Do the Right Thing Awards Home
- Do The Right Thing Awards
The Do the Right Thing of Charlotte County recognition ceremony was held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Florida Southwestern State College. The following students were recognized:
Kali Guzman, Grade: 1, Meadow Park Elementary School
Kali was honored for her kindness. When the class was walking out to recess some friends decided to start running while in line causing another student to fall and really hurt himself. He was crying on the ground, and all of the students were walking past him to catch up to the teacher. When her teacher turned around to see what happened, Kali was walking back to help him up off the ground and walked with him holding his hand to get back in line. Kali made the decision to go back and help her all on her own without anybody telling her to do so. Kali showed great respect and responsibility to this student, especially when all of the students had already walked away. Kali shows kindness and respect for all her classmates and goes above and beyond to make sure that everybody is safe and okay whether it is at school or at home.
Shayla Milien, Grade: 6, Port Charlotte Middle School
Shayla was honored for instinctively doing the right thing. I was modeling a lesson in Shayla's class; when I finished, I rushed to another classroom to teach. Unfortunately, I did not realize that a sentimental diamond bracelet had fallen off my wrist. The emotional value could not have been replaced either. Shayla saw the bracelet and without hesitation she picked it up and took it directly to her teacher. This was a precious teachable moment to remind the students that doing the right thing is the most important thing to do, whether someone knows or not, whether there is a reward or not, whether you could benefit or not. I am so proud of Shayla for naturally doing the right thing by turning in the bracelet.
Nessa Otero, Grade: 4, Deep Creek Elementary School
Nessa was honored for her compassion for others. Nessa wanted to make sure we welcomed a new student to our school. The student is in a wheelchair and sensitive to noise. The first day our friend struggled and did not eat in the cafeteria. Nessa got very emotional watching the student struggle. The next day Nessa asked the staff if she could join her as she is adjusting. Nessa sits with this student that is in another class, and they enjoy lunch and tried to include her in recess also. She does have a great heart. Our principal made a point to tell Nessa how proud he was to include the student to be a cub. Nessa showed the 3 R's ready, responsible, and respectful.
Nygeria Hart, Grade 12, Port Charlotte High School
Nygeria was honored for alerting her teacher of suspicious students on campus. Nygeria and another student observed two younger looking males walking through the parking lot towards the gym, who did not have PCHS school IDs on. Nygeria contacted her coach who happened to the be the teacher in the gym the unknown males were headed to. The coach asked the unknown males for their ID which they could not provide. They attempted to leave campus after promising they were PCHS students who had forgotten their ID's. It was confirmed they were not PCHS students and could not provide a reason they were on campus. It led to both males being arrested for trespassing on school grounds. If it were not for the swift report from Logan and Nygeria, who knows what could have happened.
Logan Flaherty, Grade: 11, Port Charlotte High School
Logan was honored for his swift immediate reporting. Logan was entering school through the student parking lot with another student, Nygeria Hart. Both observed two younger looking males walking through the parking lot towards the gym who did not have PCHS school IDs on. Further, they did not recognize the students at all. Nygeria contacted her coach who happened to the be the teacher in the gym the unknown males were headed to. The coach popped her head out of the gym doors asking the unknown males for their ID, in which they could not provide. They attempted to leave campus after promising they were PCHS students who had forgotten their ID's. It was confirmed they were not PCHS students and could not provide a reason they were on campus. It led to both males being arrested for trespassing on school grounds. If it were not for the swift report from Logan and Nygeria, who knows what could have happened.
Sean Holmes, Grade: 12, Port Charlotte High School
Sean was honored for his swift immediate reporting. Sean was in his gym class when he noticed two unknown male juveniles attempting to knock on the doors of the gym. He mentioned this to his teacher who was also contacted by two students in the parking lot, Nygeria Hart and Logan Flaherty. These two juveniles were not PCHS students and did not have PCHS IDs on. Coach White cracked open the gym door to ask who they were, what they were doing, etc. The two unknown males promised they were PCHS students, however, could not produce their school ID. She then told them she was going to push the lock down button, and the two males took off. They were later intercepted by law enforcement and were arrested for trespassing on school grounds as they could not give any justifiable reason for being on PCHS campus.