Alachua County Public School (ACPS) board members, staff, students and parents gathered at the headquarters library branch in Gainesville on Wednesday to recognize the 2024-25 Citizens of the Year honorees.
The annual award is given to 24 students representing each elementary school in Alachua County whose teachers and peers nominated them for their scholastic performance, classroom conduct, community service and extracurricular activities.
ACPS and the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville also run a Citizens of the Month program with the winners posted on Mainstreet Daily News’ website and printed in the weekly newspaper.
At Wednesday’s event, ACPS interim superintendent Kamela Patton led the Citizens of the Year awardees in a standing ovation for their parents who she said helped raise the students already so well-rounded at such a young age.
“You’re not just here because of what you know in your head,” Patton said. “You’re also being honored for what’s in your heart; for being caring, for being helpful, for being respectful and a positive influence in your school.”
School Board of Alachua County member Leanetta McNealy told the students their honor came not just from doing the right thing one time but doing it consistently over time. She encouraged them to continue being role models as they moved up to the next grade.
“Every kind word and every kind action matters,” McNealy said. “You are building something powerful. You’re building a better world.”
Each student received a medal, certificate, gift bag, dessert and T-shirt. Metcalfe Elementary fifth grader June Koech said it felt really good to receive the award she heard two months ago she’d won.
“I didn’t realize this would ever happen, but it happened,” Koech said. “It means I’ve reached my goal of [becoming] more mature in life.”
Here is a complete list of the 2024-25 Citizens of the Year:
- Marianna Baucom, Alachua Elementary
- Finley Vereb, Archer Elementary
- Annabeth Barker, Chiles Elementary
- Grayson Williams, Foster Elementary
- Ari Bell, Glen Springs Elementary
- George Stocker, Hidden Oak Elementary
- Abby Johnson, High Springs Community School
- Kaydenze Lozada, Idylwild Elementary
- Makenzie Stein, Irby Elementary
- Mikayla Williams, Lake Forest Elementary
- Kennedy Sell, Littlewood Elementary
- Greta DiCesare, Meadowbrook Elementary
- June Koech, Metcalfe Elementary
- Hazel Walford, Micanopy Area Cooperative School
- Brennan Coleman, Newberry Elementary
- Maci Guilfoyle, Norton Elementary
- Larry Harris, Parker Elementary
- Sebastian Pozos, Rawlings Elementary
- Melanie Whitmire, Shell Elementary
- Aaliyah White, Sidney Lanier Center
- Sophia Zasimovich, Talbot Elementary
- Victoria Rios, Terwilliger Elementary
- Aubrielle Vetsch, Wiles Elementary
- L’Oreal Brown, Williams Elementary
