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The Special Education Foundation, in partnership with Special School District (SSD), recognized 19 students with Rosemary Zander Awards recently. Six of the awardees were from Hazelwood West High School: Alexis Henderson, Jill Ellen Kiernan, Deric Liddell, Lens McKeown III, Abigail Niener and Donald Phillips.

With about 24,000 students receiving services from SSD, the district boasts thousands of success stories among its students.

The Rosemary Zander Awards were named in honor of an SSD teacher who dedicated her career to the success of her students. When Zander retired, she planned to devote her time to presenting seminars and workshops on building student self-esteem.    She was unable to fulfill her plans due to a tragic accident that took her life. But her mission lives on today in the form of the Rosemary Zander Awards, the highest honor awarded to SSD students.

Students were honored for their achievements in academics, arts, athletics, communications, vocational training, independent living skills and community service.

Ranita Shelton, senior at Hazelwood Central High School, was awarded a SSD Board of Education Scholarship.