Do The Right Thing - 2008-2009 Schools and Students of the Year

Do The Right Thing Program
2008-2009 School Year

Schools of the Year and Students of the Year Are Announced
at Annual Kickoff Breakfast

The Do The Right Thing (DTRT) Program of Greater St. Louis, Inc. Kick-off Breakfast was held on Friday, August 7, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Chief of Police Tim Fitch of the St. Louis County Police Department, and Deputy Chief Tim Reagan of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department presented the following special awards:

Smithton Elementary School, Smithton School District
Illinois School of the Year

Representatives from the 2008-2009 Illinois School of the Year, Smithton Elementary School, with (R) Robin Smith, News-4 Anchor, at the Do The Right Thing Annual Kick-off Breakfast.

Smithton School was honored for their commitment to the Do The Right Thing Program during the past two school years. Smithton had the most children nominated out of all the schools in Illinois who participated in our program. The students who were honored displayed incredible character and deserved to be recognized for doing the right thing.

Hagemann Elementary School, Mehlville School District
Missouri School of the Year

Representatives from the 2008-2009 Missouri School of the Year, Hagemann Elementary School, with (L) St. Louis Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Timothy Reagan, and (R) St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch at the Do The Right Thing Annual Kick-off Breakfast.

Hagemann Elementary School was chosen for nominating students each month during the past school year. And, they had the most nominations of any Missouri School. Hagemann set an excellent example for all school districts by their commitment to character education in their school community.

Wesley Buchanan, Francis Howell High School and
JaKobi Buchanan, John Weldon Elementary School
Francis Howell School District
Students of the Year for 2008-2009

2008-2009 Students of the Year JaKobi and Wesley Buchanan, joined by (L) University City Chief Charles Adams, (LC) St. Louis Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Timothy Reagan, (RC behind) St. Louis County Police Chief Fitch, Mrs. Susan King (in front of Chief Fitch), and (R behind) Captain Michael Ransom of the University City Police Department, along with family and friends at the Do The Right Thing Annual Kick-off Breakfast.

When University City Sgt. Mike King was killed in the line of duty last fall, JaKobi and Wesley were truly affected by his tragic death. At the time, JaKobi had been saving his money for an Ipod. Realizing that Sgt. King was survived by his wife Susan, JaKobi decided his money needed to go to her. Wesley also wanted to help in some way. At that point, the boys learned about the organization that helps families of fallen police officers and firefighters-The Backstoppers. Both Wesley and JaKobi decided they were going to raise some money for Mrs. King and the Backstoppers Organization. So, instead of buying personal items for themselves, they donated their personal savings and the funds they raised to Mrs. King and to the Backstoppers.

Susan King, Sgt. King's widow, nominated the Buchanan brothers and stated, "I am thrilled Welsley and Jakobi have been chosen for this award. They are so deserving and I am so proud of them. They have truly touched my life."

The Do The Right Thing Program's mission is to recognize and encourage youth for the good things they do and for making good character choices. Sponsors of the program are: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department, KMOV Channel 4, Cooperating School Districts, McDonalds, Commerce Bank, Memorial Hospital of Belleville, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, Sigma-Aldrich, Schnucks, St. Elizabeth's Hospital of Belleville, Six Flags of St. Louis, and Whalen Security.

For further information, contact Candy Green, Program Director, Do The Right Thing Program, 314-303-6349.