Dade County school students who traded in their self-destructive behavior for Frost and Emerson were rewarded recently with recognition that will last them a lifetime.

Students recently were honored by the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association (KFHA) at the organization's annual Operation Turnaround luncheon for boosting their grades and reshaping their outlook on life. The Federation has been honoring comeback students at the luncheon for 18 years by awarding them certificates and college scholarships to those who have made the biggest difference.

"We simply felt that students should be recognized when they turn their lives around," said Miles Moss, KFHA chairman. "These awards help build self-esteem and are well deserved. Students who regularly excel often receive awards while those who have pulled themselves up from the bottom, often go unrecognized."

Principals and counselors chose the elementary, middle and high school students they believed had made the most substantial academic progress. A change in attitude is at the core of academic improvement, counselors say.

"I realized how important an education is," said Kankina Williams, a senior at Miami Douglas MacArthur South High School. "I just wanted something better for myself."

Williams was one of five students who received a scholarship to Miami-Dade Community College that afternoon. Others receiving scholarships from Miami-Dade were Alexis Lopez, of G. Holmes Braddock; Marsha Marcca and Michelle Marcca, Miami Sunset, and Alberto Parra, Miami Killian.

Dr. Robert B. Ingram, a school board member and guest speaker for the event, put it simply to the audience when he stated his three keys to turning around your life.

"You cannot worry about what you don't have, only what you do have. There are three keys to turning your life around. One is to know yourself, two is to like yourself and three is to be yourself," Ingram said.

He went on to advise the students and others at the luncheon to try again and strive for determination.
"Reform your mind and transform your heart for the key to life is to appreciate yourself and then you will appreciate those who are around you," Ingram said.

Shanlesa Elam, a senior at South Miami High School, listened closely to Dr. Ingram's words of encouragement and then was surprised when it was announced that she was the recipient of the scholarship from Florida Memorial College.

"I am just so happy. I could not have done this without the support of my family and my teachers at school. I am just so happy, thank you," said Elam, as tears of joy filled her eyes.

Alexis Lopez of G. Holmes Braddock High School also received a $250 scholarship from the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity on top of his scholarship to Miami-Dade Community College. Lopez plans to use the money to buy books and get prepared for college.

The Operation Turnaround luncheon attracted a crowd of over a 100 people to the banquet room at the Miami National Country Club.

Everyone observed a special tribute to Dorothy Cissel, who recently passed away, for her vision in starting this program and her other contributions to the Kendall community. The crowd included some of Dade County's most well-known names in education. Miami-Dade County Schools superintendent Roger Cuevas and school board members G. Holmes Braddock, Perla Hantman and Michael Krop were among those in attendance.