OPELOUSAS, la. (KLFY) -- The Kiwanis Club is recognizing students at Creswell Middle School in Opelousas for their academic improvement by awarding certificates and gift cards.

The awards are designed to encourage students to focus on personal growth and improvement rather than solely on achieving the highest grades. Connie Shakesnider, a member of the Kiwanis Club, said by rewarding those who have shown the most progress it inspires students to continue working hard and staying on the right path.

"We're giving certificates and awards to the students that have improved in their grading and their attitudes all around," Shakesnider said.

Lashonda Lastraps, another Kiwanis Club member, emphasized the importance of the awards.

"We think it is very important because it encourages them to do better and to stay on the right path. And that way they know they have something good coming. They won't fall off track." Lastraps said.

Marvin Richard, a Kiwanis volunteer, highlighted the community's role in supporting students, saying, "These tokens are letting them know that we are by their side. As leaders in the community, we should invest in our kids. And that's how we have invested. Because if we don't invest in our babies, then we'll lose them. And that's showing our kids how much we love them by investing in them and preparing them for the world."

By acknowledging and rewarding student improvement, the Kiwanis Club is helping to foster a supportive and encouraging educational environment in Opelousas. This initiative not only boosts student morale but also strengthens community ties, ensuring a brighter future for the city's youth.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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