Character Without Question Awards

This year's Character Without Question Award recipients

Forty-seven outstanding students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade were honored as Character Without Question Award recipients during a recent ceremony for students and families hosted at Northbrook High School.

This year’s award presentation was conducted during the Feb. 27 monthly meeting of the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees. Winning students were recognized in a special event presentation that attracted many family members.

A unique and special recognition, SBISD’s Character Without Question Award honors students who exhibit great character traits and habits that include honesty and integrity, responsibility and dependability, respect, perseverance and effort, courage, caring and kindness, and citizenship and civic virtue.

“You are receiving this award,” states district Superintendent of Schools Scott R. Muri, Ed.D., “because of the outstanding character and positive actions you have demonstrated to your teachers and fellow students. “According to them, you are responsible citizens who show respect, caring and kindness to everyone and are always ready to ‘do the right thing’ in all situations. You truly make a difference in your school, your community, and in the lives of others.”

This year’s student recognitions included awards to two separate family members, a brother and sister who have a sibling honored with the same award a year ago.

Avery Ramsey, a Hunters Creek Elementary fifth-grader, joined her older brother, Preston, an eighth-grader at Spring Branch Middle School, on stage to receive the special honor. Their brother, Riley, now a sixth-grader, won the award last year.

Left to right:  Preston, 8th grade, Spring Branch Middle; Kristen and John, parents; Jack, 5th grade, Hunters Creek Elementary; Riley, 6th grade; Front: Avery, 5th grade, Hunters Creek Elementary

“As a parent, if my kids are going to receive an award, this is the award that I want them to receive,” says Kristen Ramsey, their mom. “This award speaks to their personal character, and I believe that character will take them far in their lives.”

Preston, a football team captain at Spring Branch Middle School, is known for his leadership and as a student who stands up for others.

“Preston Ramsey was chosen as Spring Branch Middle School’s Character Without Question winner because of his ability and willingness to stand as a positive leader for his peers,” said eighth-grade counselor Patricia Cezeaux.

“Many students at Preston’s age follow negative role models or don’t have the self-confidence to stand up and speak out for what is right. Preston, no matter how soft-spoken he may be, allows his actions to speak loudly, and those actions are always kind, helpful and admirable.”

At Hunters Creek Elementary, Avery is well known for her empathy, and for helping others first. Last year, Riley was tested by an ACL surgery and recovery, and won notice for his perseverance and upbeat demeanor.

“Our fifth-grade class this year is such a great class with many students who show great character,” Hunters Creek Principal Robye Snyder said. “Avery stands out, through her years as Hunters Creek Elementary, as a step above the others. She is consistently kind and caring to all, takes responsibility for her learning, does her best at all times, and is a great peacemaker. All of the four Ramsey children exhibit these characteristics and are a testament to great parenting.”

Kristen and her husband, John, were pleasantly surprised by double award winners this year. “We’re thrilled. It has truly been an honor for our kids, and we are all honored that they were even nominated,” she said.

The campus-based awards are coordinated through liaisons working with SBISD Social and Emotional Learning/Character Education. Student award recipients were presented with a copy of Kobi Yamada’s book, “What Do You Do with an Idea?”

The program and pre-event reception are supported generously by Wells Fargo and Spring Branch Education Foundation.

Additional support was provided by Events for all Seasons, Lion Market Catering with Culinary Arts, and Jennifer Cardenas and Allie Adams with Landrum Middle School.

Sarah Soliz and Paul Bryant with SBISD’s Community Relations/Communications provided publication and planning support.


2016-2017 Character Without Question Recipients:

Schools for Early Learning (Prekindergarten)
Bear Boulevard – David Mendieta
Lion Lane – Isis Aileen Garcia
Panda Path – Ariel Rubio
Tiger Trail – Alina Sahoo
Wildcat Way – Camila Rodriguez

Elementary Campuses
Buffalo Creek – Vanessa Espino, 5
Bunker Hill – Brooke Maddox, 5
Cedar Brook – Viviana Olivera Cardenas, 5
Edgewood – Getzamary Solano, 5
Frostwood – Michael Eubanks, 5
SB Academic Institute – Caroline Graham, 5
Hollibrook – Gabriela Romero, Garcia 5
Housman – Melissa Garza, 5
Hunters Creek – Avery Ramsey, 5
Meadow Wood – Lizzie Emerson, 5
Memorial Drive – Grace Al-Abdullah, 5
Nottingham – Kendall Zoboroski, 5
Pine Shadows – Yisell Garcia-Jaramillo, 5
Ridgecrest – Adriana Lizbeth Castillo, 5
Rummel Creek – Tatum Marye, 5
Shadow Oaks – Sara Flores, 4
Sherwood – Yelena Geanne Van De Coevering, 5
Spring Branch – Gabriel Zavala, 3
Spring Shadows – Michael Nathaniel Rangel, 5
Terrace – Angel Torres, 5
Thornwood – Ava Elizabeth Leon, 3
Treasure Forest – Jasmin Resendiz, 4
Valley Oaks – Goldie Chandler, 5
Westwood – Saherdeep Kaur, 5
Wilchester – Johnny Crawford, 5
Woodview – Donovan Tovar, 5

Middle School Campuses
Academy of Choice – Alondra Lissette Martinez, 8
Cornerstone Academy – Leyse Vasquez Maury, 8
Landrum Middle – Julius Constytine Alvarado, 8
Memorial Middle – Cameron Fuller, 8
Northbrook Middle – Carla Luna, 8
Spring Branch Middle – Preston Ramsey, 8
Spring Forest Middle – Samuel Bernardo Hinojosa, 8
Spring Oaks Middle – Thy Minh Ho, 8
Spring Woods Middle – Ananna Alam, 8
Westchester Academy – Angela Alvarado, 7

High School Campuses
Guthrie Center – Jamauri Bagby, 10
Memorial High – Allison Gentry, 11
Northbrook High – Samuel Chase Gonsoulin, 12
Spring Woods High – Johanna Ortega Rosales, 12
Stratford High – Anali Cervantes, 12
Westchester Academy – Alec Miller, 12