Steven is one of the great NOC volunteers serving at Cordillo Courts! He is currently in 7th grade, and attends Hilton Head Middle School. His favorite subject is math, and he greatly enjoys school. Steven previously attended NOC’s program center in Bluffton, and loved it so much that when he moved to Hilton Head he wanted to come back as a volunteer. He has two younger brothers currently in the program, and together the three of them shine brightly in school, in NOC, and in their community.

When Steven is not in school or volunteering at NOC, he enjoys playing soccer, football, and basketball. The students in NOC look up to Steven, and always want him to be the one to help them with their homework or Compass Learning. He is a valuable member of our team, and we are thrilled to have him serving with us!

Steven is an NOC star!

Lakyndra is presently in Grade 6 at Bluffton Middle School. She has been coming to NOC’s Program Centers in Bluffton over the past three years. She currently attends the Simmons Cay Program Center. Lakyndra earns all As and Bs in school and she attributes her success to hard work and the help she gets at NOC’s Program Center. She says “teachers are helpful and I get my homework done successfully and on time.” Lakyndra loves science and wants to be a police officer when she grows up.

But Lakyndra’s story does not stop there. After spending an hour on her own homework, Lakyndra stays back to help the elementary school children at NOC’s Simmons Cay Program Center.

Lakyndra is an NOC Star.

The very first “student of the week” at the Cordillo Program Center is Alfonso Jimenez, Jr. He is a second grade student at IB Elementary School in Hilton Head, and he embodies all of the characteristics that NOC strives for. In addition to working diligently, remaining quiet, and being respectful, Alfonso is extremely conscientious and considerate. Last week during the time in which students are able to use their incentive tickets to “buy” prizes, one of the students became very upset because he did not have enough tickets to buy the prize he wanted. Alfonso saw how upset the student was and gave up all of his own tickets so the student could have the prize he wanted. It is this kind of caring and generous spirit that we hope to see in all of our students. Alfonso was excited to receive a backpack filled with school supplies as his reward for being “student of the week”.

Alfonso’s photo is now posted on the Cordillo “Hall of Fame.” A “student of the week” will be announced each Monday.

To encourage positive student performance and participation, Cordillo Program Manage Kaci Hollingsworth has created a system of incentive prizes. Throughout the week, students receive tickets for exceptional behavior and performance while doing their homework. Then on Thursdays, they have an opportunity to “buy” prizes, such as small games, with their tickets. The program has been a HUGE success, and all of the students are excited to do well and receive more tickets so that they can “go shopping” the following week!