The Breakfast of Champions is a tradition at Latrobe honoring students inside and out of the classroom. This year it is returning and providing outstanding opportunities.
The tradition started back in around 1999 and went all the way to 2020. The last one was held in March 2020 right before schools got shut down for covid. For the past four years, it hadn’t been brought back, but this is the year it is returning.
This popular tradition is finally making its way back into Latrobe thanks to Mrs. Smith. “I was given some templates of what had been done in previous years and a spreadsheet was sent out to teachers. They then signed up for the month they wanted to be in charge of nominating a student for the specific subject they teach. From October to April there are about ten students each month to be teachers’ champions,” said Smith.
Ten students got to share the pleasure this month at the breakfast. “It empowers people who have boundaries and expectations for themselves. There are also positive values and social companies like being able to interact with other people in the right manner. Teachers looked to this instead of recognizing someone for their athletics, artistic ability, or for their ability to make straight A’s. They are more looking at somebody’s character and how they are being a good citizen,”said Smith.
Currently, a list of 40 developmental assets help teachers to narrow down the top contenders. External and internal assets make up this list. External assets are actions and internal assets control the way you interact with people.
Senior, Brianna Vesely is an example of these traits. “I was looking for someone who makes a difference and always makes an extra effort. Bri helps others, works hard and always brings a good attitude to class, she really goes above and beyond in all her work as well,” said Mrs. Houck about her champion.
Brianna Vesely shares her personal insight about being recognized. “It felt pretty good knowing all the work I put in isn’t going unnoticed. It helped to prove to myself that I’m doing well even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
This month’s breakfast was an uplifting experience. “All of the teachers had really wonderful things to say about the students. When the teachers were speaking at the breakfast none of them were reading from their programs. When they spoke they were speaking from their heart about that student and u could really tell that the student impacted that teacher in a positive way and they made a real connection,” Smith shared,”It was really great to hear wonderful things being said about students who maybe wouldn’t have been typically recognized, and it’s really cool.” for arts, athletics, and things like that and it’s really cool.”
This is a positive way to get students more involved in the community and help to motivate students to do great things. It is also a great way to recognize deserving students.
“I think that it’s something to strive for. To know if you do not have the highest grades or that athletic ability you can still be recognized for being a good person. Being a hard worker, a good friend, and a positive influence in the classroom really help to show leadership through those other aspects,” said Mrs. Smith.
This Breakfast is spreading kindness and encouraging many students throughout Latrobe. In the future it will continue to grow and help students to have a lasting impact.
