Organizers and honorees alike at this year's Feddy Awards ceremony urged those present not to abandon the community's youth.
Keynote speaker Dilsa Capdeville said that some of the award recipients themselves had overcome harsh circumstances as young people in their journey toward community service.
"We should all try and emulate" those being honored, she said, "for they are, indeed, special people." It was "in spite of personal obstacles," she said, that some have made "worthy contributions to our most prized possessions and our best natural resources."
Capdeville is director of KidsCope, a non-profit organization that provides services to children and families in crisis.
The Feddy Awards, presented by the St. Thomas-St. John local of the American Federation of Teachers, honor professionals and volunteers for their work with young people in varous areas of life. The winners of the 10th annual awards were recognized at a luncheon Sunday at Palms Court Harbourview.
The award recipients and the areas of contributions for which they were recognized are as follows: Myron Allick, business; Ava L. Braithwaite, educational; Ritza DeGout, social/civic; Bevis B. Dowell, governmental; Liston A. Sewer, cultural/artistic; Karen Turnbull, family; Monique Lynch, religious; and Mario Thomas, athletic.
Charlotte Amalie High School student Nahshan St. Bernard received the Feddy Peer Award for service by a young person to other young people.
The AFT Youth/Humanitarian Award went to Julius E. Sprauve School nurse Fran Talbot.
As he accepted his award, Thomas said the territory's youths are basically good but need supervision and care. Recounting the story of one young man on the verge of explusion from school, he said the youngster excelled in sports, so as a coach he appealed to the principal to allow him to keep the boy involved in athletic activities. The principal consented, with the stipulation that the youth report to the school library daily.
With perserverance and help from the coach, the young man graduated from high school, went on to college, and asked Thomas to be best man at his wedding.
Thomas said he took exception to those who have described some of the youngsters he has worked with as "bad."
"St. Thomians, Virgin Islanders, don't have bad kids," he said. "They have kids that lack supervision and coaching and counseling and nurturing."
