schools through I Am Here’s cash awards. Event sponsorships are still available.
Eighteen schools received $100 Honorable Mention Awards
Charter & Private Schools
- Keyonia Cobbins, Academy for Integrated Arts
- Andrea Cook, Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy of Technology
- Asha Moore, Academy for Integrated Arts
- Ashlee Smith, Summit Christian Academy
Platte County R-3 School District
- Tyler Crawford, Pathfinder Elementary
North Kansas City School District
- Sarah Farsace (3rd and 4th grades) , Meadowbrook Elementary
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
- Kristina Kidwell, Whittier Elementary
- Sabrina Rauer, M.E. Pearson Elementary
- Ray Lipovac (5th grade), Stony Point North Elementary School
- Sildiane Quinteros, Whittier Elementary
Kansas City Public Schools
- Peggy Everist, J.A. Rogers Elementary
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
- Cheryl McLaughlin, Hazel Grove Elementary
- Julie Coram, Trailridge Elementary
- Liz Mayes, Pleasant Lea Middle School
- Joel Staponski, Pleasant Lea Middle School
- Stu Reece, Bernard Campbell Middle S
Turner Unified School District 202
- Melissa Huskey, Midland Trail Elementary
