- November 23, 2024
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Teacher Tina McNally high-fives students while walking down the "red carpet" to receive her "Dude Be Nice" award. Photo by Paige Wilson
Junior Michael Khoriakov high-fives his peers while walking down the "red carpet" to receive his "Dude Be Nice" award. Photo by Paige Wilson
January’s “Dude Be Nice” ambassadors: science teacher Tina McNally and junior Michael Khoriakov, Photo by Paige Wilson
Teacher Tina McNally high-fives students while walking down the "red carpet" to receive her "Dude Be Nice" award. Photo by Paige Wilson
Banners with the awardees names were on display at the end of the hall. Photo by Paige Wilson
At Flagler Palm Coast High School, being nice is an award-winning quality.
For their first “Dude Be Nice” awards ceremony of the new year, the Student Government Association rolled out the “red carpet” as about 200 students lined the hallway to high-five this month’s “Dude Be Nice” winners.
The awards come as a complete surprise for the winners, who are nominated by teachers. On the afternoon of Thursday, Jan 24, January’s “Dude Be Nice” ambassadors were named: science teacher Tina McNally and junior Michael Khoriakov.
The crowd hollered and applauded as each winner walked down the hall to receive their customized T-shirt prize. Hands were outstretched for high-fives. Banners with their names of them were on display. It was a star-studded treatment. And that’s just what SGA President Tyler Perry had in mind.
“The whole purpose behind ‘Dude Be Nice’ is that we recognize people not based on academic ability, not based on athletic ability, just that are nice — people that walk the hallways every day and radiate positive energy, people that are always good mannered and always willing to say, ‘How are you?’ ‘Nice to see you,’” Perry said.
McNally said she was humbled that her coworker Rebecca Oshesky nominated her for the award.
“It’s very nice to be recognized,” she said. “I do try to be very kind to the students. I really love my job, and I love the students, and I love the diversity here. I love how different the students are and how they bring all these different gifts and personalities; it makes the day really exciting.”
Khoriakov was stunned and overwhelmed with the recognition.
“This never happens to me,” he said. “What people think of me, what my actions do to them, just means so much.”
But Perry wasn’t surprised by the nominations.
“I can 100% attest to everything Mrs. Elledge said when she nominated him,” he said about Khoriakov.
Allison Elledge had noted Khoriakov’s positive attitude and sincere kindness when she nominated him.
Every month for the last few school years, the SGA tries to recognize the winners in new, creative ways. So far this school year, there have been close to 50 nominations from teachers.
Perry said that SGA originally got the idea while attending a conference a few years ago, where they heard a presentation about the “Dude Be Nice” campaign by Mike Smith.
“Everybody has special attributes about them and that’s what we’re trying to peg,” Perry said. “And I’m glad that we’re able to peg these students and recognize those who otherwise probably wouldn’t be.”
