Polk County Public Schools
Two Polk public school students were among 15 students in a five-county area to receive a Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Star Award. Disney ambassadors, including Mickey Mouse, surprised the students at their schools near the end of the 2009-2010 school year with the award.
Devin Johnson-Gray, an eighth-grader in 2009-2010 at Lakeland’s Crystal Lake Middle and Katy Millican, a 2010 graduate of Lakeland’s Lake Gibson High, received the award. The award recognizes elementary, middle and high school students from Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties for volunteer service in their communities.
A panel comprised of community leaders and Walt Disney World Cast members selected Shining Stars from nearly 400 nominees submitted by schools in the five-county region.
Devin and Katy received theme park tickets, a certificate and special pin. They also received a Mickey Mouse statute and Walt Disney World annual passes for themselves and their families.
The following are profiles of Devin and Katy that led to them earning the Disney recognition.
Devin Johnson-Gray
Devin found time to volunteer despite receiving assistance from the school district’s Hearth Department. The Hearth Department assists students considered homeless, living in emergency or transitional housing. Devin lives in Salvation Army housing in Lakeland. Devin moved to Lakeland from urban Baltimore, Maryland and became involved in the school’s FFA program despite previously having little agriculture experience or knowledge. He volunteered for afterschool and weekend FFA projects. Devin won numerous FFA awards and represented Polk at the state FFA conference in June held in Orlando. Devin volunteered in the Salvation Army’s youth basketball program and also volunteered at a daycare. Despite the obstacles associated with living in a shelter, Devin achieved a 4.0 grade point average and was named Crystal Lake Middle’s Student Of The Year and received a two-year full scholarship to Polk State College upon graduation from high school.
Katy Millican
Much of Katy’s volunteerism centers around the subject of autism. She has a sibling with autism. She has volunteered with the Central Florida Autism Institute Camp. At camp, she assisted with individual and group instruction of social skills and communication development. Katy also has conducted one-on-one behavior therapy with campers needing more support. She has volunteered with the Institute’s Walk For Autism and provided office support for the Institute’s fundraising events and initiatives. She has provided childcare for her sibling and other children with autism. She has also presented at a statewide conference about inclusion and having a sibling with autism. Inclusion is a concept which means integrating special needs individuals with individuals without disabilities. Katy has also volunteered for the Relay For Life cancer research fundraiser, her school’s band and Lake Gibson High’s Rise Of The Great Pumpkin event that is a Halloween event for community children. She is also an active volunteer at St. David’s Episcopal Church as an acolyte, lector and member of the bell choir and youth group.
