The Kiwanis Club of Alameda hosted the 24th Annual Hope of America Awards on May 4 at the Alameda Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Ave.

The evening dinner event honored nine eighth grade students and their teachers from Alameda schools across the Island. Teachers nominated deserving youth in March and April, following criteria based on Kiwanis’ mission of community outreach: leadership, peer relations, community service, and character. Academics were considered, but more important was the student’s daily life decisions and actions. Students were judged on their willingness to help their classmates and their ability to encourage others to show kindness to fellow classmates.

A seven-member evaluating committee selected the nine awardees. Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft presented each honoree with a personalized mayoral certificate. Kiwanis President Donna Marie Ferro offered the recipients “Hope of America” inscribed plaques. Alameda Unified School District Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi and Alameda Board of Education President Jennifer Williams spoke at the event.

Awardees were accompanied by family members. In honor of longtime Kiwanian and past emcee for years of this event, a moment of silence was held for Gene LaFollette, who recently deceased.