Program recognizes positive behavior by young people
BY WEEKLY SUN STAFF
The Hailey fire and police departments, together with the Blaine County School District, have announced the 2016 awards for the “Do The Right Thing” program, which is intended to reinforce positive behavior by youngsters.
The top award went to Korbin Heitzman, who was nominated for the program by his Hailey Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Jenica Alexander. Other nominees were Gina Pulleiro, a student at Wood River High School, and Hallie Taylor, a student at Wood River Middle School.
The students were recognized at a Hailey Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on May 19. The BAH was hosted by KECH Radio and The Weekly Sun.
The program is also supported by several local businesses and organizations, including KB’s, ESS Eyewear, Board Bin, Bigwood 4 Cinema, Wiseguy Pizza, Shorty’s, Hailey Rotary, Hawley Graphics, Windy City Graphics, Zions Bank and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce.
Do The Right Thing is a national program that was formed in Hailey in 2014. Nationally, the program recognizes thousands of youngsters who have performed acts or exhibited behavior of “doing the right thing.”
Alexander described Heitzman, this year’s local winner, as an “exceptional member of our valley.”
“Korbin is the most positive, natural leader I’ve ever seen in my 15 years of teaching,” Alexander wrote in her nomination. “His ability to rally his classmates to succeed and do their best is amazing. I have full confidence that if I had to step out of class, he would take charge and keep everyone learning and on task.”
Also as part of the program, Carlos Gonzalez, the 2015 local top award winner, was recently awarded a $500 scholarship. Gonzalez was chosen last year because of his commitment to the community and his passion for soccer, where he assists with a local adult league.
The program is now accepting new nominations for Do The Right Thing. Anyone can nominate any student in Blaine County by visiting the City of Hailey website at www.haileycityhall.org and filling out a brief nomination form.
“Youth can do the right thing both inside of school and outside of school,” said Hailey Fire Chief Craig Aberbach, who brought the program to the Wood River Valley. “We want to involve everyone in the effort to recognize youth for doing the right thing.”