‘14 Under 14’: Cedar Rapids kids honored for leadership, kindness, problem-solving

CEDAR RAPIDS — Dafne Gonzalez, a bilingual third-grader at Hoover Community School, translates for a Spanish-speaking peer in her classroom.

Her teachers say Dafne, 8, is compassionate, trustworthy, honest and leads by example.

When a girl from Guatemala with no school experience joined Dafne’s classroom midyear, Dafne quickly befriended her, translating into Spanish classroom directions.

Dafne is one of 14 students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District to be recognized for her positive leadership qualities like good citizenship, problem solving, empathy, kindness and perseverance.

The Kids First Law Center of Cedar Rapids hosted the inaugural “14 Under 14” Awards on March 30 at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, honoring 14 students under age 14.

Students were nominated by their teachers. Honorees received a medal and a $500 scholarship to Kirkwood Community College.

Another student who earned a “14 Under 14” Award, Essance Whitford, 10, created her own job as a fourth-grader at Harrison Elementary, assisting kindergarten students before and after school and entering each morning “a ball of energy and sunshine,” her teachers say.

Essance took the initiative to seek out her former kindergarten teacher with her idea of assisting the kindergarten class. Her teacher says she is a role model who always puts other people first and is always giving hugs.

Essance also organizes books in the library and picks up coats and boots in the coat room without being asked. She regularly visits an older woman in her neighborhood, fetching things for her in her house or walking to the convenience store to get items the woman needs.

‘Extraordinary’

Jenny Schulz, executive director of the Kids First Law Center, said she was “blown away” and humbled by the honorees.

Forty students were nominated for the “14 Under 14” awards, and “all were deserving,” she said.

“None of them see what they do as extraordinary, but their teachers do,” Schulz said. “How fortunate we are they will one day lead our world.”

The Kids First Law Center gives children a voice in divorce, custody and other conflicts by providing them with legal representation and services.

Learning English

Several of the students who earned the “14 Under 14” award have been or are English Language Learners for whom English is their second language.

Prosper Habinamwisho, 13, an eighth-grader at Wilson Middle School, is a quick learner, who usually finishes his work quickly and then helps other students in the class.

Prosper was born in Zambia and immigrated to the United States with his family. He’s a voracious reader, having checked out more than 50 library books in the first few months of the school year alone.

Jack Mugisha, 9, a fourth-grader at Erskine Elementary, is being recognized for his perseverance academically and the kindness he shows to others.

Jack was born in Rwanda and immigrated to the United States with his family in 2016. His teacher says Jack sometimes has to work harder than his peers because English is not his first language, but he is gaining confidence, especially in reading and writing.

When a new student who speaks limited English joins the class, Jack happily shows him the ropes. His energy and enthusiasm for almost everything makes him likable and fun to be around.

Mayte Mejia, 11, a fifth-grader at Van Buren Elementary, is thriving academically, learning in a second language and demonstrating kindness, compassion and tenacity to her peers.

Mayte was born in Mexico and started out as a quiet English Language Learner. She quickly advanced and left the program when she was in third grade. She is now in advanced reading and math programs.

Other winners

Other students who received the “14 Under 14” Award are:

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com