Annual Awards Dinner

Going above and beyond, overcoming challenges and striving to be great despite adversity has earned several local teens praises and an investment in their future. On Monday, May 13^th, the Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County held its Annual Awards Dinner to recognize a group of outstanding youth and child advocates who are making a difference in our community.

Five teens earned this year’s Outstanding Youth Award, which comes with a $1,000 college scholarship upon graduation from high school. Winners are nominated by the programs in which they participate for displaying exemplary leadership characteristics, achievement and volunteerism. This year’s winners included: Sinclaire DuPree and Sophia Olsinski from E.N.D. IT, Corp, Hailey Guzman and Jakia Lifhred from PACE Center for Girls, and Christian Galentine from Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County.

The Children’s Services Council also recognized local child advocates for their commitment to the mission of the Council with a Kathy Basile Champion for Children Award, posthumously named after the Council’s longtime Executive Director. Those winners were:

• Karen Bailey, the Help Me Grow Coordinator at 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast who has been an instrumental part of expanding the reach of the St. Lucie Reads program in St. Lucie County.
• Valerie Bell, the nurse manager of the Cleveland Clinic Martin Health Maternal Child Outpatient and Home Care program and has dedicated her life to ensuring that local moms and their babies have the best opportunity for a healthy start.

For helping advance the efforts of the Children’s Services Council, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce CEO Terissa Aronson was also distinguished as Champion for Children, along with General Manager of the Starbucks in St. Lucie West, Glenn Camelio.  

The event was sponsored by St. Lucie Battery & Tire, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Post Insurance & Financial, Inc. and was held at the River Walk Center – City of Fort Pierce.