Courtney Mayo, 2008 Award Winner…
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| Courtney Mayo is presented the Danny Wood “Heart in Art” Award at the 2008 Awards Ceremony by Lyn Fitzpatrick, Founder of Transforming Women. |
The 8th annual Danny Wood “Heart In Art” award was presented to Courtney Mayo of The Woodlands High School in Conroe ISD. Courtney was presented a trophy and a check for $1,000, during the annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 31st, 2008. What follows is from the presentation speech by Lyn Fitzpatrick…
“This year’s winner was recommended by her teacher, Jim Kitchen, the AP Art teacher at the Woodlands HS. The story behind this year’s winner is astounding. It is a story of true courage, selflessness, and is intensely inspirational.
“Courtney Mayo was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 12. CF is a disease that affects mainly the lungs and digestive systems, causing progressive disability and in most cases, early death.
“The next several years were filled with many surgeries and extended hospital stays - lasting 10 days to 2 weeks each – and several entire Christmas breaks were spent in the hospital, where her family celebrated the holidays.
“In more recent years, her health improved, only to become very ill again last Fall and subsequently diagnosed with Celiac Disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and causes extreme pain. Every day is a challenge for Courtney. Apart from the abdominal pain, she suffers from severe fatigue and migraines that last as long as 2 weeks at a time.
“I had a wonderful conversation with Courtney’s mother, Nancy. In fact, I believe it is safe to say that Courtney is who she is today in large part because of a very wise mother, who refused for her daughter to become a victim.
“Nancy told me that Courtney’s 6th grade year was the breakthrough year for her. She quotes her daughter, who has a gift for descriptive words, as confessing to her mother that she was “eating from her trough of self-pity.” (Surely, every one of us could understand why.) But Nancy took advantage of that teachable moment and presented two options to Courtney:
- You can feel sorry for yourself and focus on your own unfortunate situation, or…
- You can get over it and realize that there are others who have it even worse, and focus on them.
“Courtney made her choice right then and there. That was the last meal she ate from the trough of self-pity. Nancy and Courtney joined the National Charity League, a mother/daughter membership society that fosters social networking and charity work. Courtney intentionally puts herself in places where she can witness the suffering of others and do her part to help.
- She serves over 150 hours/year, where the average from other members is 50.
- She volunteered over 200 hours in the last two years to the Montgomery County Humane Society. (Courtney loves horses.)
- Last year she tutored a 5th grader in math and reading every week for a year.
- She volunteers at her church, using puppets to teach little ones about their faith. She has done this since the inception of the puppet program.
- Courtney has been a Girl Scout for 12 years, earning first her Bronze Award, then Silver, and now is working on her Gold – equivalent to an Eagle Scout.
“By now, I’m sure you don’t believe there’s more, but Courtney is also:
- A Nat’l Merit Scholar Semi Finalist
- Has taken 8 AP classes
- A member of the Nat’l Honor Society
- A member of the National English Honor Society
- An officer in the Art Club
- Co-Pres of the National Art Honor Society
“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” M. Scott Peck
“Undoubtedly, our winner lived one of her finest moments when she made the decision to convert her adversity into a search for different ways and truer answers. So many have benefited from that fine moment.
“In a society that claims our youth are in moral decline, that they lack character, that they’re self-centered and short-sighted, that they no longer portray integrity or display good work ethics, we at Culture Shapers declare… We see the exceptions to those statistics. Our schools contain many outstanding young people, intent on living lives worthy of OUR emulation. To all of you teenagers who are not receiving this award tonight, but have made hard choices to do the right thing when the lines between right and wrong seem so fuzzy these days, and when the right choice cost you dearly as you voluntarily set yourselves apart by taking the narrow road, Culture Shapers is here to honor you tonight. Remember, light always dispels darkness.
“Now to Courtney, your teacher said you go to school in pain and never speak of it. Most of your fellow students have no idea what challenges you face every day of your life. You are very humble and don’t like attention brought to you. Mr. Kitchens said you’d probably be mad at him for recommending you for this award. So, Courtney, once again, you have two options: be mad at all of us, or… you can make this another of your finest moments, and surrender to this community’s celebration of one of God’s most astounding young women today.
“You beat the odds, Courtney. You’ve refuted the doctor’s prognosis. You’re alive! And you are amazing!
“Will you please welcome this year’s “Heart in Art” award winner and the recipient of $1,000 cash, Ms. Courtney Mayo?”
Besides being the recipient of the “Heart in Art” award, Courtney also took 3rd Place in the Drawing category, receiving a total of $2,500 in cash prizes.
Previous Recipients of the Danny Wood "Heart in Art" Award…
Marla Hernandez, 2005
Alex Rojas, 2004
Rebecca "Tess" Elmore, 2003
Maria Shamseddin, 2002
Alexander Arzu, 2002 Runner-Up
Jeannie McKetta, 2001
Mike DeJessa, 2000
About the Danny Wood "Heart In Art" Award
With every contest, Culture Shapers honors one very special student with the Danny Wood "Heart in Art" Award. The award carries the name of a dear friend of the Culture Shapers organization, Danny Wood, who passed away on April 1, 1999.
Danny was an extremely generous man who touched the lives of anyone who came into contact with him. He was passionate about impacting our city in a positive way, and he was continually looking for ways to serve others. Whether donating materials and time to construct a coffee shop for his church, or demonstrating excellence through his business dealings, Danny was a model to us all… truly a Culture Shaper!
In like fashion, the recipients of this prestigious award, nominated by their teachers and peers, exhibit the following character traits…
Social Skills - Is a friend to everyone, regardless of race, social status, or popularity.
Service - Quick to offer help to teachers and peers. Considers others before self.
Character - Displays integrity, loyalty, trustworthiness and sincerity.
Overcomes Adversity - Sees the glass "half-full" and uses obstacles to his/her benefit.
Know someone who you think should be considered for the Danny Wood "Heart in Art" Award? Click here to email us their story and why you think they should receive this award!
