HomeMy WebLinkAboutII (A1) Presentation: Recognition of Jennifer Spangler, Lake Elementary School Agenda 10-3-2000
Item II A 1
'CENIM OF GOODLIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE"' MAYOR•COMMISSIONER
S.soya VANDERGRIFT
• conmossioNERs
Ok -+: ' lr o CITY OF OCOEE DANNY HOWELL
150 N. LAKES(IORLDRIVE SCOTT ANDERSON
44 RUSTY JOHNSON
Q Ocnee,FLORIDA 34761-2258 NANCY I. PARKER
�Y'n (407)656-2322
�, CITY MANAGER
'� EIAJS SHAPIRO
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September 21, 2000
Jennifer Spangler
Spring Lake Elementary School
Dear Jennifer:
The following quote is from an e-mail I recently received from Annette Andrews:
Sometime during the week of 8/28, Jennifer was walking home from Spring Lake Elementary
School. As she was on her way home, she came upon a boy, approximately 12 years of age,
sitting on the sidewalk. Jennifer could tell he had Down's Syndrome, but also felt something
else was wrong with him,as he was rocking back and forth, back and forth. She approached him
and asked him if he was OK. He responded that he didn't know. She asked him if he knew his
name, where he lived, etc. Again, he didn't know. She saw a lady waiting for the Lynx bus, and
asked her if the boy was OK, but the lady hadn't gotten involved, so SHE didn't know. Fearing
he might be sick, or having a diabetic sugar low, she asked her friends to wait with him, and
Jennifer ran home and got her mom. Her mom arrived, and was afraid that the little boy may not
be able to get home, so she flagged down an Ocoee Police officer who was driving by.
Jennifer could have just went home, and the child may have been OK eventually, but why take
that chance? Jennifer is a very compassionate, caring child who, I feel, deserves to be
recognized by the city and possibly her school. Today, we too often just generate articles,
information, etc., about our"bad" kids. We need to reward those who try to do good."
Jennifer, I feel as Annette Andrews feels that you displayed a humanitarian, get-involved attitude
that exemplifies what we would like to expect from all humankind. For this to come from a ten
year old and your friends who helped out is a marvelous reinforcement of my faith in the
children of our community. On behalf of all of the citizens of Ocoee, I commend you for your
effort in helping someone obviously in need of assistance by going out of your way to seek out
someone in authority who could render assistance. Keep up the good work and thanks again for
being a model citizen.
Sincerely,
S. Scott Vandergrift