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Center holds first-ever awards banquet and a preschool graduation.
By Rachel Vasquez
The Salvation Army Siemon Family Youth and Community Center in South Los Angeles recently held its first-ever awards banquet, followed by its preschool graduation a week later.
At the banquet, the center acknowledged more than 50 children for achievement in academics, sports and recreation (including the center’s basketball teams), technology and the performing arts. While parents and friends applauded, each child received a medal and a certificate. The center’s dance team, led by Patrice Walker, performed four numbers: an African dance, a duet, a lyrical dance and a praise routine.
“Many of these kids seldom receive praise or acknowledgement for any good things they do,” said Mortimer Jones, center director. “We want to develop children, molding them to be proud young men and women, and recognizing them publicly. We want them to know that the sky’s the limit and that they are not losers, but rather trailblazers. Even though we recognize the kids throughout the year for various other things, we want this banquet to be an annual affair that parents and kids look forward to.”
A week later, the center’s 28 graduating preschool students, dressed in graduation gowns, took to the stage for their ceremony. The children announced what they had learned in preschool and what they wanted to be when they grow up.
“What I learned in preschool is to count to 100,” said Joel Godinez, age 5. “And when I grow up I want to be a policeman.”
The celebration ended with the kids singing farewell to the teachers and the center.
The Siemon Center, where over 200 kids can often be seen running around, offers love and opportunity to children in South Los Angeles. Since it opened in June 2003, it has served over 50,000 individuals with programs including child care, an after-school program, a family service center, a gym, a dance studio and a computer lab.
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