Bethel student receives national recognition

Todd Sellers, principal at Bethel Middle School in Alexander, congratulates Colbe Cortez of Bryant, a seventh-grader at the school, for being named one of the two top youth volunteers in Arkansas by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Colbe, shown here with a scrapbook about his garden project, will be recognized in May, along with other state winners, during activities in 
Washington, D.C.
Todd Sellers, principal at Bethel Middle School in Alexander, congratulates Colbe Cortez of Bryant, a seventh-grader at the school, for being named one of the two top youth volunteers in Arkansas by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Colbe, shown here with a scrapbook about his garden project, will be recognized in May, along with other state winners, during activities in Washington, D.C.

ALEXANDER — Colbe Cortez may have been like some other 12-year-olds at Christmastime in 2013 — he received some money in lieu of actual hands-on gifts. In fact, he received a good amount of money.

“About $200,” he said as he talked with visitors gathered in the principal’s office of Bethel Middle School, where he is in the seventh-grade.

It is what Colbe did with that money that has brought him special recognition.

He used his Christmas-gift money to rent a plot in his church’s community garden, then grew vegetables that he sold to benefit a local shelter for working homeless families.

For his efforts, Colbe has been named one of two top youth volunteers of 2015 in Arkansas by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, now in its 20th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Heather Jackson, 17, of Caddo Gap in Montgomery County is the other top state winner. Four other Arkansas students were named “distinguished finalists.”

“I wanted to donate [my Christmas money] to charity,” Colbe said. But in talking with his parents, Corey and Lynn Cortez of Bryant, Colbe learned about the community garden sponsored by their church, First United Methodist of Bryant.

“I had played [garden] games online, but I had never worked in a real garden,” Colbe said. “I had a lot of help from other gardeners.”

Colbe said he planted his 20-by-20-foot plot “after Easter” in 2014.

“That’s when the Farmers’ Almanac said to plant it,” he said with a smile. “I planted squash, zucchini, bell peppers, snap beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons. I planted everything. I went every week to water it and pull weeds.

“I picked the first vegetables on June 3,” he said, referring to a

scrapbook his older sister, Krista, made for him documenting his project. “I picked zucchini and yellow squash.”

As he continued to harvest his garden, he said, he gave away the produce for “donations” at church.

He said he had “regular customers,” but a special customer one Sunday was the Bishop of the Methodist Conference.

“He gave me $10 for one squash,” Colbe said with a laugh.

Lynn Cortez said that by the end of the summer, Colbe had spent 150 hours on the project and raised $586.03.

“I donated it all to Our House,” Colbe said. “They help people who have a job but are homeless. That’s why I chose Our House. They help people have a better chance.”

The donation to Our House was made in mid-August of 2014.

That is when Todd Sellers, principal at Bethel Middle School and also a member of First United Methodist Church, heard about Colbe’s project.

Sellers said he did not know about the Prudential awards program, but someone in the Bryant School District did and suggested that Sellers nominate Colbe for an award.

“I got the ball rolling,” Sellers said. “This is such a huge recognition for him. I am super proud of him and what he did.

“He is a great kid,” Sellers said. “This was such a phenomenal gesture of him to give of himself to help others.”

Sellers said Colbe was recognized at the March Bryant School Board meeting. He said Colbe would also be recognized at a school assembly.

“We want him to be recognized in front of his classmates,” Sellers said,

As one of the two state honorees, Colbe will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where he will join other honorees from each state and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2015.

Colbe said he plans to plant another garden this year.

Lynn Cortez said some family friends are moving to the “country” and have donated almost an acre of ground to Colbe for his project.

“I hope to double what I did last year and to sell the produce at a local farmers market,” Colbe said. “I plan to donate the proceeds again to Our House.”

Colbe participates in track and band at Bethel Middle School. He is also involved with the Green Team, which practices recycling, the chess team and the Christian group Bethel Believers.

“I’m also very active in the youth group at my church,” Colbe said.

Although it may be a little early for Colbe to know what he wants to do when he “grows up,” he said he wants to be “either an architect or some kind of interior designer.”

For more information on the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, visit spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

Upcoming Events