Fourth-grader and high school senior win for their efforts to prevent bullying
The annual Hillsborough County Anti-Bullying Recognition Awards are presented to a young person or group of young people up to age 19 to highlight their efforts to eliminate bullying. During its Oct. 7 meeting, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners honored two winners for their outstanding efforts to prevent bullying in the community.
The Anti-Bullying Emerging Leader Award winner was Nariah Rivera and the Individual Anti-Bullying Recognition Award winner was Madden Moore.
A fourth-grader at Limona Elementary School in Brandon, Rivera developed an activity for the Smart Girls program, which is designed to help girls overcome barriers that prevent friendships from forming. Additionally, she created child-friendly anti-bullying activities and worked with the Carey Family Boys & Girls Club's art instructor to develop an anti-bullying art show that will educate others about bullying and ways to prevent it. Nariah's future goals include becoming a police officer so she can, in her words, "help people in the world to be safe."
Moore is 18 years old and a senior at Plant High School. As a junior, Madden founded "Big & Little Panther," a program dedicated to inspiring leadership and promoting anti-bullying throughout her school. Her anti-bullying efforts gained momentum, and the program grew strong partnerships with the theater department, the orchestra department, the chorus department, athletic clubs, and the STEM department. Her vision includes plans to partner with "NoSolo," a national nonprofit organization focused on mental health awareness, and to develop a blueprint that could bring the "Big & Little Panther" concept to schools throughout Hillsborough County. Madden's future goals include attending a Florida university before returning to Hillsborough County, with hopes of anchoring the nightly news for the community she loves.
The Board also presented a proclamation declaring Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 as Fire Prevention Week.
Interested in all the details about the latest BOCC meeting? Here is a full recap.
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