GCPS celebrates 2025-26 Caring Awards Recipients

     Six Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students have been named recipients of the 2025-26 GCPS Caring Award. Sponsored by the GCPS Office of Counseling, College & Career Services, the Caring Award honors elementary, middle, and high school students who demonstrate empathy, kindness, leadership, and community engagement. This year marks the 10th anniversary for the district-wide recognition.

     "This award reflects not just the student's hard work, but their heart — the way they show up for others, lift their peers, and make our schools kinder, stronger communities," says Durrant Williams, Director of GCPS Office of Counseling, College & Career Services. "We’re incredibly proud of them, and I hope they know that their compassion matters just as much as their accomplishments. This is the kind of leadership that changes lives, and we can’t wait to see where it takes them.”

The 2026 GCPS Caring Award recipients are as follows: 

• Olive Cleope, Parsons Elementary School     
• Colton Jacobs, Rosebud Elementary School     
• Oluwatimilehin Shogade, Coleman Middle School
• Evie Morgan, Crews Middle School
• Ana Thomas, Brookwood High School     
• Mariah Lewis, Lanier High School

     The winners were selected by nine judges who evaluated candidates representing 142 local schools. These judges scored students based on the depth and range of their impact in four key categories: Empathy, Kindness, Service, and Leadership. The six winners were recognized at an awards ceremony at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, attended by parents, principals, counselors, teachers, and district leaders. Each student was presented with a plaque and a gratitude gift bag.