By CHRIS MAHAN
Mahan 9 Group

WARSAW — Believing in the power of positive reinforcement, Deron Manwaring, local owner of Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt, is initiating a program to support the efforts of local elementary school teachers in their quest to recognize the positive achievements of their students.

Zoyo Supports Education is a program in which Manwaring supplies Student Excellence Awards to elementary school teachers for use in recognizing their students. The award can then be brought to the Warsaw Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt location, where the student can show it and, in return, create his or her own free dream yogurt sundae, valued up to $4 at regular price, with no other purchase required.

“The word, ‘neighborhood,’ is in our name intentionally,” Manwaring said. “Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt wants to be involved in the community in a myriad of ways. The Zoyo Supports Education program is just one of those ways. We want to partner with the teachers in our community in recognizing the outstanding achievements of the children in our schools.”

Teachers can choose to distribute the award for any reason or achievement. They can recognize academic achievements, student improvement, good citizenship or any other noteworthy action or behavior they choose. Teachers will be provided with one certificate each month, which they can use to recognize a child in their class. Additionally, Manwaring said each teacher will receive a teacher certificate during the year, which they can bring to Zoyo for a free yogurt sundae.

Cindy Brady, an educator in the Wawasee school district, was asked how she felt Zoyo Supports Education would help local teachers. “We live in a world in which the ‘squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and often times more attention is paid to those making poor choices than to those who do the right thing,” she said. “The Zoyo Supports Education program allows teachers to acknowledge and encourage students who are doing the right thing.”

To introduce the program, Manwaring partnered with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. Through the chamber, the program was presented to local school administrators, who received the program with a great deal of enthusiasm. Schools participating in the Zoyo Supports Education program for the 2015/2016 school year include elementary schools in Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Pierceton.

“We want to celebrate the success of our schoolchildren and Zoyo Supports Education provides us that opportunity. In fact, we enjoy sharing with our customers in all their celebrations,” Manwaring said. “Our informal theme is: What Are You Celebrating Today at Zoyo? People come in to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, job promotions, sports team wins, even something as simple as having a good day. We’re open year round so people can come in to celebrate any occasion or event.”

Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt is north of Warsaw on SR 15 in the Kohl’s shopping plaza. It is open year-round noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. open on Friday and Saturday. In addition to the Warsaw store, Deron Manwaring and his wife, Ana, also operate the Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt at 1034 S Thomas Road, Fort Wayne. Call (574) 267-4487 to inquire about Zoyo’s catering services.