The Sycamore Kindness Initiative sponsors the Sycamore High School Human Relations Award, an annual monetary award for which any senior at the high school may qualify.  The award is given to a senior who demonstrates outstanding character, sense of others, and exhibits selfless behavior that helps build a positive culture at SHS.

 

Other attributes of a Human Relations Award-winning student may include:

 

• Reaching out to younger students, encouraging them to become involved and develop into great students;
• Exhibiting genuine care and concern, and always being willing to tutor or help other students;
• Providing assistance to a teacher in working with classmates;
• Regularly assisting students and staff;
• Showing genuine concern for others and befriending them without imposition of socioeconomic or sociocultural influences;
• Demonstrating a strong belief about human rights and caring through exemplary service;
• Working to promote humation relations in settings broader than the classroom;
• Going above and beyond to prevent harrassment, and providing support to those who have been harassed or bullied;
• Always being open, honest, and friendly to all students, and striving to see students as individuals;
• Contributing outstanding service to the community;
• Responding to adversity or challenge in a way which demonstrates empathy, thoughtfulness, and kindness; and
• Taking actions to actively enhance the dignity of others.

 

We're very proud to recognize achievement with these as metrics--ones that aren't necessarily deeply and directly supported by curricula, or measured with standardized testing.  We seek to bring status to the pursuits of kindness and diginity, and are thrilled to be the presenting sponsor for this award in May 2025 and beyond!

Way to go, Rayna!

The Sycamore Kindness Initiative is thrilled to select senior Rayna White as the SHS Human Relations Award recipient for 2026!  There was a common theme among all those who commented on Rayna during the selection process:  "Independent of meeting the credentials, you couldn't possibly pick a better person for this year's award!"

 

The stories about Rayna:

 

“For Teacher Appreciation Week, Rayna wrote me a really nice, heartfelt card which reminded me that even when the days feel long, to remember how loved and appreciated I am.”

 

"Rayna went on a [trip] right around spring break...On her trip, she bought a pack of candies that were little wafer-filled chocolates.  She loved these chocolates so much, [but] when she got back, she brought the candy into class and was sharing with anyone who wanted to try!  So, [while] she bought some candy, and loved it so much, her feeling was not that she should save them for herself, or horde them--her thought was that she needed to share them!"

 

"Through long-term volunteer work with organizations such as Hope Haven, Goodfellows of DeKalb/Sycamore, and Feed My Starving Children, Rayna has demonstrated compassion and a genuine dedication to helping others from a young age. Her role as a table leader and member of the student leadership team at [a local church] highlights her ability to mentor peers, foster inclusion, and create a supportive environment for those around her. In addition, her involvement in groups like Interact Club, Youth Engaged in Philanthropy, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes reflects a strong commitment to collaboration, service, and positive community impact.  Balancing these efforts with academic excellence and extracurricular activities, Rayna consistently models empathy, responsibility, and leadership."

 

"In remembrance of someone Rayna was close to, she and her family picked small acts of kindness to do in this person's honor.  As a person who has lost someone unexpectedly that I was close to, I know that the strength and maturity it takes to choose kindness and positivity while grieving...as one of her acts of kindness, she chose to bring me a coffee and say some nice words!  These actions and words made me feel so warm, motivated, etc., and they were appreciated probably more than Rayna knew."

 

When people remember you this way, people remember you forever.  These are the stories of the simple acts of compassion, dignity, and love that are happening each day.  And they're not far-away, and they're not stories made up for social media clicks--they're happening right here, around us--around you.  They give us reason to be grateful, and to hope.

 

Thank you, Rayna!  Way to go!

Congratulations, Javi!

The Sycamore Kindness Initiative congratulates senior Javier Lopez on being selected as the SHS Human Relations Award recipient for 2025!  In the submissions nominating Javi, the stories about him sounded like this:

 

"There is never a moment where Javi is not going out of his way to help others. He is always offering a hand wherever he can. I remember there was one day in class where we were talking about cooking and cast iron skillets. I mentioned that I need to get one, and he was talking about how much he loves his. Sure enough, the next day he walks into class carrying one that he had purchased at the store for me. He goes above and beyond making connections with his teachers and peers, and does an incredible job remembering little details people say, to then [inquire about those with them] later."

 

"I consider Javi a pillar of our Boys Tennis Program that he helped start two years ago along with eleven other players.  With his leadership, mentoring and charisma -- he has helped us grow those numbers to 30 strong...While we were wrapping up a tough and hard-fought tennis meet in Ottawa, he and I were outside the fence of the complex cheering on / supporting a teammate who was in a back-and-forth tiebreaker for his match. While our player [eventually lost] his match, we congratulated him on his effort, and were moving on to watch other players.  As Javi and I walked away, he instinctively acted upon a hunch that this teammate would need additional support as he came off the court. He excused himself from me to walk back and wait for his teammate to exit the gate. I continued walking on...but turned back just in time to see him put his arm around his teammate in positive support... One of the unexpected joys of coaching when you have a selfless leader in your program such as Javi."

 

Stories such as these are the ones that endure, and are proof of the kind acts and granting of dignity which is happening very nearby.  Way to go, Javi!

 

 

A kindness supporter in every quarter!

 

As of the 2025-2026 school year, Sycamore Kindness Initiative sponsors a monetary award given once per school quarter, available to any student of any grade level at SHS!  Submissions for the award are made by members of the faculty, detailing a particular act of kindness or bestowment of dignity by a student.  The accounts are related to something said, or something done.  We aim to collect these stories over time, and hope to present them publicly as evidence and inspiration for students and the community, providing reasons to temper cynicism and to celebrate each other and ourselves.  Even when it can be hard to feel, or hard to believe, reasons for joy are always nearby.  They're there.

 

Check in with us once in a while, and see what we're up to next!