Jan. 13, 2012 — The Klein ISD community gathered to celebrate the first ever Through Your Eyes event at the Klein Forest High School auditorium on Jan. 12, 2012. The district recognized its 2012 Friend of Freedom honorees and the winners of the Klein ISD Education Foundation (KEF) multimedia student competition.

Keynote speaker Walter Kase shared his trials and triumphs that he faced as a child during the Holocaust. He captivated the audience through vivid details during this time, as well as provided words of wisdom on the importance of overcoming bullying and respecting one another.

“Mr. Kase is a true inspiration. In the Klein ISD we have been blessed on several occasions to have heard his miraculous life story. His messages bring hope and clarity that supports the initiatives of respect and tolerance being implemented throughout the district,” said Dr. Jim Cain, superintendent of the KISD.

 

Since 2003, the Friend of Freedom awards are given to individuals and businesses that have performed outstanding volunteer service and are advocates for students in the Klein ISD. Two awards are presented to each of the four high school attendance areas. The 2012 Friend of Freedom honorees are Ray Ramer, John Zorn, Deborah Williams, JoAnn Chiu, Adrianne Holmes, Shamael Mustafa, Jack Velasquez and Dan Daniels. The districtwide award went to Lisa and Bruce Tetreault (Essilor Vision Foundation), Dr. David Way (Spring Klein Eye Center), and volunteers at Faithbridge United Methodist Church. These groups brought free vision screenings to our neediest students by providing onsite eye exams and glasses.

 

“It was humbling to receive this award,” said Lisa Tetreault, Essilor Vision Foundation. “I couldn’t help feeling overpowered as we could have never achieved this level of success without the help of everyone at the schools and in the district.”

 

Established in 2000, the Klein ISD Education Foundation is designed to provide direction and support for innovative academic and enrichment projects and staff development activities for the KISD. This year the foundation sponsored a districtwide competition in which students in kindergarten through 12^th grade created multimedia products based on themes related to respect and anti-bullying. There were five categories arranged by grade level, with first through third place recognized.

 

Winners of the multimedia competition included:

Kindergarten - 2^nd Grades:

• 3rd: Jefferson Nguyen - McDougle Elementary

• 2nd: Faith Faherty - Metzler Elementary

• 1st: Deacon Tate & Ayden Slott - Mittelstädt Elementary

 

3^rd-5^th Grades:

• 3rd: Sydney Owen - Metzler Elementary

• 2nd: Vananh Tran - McDougle Elementary

• 1st: Klaire Berkes - Metzler Elementary

 

6^th - 8^th Grades:

• 1st: Davis Robertson - Doerre Intermediate

 

9th and 10th Grades:

• 1st: Penny Vongsaphay & Courtney Smith - Klein Forest High

 

11th and 12th Grades:

• 1st: Jasmine Sturgeon & Susie Benavente - Klein Forest High

 

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