News Release

WARSAW — The OrthoWorx Diversity Committee recently presented 2023 Peace Builder Awards at Warsaw Community Schools.

The award is presented to one student at each of the Warsaw schools and acknowledges their empathy-builder characteristics, which align with Warsaw Community Schools values and also further the objectives of the OrthoWorx Diversity Committee.

The Peace Builder Award recognizes students who have shown outstanding citizenship and modeled the value of diversity through the willingness to accept and include fellow students and school staff.

The award also acknowledges a student who has exemplified Warsaw Community School’s “Empathy Pillar” by acknowledging others’ feelings, emotions and experiences as valuable.

The OrthoWorx Diversity Committee sponsors the award because it directly aligns with the main objectives of the group. The committee is a collaborative effort between community organizations, Kosciusko County schools and local industry to support and create awareness around diversity and promote inclusive practices throughout Kosciusko County, to help create a welcoming community that supports residents and global industries. The group has three objectives: to identify diversity-focused activities, events and services and to help communicate those to the community; to promote inclusiveness in the community to help retain and attract a diverse workforce; and to help increase community enhancement through inclusion and diversity awareness.

“As a OrthoWorx Diversity Committee member, it’s great to see across the community how others take initiative to be welcoming and inclusive — particularly with these students that are leaders themselves in ensuring peers thrive and all members of the school have a sense of belonging,” said Warsaw City Council member Diane Quance. “Dhanishka Sudarsan’s classmates cheered her on as I presented the award and how kindness is celebrated in Warsaw Community Schools. We’re grateful to be part of how the schools acknowledge their Empathy Pillar.”

Students who were recently recognized with Peace Builder Awards and who exemplified the Empathy Piller include:

• Solimar Velez Alicea, Washington Elementary
• Gracie Boren, Eisenhower Elementary
• Ada Hackenberg, Jefferson Elementary
• June Nightingale, Lincoln Elementary
• Dhanishka Sudarsan, Harrison Elementary
• Jeremiah Lee, Claypool Elementary
• Leah Stafford, Leesburg Elementary
• Logan Meads, Madison Elementary
• Ariana Harmon, Edgewood Middle School
• Evan Schneider, Lakeview Middle School
• German Flores-Ortega, Warsaw Community High School/WACC