Every middle school has its unsung heroes—the students who light up the room with a smile, lift others up when they’re down, and always go the extra mile. That’s exactly who we’re looking to celebrate with our SMILE Award. SMILE stands for Shine, Motivate, Inspire, Lead, and Excel, and it’s more than just an acronym. It’s a way of life, and it’s what makes our community stronger, kinder, and a whole lot more fun. This award is for the students who don’t just show up—they stand out. Whether it’s helping a classmate, leading by example, or simply bringing positive energy wherever they go, SMILE Award nominees remind us what makes our school special.
The local schools select their candidate and then award them at their school's end-of-year Honors Program.
Hester and Morris Orthodontics has been honored with this award for several years, and we were pleased to add St. John School, Valwood School, and Highland Christian Academy to the list of recipients this year. Each student receives a plaque and a $100 cash prize courtesy of our office.
The SMILE Award Recipients for 2025 are:
St. John School: Jebran Gladwin
Valwood: Tamsyn Persaud
HCA: Avery Harrell
Hahira Middle: Hayden Horton
Lowndes Middle: Cedric Holder
Pine Grove Middle: Makayla Rodriguez
Scintilla: Austin Parkerson
Newbern Middle: Aziyah Wilson
Valdosta Middle: Shemori Felton
Lanier Middle: Shawn Mann
Berrien Middle: Trenton Edwards
Thank you to the schools that submitted photos!
We are so proud of each of these students! And we wish them all the best as they enter high school! Keep Shining! Keep Smiling!