The 16th class of the Alliance Sparkles Program was honored April 18 during a ceremony at Alliance Commons.
The 68 youngsters from Alliance City Schools, Marlington Local Schools and Regina Coeli Catholic School took part in a yearlong program in which they are encouraged to be leaders and to respectful to all their friends and the adults they encounter.
Created by Missy Miller of Alliance, a longtime active community volunteer, the program seeks out elementary-age students who exemplify the eight “super powerful principles” that Miller says will sustain participants all their lives. The traits are:
Sparkles is a collaboration between the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Division and Alliance Quota Club.
“Every single one of you has something special inside. A spark of courage, kindness and strength that can make a difference in the world,” Miller told the students during their program graduation, held this year for the first time at Alliance Commons. “It’s kind of your superpower.”
Participants are selected by their classroom teachers to take part in the program that runs during the school year.
Miller told the students that they will carry with them a responsibility to be good stewards of themselves and our country.
“I believe all the winners are the future,” she said. “They have the spark of what it takes to make a significant difference in our schools, community and families.
“Every day you have a choice, you can choose to be brave, kind, honest and respectful. And every time you do, you make the world a better place, one action at a time. I personally don’t see you every day like your teachers do, but I am a shopper. I love to shop, and periodically, I and others in the community do see you out and about with their parents, and it always impresses me with what I see.”
The April 18 program included Alliance-area residents who lead the city and who work with Sparkles to boost the students.
Quota Club President Kim Anthony and Sue Grove, wife of the Carnation City’s mayor, presented medals and certificates. Mayor Andy Grove presented pins celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday.
Also on hand for the program were Staci Gurney, president of Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division Staci Gurney, and Shawn Jackson, assistant superintendent of Alliance City Schools.
Alliance residents Nancy Benner and Renee Young work with the program and assisted during the ceremony.
2026 Sparkles Award winners
Alliance Early Learning School: Rocco Angelica; Coltyn Brown; Paisleigh Chavarria; Robert Dessoffy; Liliana Eilam; RuhVon Lilley; Diana Martin; Taiden Mikes; Cash Murphy; and Aria Ritchie.
Alliance Elementary School: August Baia; Kaylee Barr; Donna Conley; Hayven Jones; MiAnna Justice; Levi Kettering; Teagan Kuntzman; Reaghan Masters; Lily Mastroianni; Trinity Meek; John Vaughn; and Sullivan Woodward.
Alliance Intermediate School: Freedom Broucker; Joie Flaker; Hadrian Gates; Eve Gleason; Roman Humbert; Phoenix Jones; Amaya Moore; Ellina Murphy; Kevin Raymond-Noel; Mia Stickler; and Kenya Woods.
Alliance Middle School: Liam Burns; Derek Candy; Azayver French; Myrah Garrison; Quinton Hancox; Braylyn Hardy; Marlie Hudachek; London Ledsome; Paris Ledsome; Adalyn Rastetter; Aubree Ross; and Lincoln Zupanic.
Marlboro Elementary School: Ari DiPietro; Gianna Favazzo; Addison Hohman; Grayson McGrady; Myla McMillen; Aleah Miller; Ethan Niestoeckel; Reagan Ritenour; Ben Stewart; Holly Weisent; Charlotte White; Tenley Whitfield; Waylon Yoder; and Paisley Young.
Regina Coeli: Landon Baker; Cyrus Cooper; Via Edwards; Massamilano Lee; Evelyn Mack; Zachariah Rich; Zadok Matthias Rich; Cali Rupp; and Rylee Suitca.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance-area students hailed for their ‘sparkle’
Reporting by Alliance Review / The Alliance Review
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