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ACTION gives out humanitarian honors to 7 at its fundraiser
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
For as long as she can remember, Sharon Ragan has never vacillated regarding her career choice.
“I was meant to be a teacher,” said Ragan, who’s been in the profession 23 years. “I knew this since I was a little girl.”
What Ragan couldn’t fathom then, however, was that she would be named the Youngstown City School District’s 2011-12 Teacher of the Year.
For that and other accomplishments, Ragan was one of seven winners of the Frances Kerpsack Humanitarian Award during Tuesday’s 10th annual ACTION fundraiser banquet in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Hall, 343 Via Mount Carmel Drive.
Kerpsack was a longtime local activist who died several years ago in an automobile accident, said Thomas Welch of ACTION.
The nonpartisan, faith-based Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods organization, established in 1998, is dedicated to developing a community of diverse leaders committed to increasing awareness and seeking solutions to tackle poverty, racism and social injustice, its mission statement says.
Several hundred elected officials, educators, community leaders and others attended Tuesday’s yearly dinner, which is ACTION’s only community fundraiser.
Proceeds are to go toward the organization’s key initiatives, such as crime prevention and safety, as well as programs to address unemployment and economic issues.
Ragan and her students are building a 900-square-foot garden, which relies on certain engineering principles, in their school’s courtyard for fellow teachers and students, she said.
“To educate is to light a fire and make students aware of the differences they can make to the world,” Ragan said, referring to one of her main teaching philosophies.
Also happy to have received the award was Leon Robinson, a Youngstown Early College 12th grader who’s also received several school awards, including one for being an honor student. Attending Ohio State University to major in accounting is on Robinson’s radar screen, he said.
Tuesday’s keynote speaker was Dr. Cynthia E. Anderson, Youngstown State University president, who’s theme was “Standing Up for Quality Education.”
Too many youngsters have deviated from focusing on getting good grades, attending college and receiving a sound education, which usually leads to achieving one’s goals and dreams, breaking the cycles of poverty and abuse, embracing diversity, giving back to the community and respecting oneself and others, Anderson said.
In addition, she said, students need to feel safe in their classrooms while in elementary, middle and high school. Yet American schools have more than 2 million bullies and nearly 3 million victims, Anderson noted.