Brunswick Co. Schools honor outstanding students, staff and community members

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — It was a first for Brunswick County Schools as they honor students, staff and community members in a special ceremony. Tuesday night wasn’t a regular meeting for the Brunswick County School Board. School board members were joined for the first time by dozens of people to celebrate some of the outstanding members of the school system for a banquet.

This is the school system’s first semester student, staff and community celebration. Usually a few people are honored at one school board meeting a month but they are trying something new with one big event each semester. There was a long list of honorees from teachers to county workers to students.

Among the honorees were two West Brunswick High School students, Samuel Zeng and Ian Niggles. The two started a Special Olympics soccer team and their team won their divisions championship.

Niggles said he hopes these types of events will inspire others to get involved in their communities because it’s been a good experience for him.

“Everybody who is getting honored is doing something good for the community, I think that it’s a good way for somebody to push themselves to get here and do something for the community and get honored next year,” said Niggles.

Zeng said while it is nice to be honored, he just enjoys working with the athletes.

“These kids they don’t really have that many options or opportunities to express themselves so when we started this program this is what we really wanted to do.”

A spokeswoman with the school system said they are happy with the turn out and are planning on having another big celebration next semester.