Spangdahlem AB holds inaugural Commander’s Honor Roll ceremony

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amaani Lyle
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Thirteen Bitburg High School students and their families were the guests of honor at an unprecedented recognition event Tuesday in Club Eifel.

Col. Dave Goldfein, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, and Col. Sid Banks, 52nd Mission Support Group commander, recognized the distinguished students as part of the inaugural Commander’s Honor Roll, the latest in a series of partnerships between the military and Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe communities.

“This is truly about the children,” Colonel Banks said. “We’ve dubbed 2006 as the ‘year of making a difference.’”

Colonel Banks said he, his spouse Charlette, and BHS Assistant Principal Susan Hargis developed CHR as a way to recognize consistent student achievement as well as students who showed marked improvement in their grades.

“When you give students at any level the right recognition, there is really no limit to what they can accomplish,” Colonel Banks said.

Among the honorees was Frederick Moore, a BHS freshman who received recognition for showing the most improvement during the academic year. Frederick said it was particularly important to remain on the CHR to make a special sponsor proud.

“I kept my grades up to make my brother proud,” Frederick said in reference to his mentor and sibling, Staff Sgt. Wallace Moore, 52nd Communications Squadron voice network system technician.

“I started to see my little brother meeting the same obstacles I faced on the streets of Philadelphia and I wanted him to have a better chance than I did,” Sergeant Moore said. “So I flew him out here to live with me.”

Colonel Goldfein said the program’s success depends on the active participation of students, parents and the community.

“Student achievement is a shared responsibility,” said Lawanna Mangleburg, Kaiserslautern School District superintendent. “Many thanks go to the students and parents for taking part in this unique and challenging program for academic success.”