FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2021

Pensacola – Cox Communications honored a special group of Escambia and Okaloosa County students this year as Cox Inspirational Student Heroes. Combined, a record 85 students were celebrated for having overcome extreme hardships in their lives.

The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity.  Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a smile on their face and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.

Due to COVID-19, Cox was unable to recognize the students in the usual award ceremonies held at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and Northwest Florida State College in Niceville again this year.  Instead, the Heroes received their recognitions in the mail, and a special television show highlighting the Heroes’ accomplishments is currently airing on YurView and has been posted to YouTube.

“Recognizing these Cox Inspirational Student Heroes is always one of our favorite ways to give back to the community,” said David Deliman, market vice president for Cox Gulf Coast. “These students remind us that even as we face challenges in our lives, we still have an influence on those around us. They deserve to be celebrated and honored for being an inspiration to others. We salute all of this year’s heroes.”

In the mail, students received a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor from Cox, Florida State Senators Doug Broxson and George Gainer and state representatives Michelle Salzman, Alex Andrade, Jayer Williamson and Patt Maney.

This year’s award recipients in Escambia and Okaloosa Counties are:

• AK Suter Elementary School – Lincoln Williams
• Antioch Elementary School – Brynn Brown
• Baker School – Ethan LaTour
• Bellview Elementary School – Madison “Madi” Garrick
• Beulah Academy of Science – McKenzie Fuqua
• Beulah Elementary School – Jayden Lewis
• Beulah Middle School – Lenita Floyd
• Blue Angels Elementary School – Kendyl Wynne
• Bluewater Elementary School – Keira Chalmers
• Bob Sikes Elementary School – Austyn Custer
• Bratt Elementary School – Kendal Ard
• Brentwood Elementary School – Casin Wooten
• Brown Barge Middle School – Riley Valdez
• Bruner Middle School – Jamya Bush
• Byrneville Elementary School – Jordan Mullally
• CA Weis Elementary School – Maverick Knapp
• Choctaw High School – Xavier Palmer
• Cordova Park Elementary School – Ryan Tjung
• Crestview High School – Paris Hernandez
• Davidson Middle School – Addison Hendrix
• Destin Elementary School – Caleb Kimbrell
• Destin Middle School – Erik Arita
• Edge Elementary School – Sofia Tutwiler
• Edwins Elementary School – Christain Washington
• Eglin Elementary School – Sam King
• Elliott Point Elementary School – Emierra “Emi” Elmore
• Ensley Elementary School – Scarlet Funez
• Ernest Ward Middle School – Ja’mya Thomas
• Escambia High School – Jason Sauceda
• Ferry Pass Elementary School – Breanna Rice
• Ferry Pass Middle School – Zy’mirrea Norris
• Florosa Elementary School – Kody Hockman
• Fort Walton Beach High School – Jordon Taylor
• Global Learning Academy – Andrea Webster
• Hellen Caro Elementary School – Gracelyn “Gracie” Eubanks
• Holm Elementary School – Javarious Toler
• Jim Allen Elementary School – Akeem Dobbins
• Jim Bailey Middle School – Hannah Villarreal
• Kenwood Elementary School – Jolene Shaffer
• Kingsfield Elementary School – Aiden Griffin
• Laurel Hill School  – Hayden Fryday
• Lewis School – Christopher Bowers
• Lincoln Park Elementary – Zavion Dennis-Thomas
• Lipscomb Elementary School – Ja’liah Spurlock
• Longleaf Elementary School – Brianna Smith
• Longwood Elementary School – Noah Cheever
• Mary Esther Elementary School – Audrianna Boals
• McArthur Elementary School – Joshua “Josh” Johanson
• Meigs Middle School – Brandon Haller
• Molino Park Elementary – Randy Jackson
• Myrtle Grove Elementary – Shamlia Bentham
• N.B. Cook Elementary School – Emma Rathburn
• Navy Point Elementary School – Braeden Francis
• Niceville High School – Odeth Jimenez
• Northview High School – Payton Gilchrist
• Northwood Elementary School – Landon Meeks
• Oakcrest Elementary School – Faheem Maddox
• OJ Semmes Elementary School – Cory Tepole
• Okaloosa STEMM Academy – Jayden Holt
• PACE Center for Girls – Breiana Hendley
• Pensacola High School – Noah Anderson
• Pine Forest High School – Emilio Gonzalez
• Pine Meadow Elementary School – Raylan Rice
• Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Tyrus Richardson
• Plew Elementary School – Jason Wilson
• Pryor Middle School – Ashlin Ryan
• Ransom Middle School – Noah Jacobs
• Richburg School – Jamichia Ewing
• Riverside Elementary School – Leona “Birdie” Bozeman
• Ruckel Middle School – Abigail “Abby” Gunter
• Scenic Heights Elementary School – Landon Navarrete
• Sherwood Elementary School – Nya Jackson
• Shalimar Elementary School  – Yaquelin Lopez
• Shoal River Middle School – Peter Wild, Jr.
• Silver Sands School – Jonathan Waldrop
• Southside Primary School – Marley Mastanduno
• Success Academy – Sanclaria Dumas
• Walker Elementary School – Sheridan “Anthony” Nichols
• Warrington Elementary School – Janiah Rolle
• Warrington Middle School – Lilly Moore
• Washington High School – Yasmin English
• West Florida High School – Kyla Bradford
• West Pensacola Elementary School – Jeremiah Slocum
• Workman Middle School – Antawn Wanliss
• Wright Elementary School – Charlotte Goodman

The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program began 28 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The program has spread to other Cox markets in the Southeast Region.  To date, Cox has recognized over 4,500 students from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Gainesville, Florida.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, we proudly serve six and a half million homes and businesses across 18 states. We’re dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in1898 by Governor James M. Cox.

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