Honoring the best and the brightest
By Bill Beene
Of the St. Louis American
Eleven-year-old Deon Summerville of Bermuda Elementary School would one day like to help children with disorders, but as a model student he’s already helping children by leading by example.
Summerville is an honor roll student, member of Probe (an academic program for high achievers) and competes in the Scholar Bowl. He will compete in a district-wide spelling bee after placing third in the school competition.
He’s a member of Honors Choir and Celebration Children, a dance troupe. He a street safety patrolman and reader of the school’s morning announcements over the public address system.
Because of service, leadership, outstanding academic performance and exemplary classroom behavior, Summerville and 19 other high-performing students at the school were recently selected and inducted as inaugural Young Thinkers of Bermuda (YTB).
“They were selected because they demonstrate service and say it’s okay to be smart and who we are, and we need those who lead by example,” said the program’s co-creator Library Media Specialist Sandra Roberts.
YTB is comprised of students in grades three through six.
Activities require participation in the Patricia McKissack Book Club, cultural and intellectual field experiences, school and community service, school leadership opportunities, mentoring relationships, ceremonies of distinction and academic competitions.
Students must maintain good standings to remain in the program. Roberts said, “This is who we say are our finest, and we must hold them accountable – we have to hold our leaders accountable.”
Summerville said he’s up for the challenge because his mother (Connie Summerville) has always taught him to do the right thing and to be a leader and not a follower.
Roberts called Connie Summerville perhaps the most involved parent at the school.
“There is home schooling, so we work as a team,” said school counselor and YTB sponsor Cynthia Smith.
Connie Summerville said she’s able to give so much time to her son’s education because she’s been blessed with superiors at her job who know she’s very involved with his education “and work with me so I can be involved with what he’s doing.”
Summerville is a medical secretary in a child movement disorder unit at Washington University. Talking about her job with her son made him want to become a pediatrician.
“I care for many people, and I want to help people who have disorders,” said Summerville, who called the teachers at Bermuda great and the principal, Alice Aldridge, one of the best he’s ever had.
“I’m proud of Bermuda’s teachers, students and parents – it’s a good place to go to school,” said Ferguson-Florissant School District Superintendent Jeffrie Speigel.
To the inductees in YTB, he said, “You are bright scholars, and I expect nothing but the best and greatness from all of you.”
Speigel was invited to the induction ceremony, along with district representative Dr. Savannah Young and state Rep. John Bowman of the 70th District.
Bowman, who presented the school and YTB with a resolution, said, “I’m pleased to say I rep this school. You all make me so proud.”
Bermuda principal Alice Aldridge said, “We’re working hard here at 5835 Bermuda.”
The inaugural inductees, along with Summerville, are third-graders Sabria Cox, Dion Fox, Aaron Irving, Arrin Matthews, Deasha Walker and Jared Williams; fourth-graders Ross Blakely, Andre Crump, Breanna Halley, Greg Higgins, Tamia Morris and Karon Thomas; fifth-graders Jamon Austin, Darrion Garrett, Nathan Gerber, Porshai Johnson, Joshua Justin, Jonathan Levy, Malik Ray, Davyon West and Tershe Wilson; and sixth-graders Cary Braggs, Shawniece Carter, Zack Cheatmam, Kourtnyi Rawls and Ashley Riley.
