ELIZABETH - We hear so many negative stories about school district funding, oversized classrooms, and budget cuts recently. So one local school has taken it into their own hands to not only honor good students but also raise their own money to put back into the classrooms.
It's called the STAR program, which stands for Students Taking Accountability and Responsibility Seriously. It's part of the Elizabeth Education Foundation.
"It's not just people who do well academically or athletically but it's just good people that are kind to others and try to help them out," says STARS award recipient Marianne Hughes.
It's a program that is made to honor the students who are making a difference.
"We live in a day and age where unfortunately the bad students get all the headlines. I feel honored to live in a community were we not only honor but we celebrate the good kids," says Elizabeth Education Foundation board member Jace Glick.
Students say it's all about being a role model.
"It means being a good citizen- in school and out of school -and helping others when they need it," says Ernie Smith, also a STARS award recipient.
And the program also directly impacts the classroom environment. In just three years, more than $37,000 has been donated back into the classrooms for computers, textbooks and projectors.
"It purchases things that aren't always easy to get on their budget. Things that normally schools can't afford and things that enlightens and enhances those kids' opportunities," says Glick.
The Elizabeth Education Foundation operates on donations from the community and fundraisers from the kids, and 100 percent of the proceeds go back into the school district.
Fifty students this year, grades 5 through 12, are recipients of the program. Teachers nominate students in the district for the STARS program.
To learn more about the Elizabeth Education Foundation and the STARS Program go to http://www.elizabethef.org/.
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