25 students are recognized for demonstrating Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and/or Empathy
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – On Thursday October 23, 2025, Chester Grade School presented its 4th set of “HIVE” awards for the 2025-2026 school year. These awards are presented twice each month throughout the year and students in grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade are eligible to be recognized for demonstrating one or more of the four “HIVE” character traits.
Character traits being recognized include Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and/or Empathy. Throughout the weeks leading up to each set of “HIVE” award presentations, teachers, staff and administration, are observing students that are regularly demonstrating the four “HIVE” good character traits.
Nominations can be made by any CGS employee, but typically are made by teachers or classroom paraprofessionals who are in day-to-day, regular contact with the respective students. All nominations are submitted to the coordinator of the program, Kacey Crook, School Counselor. Crook reviews all of the nominations and selects the bi-monthly award winners.
All award winners are recognized at the bi-monthly school-wide “Morning Meetings” that take place in the CGS gymnasium. All students, teachers and paraprofessionals are in attendance at this bi-monthly gathering of the CGS family.
At the time of the presentation of the bi-monthly “HIVE” awards, the honorees are introduced to the entire student body where they receive a very ‘loud and proud’ round of applause and are brought down to the gym floor where they are recognized and presented with a certificate to commemorate the honor.
Following the presentations, a group photo is taken of all “HIVE” award recipients with their certificates. These photos are published in various media outlets as well as on various social media platforms.
For the October 23rd presentations, there were a total of 25 students that received awards. The areas of recognition included Respect (10); Responsibility (7), Safety (1), and Empathy (7), for a total of 25 awards. Grade levels that received these awards included:
K 3
1st 2
2nd 3
3rd 3
4th 2
5th 4
6th 5
7th 1
8th 2
Total: 25 awards/recipients
Award winners, grade levels, and “HIVE” Characteristics being recognized
Respect (10 students)
Brady Cushman Kindergarten
Emmalyn Martin 2nd
Clair Grah 2nd
Preston Miller 3rd
Tegan Breeden 4th
Bentley Schweizer 5th
Braelyn Rains 5th
Hoyt Hahs 6th
Cruzlyn Davis 6th
Peyton Choate 8th
Responsibility (7 students)
Aitana Francisco Pastor Kindergarten
Kailer Keeler 1st
Ember Richelman 1st
Mackinzy Velasco 3rd
Evie Miller 5th
Natalie Guethle 5th
Rese Ebers 7th
Safety (1 student)
Axie Pumphery Kindergarten
Empathy (7 students)
Diann Adames-Beck 2nd
Henry Mallender 3rd
Kinlee Roscow 4th
Gabe Jones 6th
Nicandro Cortes Vasquez 6th
Alexis Harvey 6th
Xander Greene 8th
The next “HIVE” awards will be presented on Friday November 7, 2025 at the CGS “Morning Meeting” at 8:00 a.m.