Local graduate returns to South Lake Tahoe to pay it forward
Submitted by paula on Sun, 05/05/2024 - 4:13pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It is amazing how far simple praise on a job well done can go. Praise is one of the simplest and most powerful tools to engage and motivate a student, and something that happened ten years ago shows that praise and recognition can be life-long.
When Christian Tovar was in eighth grade at South Tahoe Middle School he wasn't the best student but he really liked basketball. His mother told him he had to improve his grades or he couldn't play ball and he connected with TRIO and the advisors Amber, Kim, and Juan Carlos. He learned to focus, change his school goals, and the tough love from his mom helped raise his grades.
Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) recognized his achievements and he was awarded "Most Improved 8th Grader" in 2014. Christian was given the award at a SITS awards breakfast, something he has not forgotten.
"Being most improved changed my life," said Christian who stopped by South Tahoe Middle School on Friday.
He was there to pay it forward and recognize the two winners of the 2024 "Most Improved 8th Grader." Christian reached out to the SITS club in February, telling them he'd like to award this year's winners with new pairs of Nike shoes.
He graduated from South Tahoe High School in 2018, and Lake Tahoe Community College in 2020. He took his educational needs south and has been attending Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. This fall Christian will be majoring in business at California Polytechnic State University, SLO. He is also a business owner at Central Coast Vintage where is passionate about the shoe department.
When he contacted SITS he asked for the shoe sizes and favorite colors of this year's winners, Maya Gallup and Andres Berrios, and came to South Lake Tahoe to deliver them in person.
The two 8th graders put their new Nikes on right away, Andres with their Satin UNLV model and Maya sporting the Dunk Olive shoe.
"It means so much to me, I never expected to get these," said the smiling Andres. "I really needed new shoes!"
"At first I didn't care about school," said Maya. "It is great somebody recognized my efforts in moving up."