Arvada Teacher, Students Honored At JeffCo Fndn. Hero Awards

ARVADA, CO – Two Arvada high school seniors and a middle school teacher were among those praised as "heroes" of Jefferson County School District at the 2018 JeffCo Foundation Heroes Award ceremony Nov. 12.

The foundation's 15th yearly fundraiser, held at Lakewood's Sheraton Denver West, honored Jeffco Public Schools students and teachers of "extraordinary character, leadership and strength."

The Hero Awards event has raised more than $60,000 to "support the continuing need to re-engage students at risk of dropping out from a JPS school," the foundation said.

This year, the awards were expanded to honor a classified employee, Amos Baca at Deane Elementary.

The Arvada winners were:

• Arvada North Middle School veteran physical education teacher Rusty Owsten was honored for his commitment to physical fitness for students, and his mission to "provide a positive role model" for middle schoolers.
• Arvada West senior and Haitian immigrant Maxene Augustin was honored for her perseverance at math, learning to expand and speak English from her Creole background and helping to tutor other students.
• Arvada High School senior Adrena Rocha was honored as a student who rebuilt her academic career after a freshman runaway incident and who worked to become a model student, mentoring other girls who are struggling.

WATCH:

Other Hero Award winners were:

• Teacher Kym O'Donnell, Westgate Elementary School in Lakewood
• Ron Woitalevicz, teacher and coach at Dakota Ridge High School
• Wheat Ridge High School Senior Kenneth Godoy
• Sobesky Academy Senior Isaac Mohr

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