duncan228
05-12-2008, 10:46 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051308.8BTeensAward.36e0065.html
Teen's selfless, thougthful actions garner Tim Duncan Character award
By Vincent T. Davis
Express-News
Patty Cuevas thought she was in trouble when her teacher said she wanted to talk before the start of her third-period class. Patty, a freshman at Roosevelt High School, met her teacher outside of the Northeast Side building, her nerves on edge. She relaxed when the teacher wanted to talk about her next year as a Cavaliers cheerleader.
When they walked through the door into her applied sciences class, her fellow students erupted with a cheer of “Surprise!”
Patty covered her open mouth with her hand, eyes wide as barrel tops, as classmates, teachers and parents swallowed her up with hugs and pats on the back.
The crowd had gathered to celebrate Patty's honor as a recipient of the Tim Duncan Character Award for helping her friend Penny Cullins become an honorary pep squad member.
Patty's teacher, Leslie Philbrick, submitted her name to the Spurs organization in October. She received word Friday that Patty was one of a number of students selected for the award.
“She was so caught off guard,” Philbrick said, fighting back tears as Patty's parents, Guadalupe and Jesse Gomez, congratulated her. “She didn't think what she did was special.”
Patty, 16, a pep squad member, flashed a smile — displaying a full set of braces. Her smile grew bigger as Philbrick loaded her arms with a T-shirt, planner and notebook bearing Duncan's name and image.
Duncan's foundation and the Spurs have chosen 3,000 area students who embody outstanding character traits each year since 2002. Teachers nominate students for the award.
As Philbrick cut a large, chocolate cake, the two girls leaned against one another.
Patty befriended Penny, 15, who has limited physical disabilities, in their English class. She had little tolerance for a few of her classmates who looked at her friend “weird” or made fun of her. That wasn't what her mother taught her about how to treat people.
So Patty followed her mom's lessons, bringing her new friend into her circle. She learned that Penny loved the Cavaliers' routines and told Philbrick she was going to teach Penny to become a cheerleader.
During class, Patty could be heard teaching Penny dance moves and cheers in the hallway. Penny sat in the stands for football games, until the last game. That's when she stood on the sidelines beside Patty, running through the moves her friend taught her.
“She's extraordinary,” Patty said of Penny. “She's a very extraordinary girl.”
When Philbrick asked the students to write an essay and name a teacher, parent, guardian or student they thought was an extraordinary individual, Penny returned the compliment.
She penned Patty's name in the block reserved for extraordinary student.
Teen's selfless, thougthful actions garner Tim Duncan Character award
By Vincent T. Davis
Express-News
Patty Cuevas thought she was in trouble when her teacher said she wanted to talk before the start of her third-period class. Patty, a freshman at Roosevelt High School, met her teacher outside of the Northeast Side building, her nerves on edge. She relaxed when the teacher wanted to talk about her next year as a Cavaliers cheerleader.
When they walked through the door into her applied sciences class, her fellow students erupted with a cheer of “Surprise!”
Patty covered her open mouth with her hand, eyes wide as barrel tops, as classmates, teachers and parents swallowed her up with hugs and pats on the back.
The crowd had gathered to celebrate Patty's honor as a recipient of the Tim Duncan Character Award for helping her friend Penny Cullins become an honorary pep squad member.
Patty's teacher, Leslie Philbrick, submitted her name to the Spurs organization in October. She received word Friday that Patty was one of a number of students selected for the award.
“She was so caught off guard,” Philbrick said, fighting back tears as Patty's parents, Guadalupe and Jesse Gomez, congratulated her. “She didn't think what she did was special.”
Patty, 16, a pep squad member, flashed a smile — displaying a full set of braces. Her smile grew bigger as Philbrick loaded her arms with a T-shirt, planner and notebook bearing Duncan's name and image.
Duncan's foundation and the Spurs have chosen 3,000 area students who embody outstanding character traits each year since 2002. Teachers nominate students for the award.
As Philbrick cut a large, chocolate cake, the two girls leaned against one another.
Patty befriended Penny, 15, who has limited physical disabilities, in their English class. She had little tolerance for a few of her classmates who looked at her friend “weird” or made fun of her. That wasn't what her mother taught her about how to treat people.
So Patty followed her mom's lessons, bringing her new friend into her circle. She learned that Penny loved the Cavaliers' routines and told Philbrick she was going to teach Penny to become a cheerleader.
During class, Patty could be heard teaching Penny dance moves and cheers in the hallway. Penny sat in the stands for football games, until the last game. That's when she stood on the sidelines beside Patty, running through the moves her friend taught her.
“She's extraordinary,” Patty said of Penny. “She's a very extraordinary girl.”
When Philbrick asked the students to write an essay and name a teacher, parent, guardian or student they thought was an extraordinary individual, Penny returned the compliment.
She penned Patty's name in the block reserved for extraordinary student.