Hundreds of acts of kindness will be remembered at a Southwest Junior High School gathering that will bring together students and adults from 18 states for whom the youngsters have written thankful tributes.

About 230 Southwest ninth-graders were asked to write an essay about a caring adult, other than a parent or grandparent, they had personally encountered. The students’ work will be spotlighted at a 7 p.m. ceremony today recognizing those the students remembered.

Lisa Pearse’s essay for the “Kindness Unites Us” project outlined how she and retiree Celia Miller came to be friends while riding horses together on a Jefferson County farm.

“She’s very determined and rides well,” Pearse said of Miller. “She can do everything she puts her mind to and is a good role model.”

Miller, who has done volunteer work with Girl Scouts for 50 years, said she was somewhat startled but nonetheless honored by Pearse’s written expression of admiration.

“It is exciting when you think about it. I’m grateful to Lisa,” said Miller, a Lawrence resident.

Other students wrote about teachers, coaches, camp counselors, baby sitters, music instructors, club leaders and friends.

Special invitation

Authors sent a formal invitation to their essay subject. Honorees are spread among 18 states and more than a dozen cities in Kansas. About 90 have indicated they will attend.

Five students will read essays to the audience of students, parents and role models. And former Southwest teacher Chris Muehlberger will share his memories of students who touched his life in special ways.

Amy Weishaar, who works with gifted students at Southwest, helped coordinate the project.

“We thought it would be fun,” she said. “It has been.”

Weishaar said the Kindness United Us program, which hadn’t been tried before at Southwest, dovetails with the junior high school’s efforts to teach students principles of relationship-building.

Ninth-grader P.J. Karasek needed no prodding to pick the subject of his essay. He instantly knew he would write about Kathy Duffer, one of his former teachers at St. John School in Lawrence.

“She was my teacher in sixth grade,” Karasek said. “She taught me the skills to excel at school and life.”

He said Duffer’s use of humor in the classroom and willingness to think “outside the box” made school interesting. Her work on the school play, which she writes and directs, brought that creativity to the forefront.

“She made learning really enjoyable,” Karasek said. “She made you want to go to school every day.”

Duffer, who is leaving St. John at the end of this school year, received invitations from more than one admiring Southwest student.

“It just bowled me over when I got these invitations,” she said. “This couldn’t be better timing. I’m leaving Lawrence after 24 years at this school. This is like the cherry on top of the sundae. It’s really humbling. It’s amazing to know that kids remember me.”

Ninth-grader Ceara Shaughnessy wrote her essay about Phyllis Lewin, a counselor at Southwest. She helped Shaughnessy with a personal issue  “boys, I think”  in seventh grade. Shaughnessy returned to the counselor’s office in the past three years to seek advice.

“I grew to like her a lot,” she said.

Other role models

Students wrote about a variety of positive people in their lives:

 Elizabeth Sims on camp counselor Melissa Cartmell: “From the first time Melissa and I met, I felt like I could talk to her about anything.”

 Andy Rhoades on baby sitter Scottye Cash: “Added to the simple enjoyable times … I was also taught a few important lessons, the most prominent of these being to always keep the kid inside of you alive.”

 Chris Trepinski on music teacher Janeal Krehbiel: “She has the power to heal someone’s wounded soul with a simple smile and an anecdote. Her kindness and wisdom make her a great role model.”

 Julia Szabo on Sandy Allen, the mother of friend Torey: “I was recently in a car accident. Sandy witnessed it and rushed to help. She really helped my mom and I through a rough and very scary time.”

Shaughnessy said the opportunity for students to express their appreciation for mentors was important, especially in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

“I think it’s really great,” she said. “Right now it’s the right time to unite … and find love. Everybody needs reassurance.”