FLINT, MI - The last school year has been full of students helping neighbors, encouraging classmates and doing their part through random acts of kindness as Blueberry Ambassadors.
Now, you have the opportunity to help one of the schools win $1,000.
The Blueberry Ambassador program, created by Flint businessman Phil Shaltz, is based off the idea of performing random acts of kindness for others.
Shaltz started the program for a partial year during the 2013-14 school year and even more students from schools across Genesee County have been involved this entire school year.
Now, you can vote in our poll for the school with Blueberry Moments that you like best. The school with the most votes will win the Readers' Choice Award and a $1,000 prize from Shaltz during a May 12 end of the year celebration at the Flint Farmers' Market.
The poll closes at noon on Friday, May 8. You can vote once per hour.
A $500 Founder's Award will also be given out. The Flint Journal and MLive are not sponsors of the online poll contest.
Last year, as awards were given out, Shaltz noticed something.
"It wasn't about a $1,000 prize," he said. "It was truly a celebration about everyone coming together."
In fact, last year's voting led to another selfless act by a school that was third in the poll. They asked Shaltz to donate their votes to another team who was ahead of them because their Blueberry Moments were inspiring.
"It was heartwarming that they would take it to that level of understanding and that level of appreciation," he said.
This school year, more than 350 students participated in the program, some beginning as early as October 2014.
Shaltz said several people have come to him with stories about the positivity that the program has brought to themselves or relatives. Most recently, he said he received a text from a mother of a Blueberry Ambassador, saying her daughter had become a "better person" from the experience.
"That is so cool," Shaltz said. "When I get a little down on the process, I get a letter like that and I get reinvigorated."
So, before voting, take a look at the Blueberry Moments from area students:
Bendle High School: The Blueberry Ambassador program helped several Bendle High School students take a step back and ask how they could help others.
"As high school students, they can easily get caught up in their own lives," teacher Gina DeSimone said. "These students take some time out of their lives to pause and reflect on what they can do to help others."
Carman-Ainsworth High School: It can be as simple as writing inspirational quotes to fellow classmates and teachers.
Students from Carman-Ainsworth High School found out it's just that simple to help out someone or brighten their day.
As part of the Blueberry Ambassador program, students from the school participated for the second year, showing friends, family, teachers, students and even strangers that change in the community is as simple as just helping out with a smile.
Davison Gates Elementary: Fourth-grader Elise Wesley saw a man digging through the trash and knew she couldn't just walk away.
The student from Davison's Gates Elementary was on her way to the Sloan Museum with her family. Wesley saw the man and knew she had money on hand to help someone in need.
"This time I knew I had my money. So I walked up to him and gave him all of my money." Wesley said. "We hugged and he tried to give a me a dollar back because he said he was so blessed, but I replied, 'No it's yours.'"
Davison Hahn Intermediate School: Students from a sixth grade Hahn Intermediate classroom were sent into the community with the task of setting an example for their classmates through acts of kindness.
The results were inspiring.
From collecting supplies and money for care packages to send to soldiers overseas to the gesture of paying the bill for man buying coffee and donuts, the students looked for ways to make a difference big and small.
"Being a good citizen, by spreading random acts makes us feel good inside and gives us a great awareness of what is happening in the world around us," Hahn teachers Keri Collins and Cayla Dowdall wrote in a letter that accompanied their student blueberry submissions.
Davison Hill Elementary: Fourth-grader Ruth Hall saw an opportunity to help someone and she took it.
The student at Davison's Hill Elementary School thought about another family, whose father was in the hospital, and what they were eating that night.
So, she didn't hold back.
"I made them chocolate-banana pancakes with sausage," the Blueberry Ambassador wrote. "They loved it."
Flint Northwestern High School: While Flint Northwestern started with 10 ambassadors, that number quickly jumped up as students were clamoring to join the program.
"It was encouraging to see so many students wanting to be part of the program and happy to do many random acts of kindness," Mary Ann Kost, Jobs for America's Graduates Specialist at the school, said.
Flint Southwestern Classical Academy: With an expanded group this year, Flint Southwestern Classical Academy students showed excitement to help the community.
Deaf-education teacher Noel McDowell said last year a small group of deaf and hard-of-hearing students started the Blueberry Ambassador program at the school.
This year, 12 students were involved in the program and have done many different things as a group, including making laundry soup and serving a Thanksgiving dinner at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint.
"The students are very motivated to go out and improve the lives of others," McDowell said. "It is great to see the ideas and inspiration that they have."
Flushing High School: At Flushing High School, students helped others that had fallen behind in class, helped family and, in the case of Paige Deitering, paid it forward by purchasing a meal for two children behind her at McDonald's.
"I loved seeing the smile on their faces as they received the card and heard the news of their meal being paid for," she said.
Flushing Middle School: All it took was cards given to athletes participating in the Special Olympics for some Flushing students to realize the impact that one person can make on a community.
Eighth grade physical education students at Flushing Middle School participated in the Blueberry Ambassador program.
"I believe my kids learned that if we look with open eyes, there are countless opportunities waiting for them where they can have an impact, no matter how big or small it may seem at the time," teacher Ron Gill said.
Flushing Seymour Elementary: Paying it forward led to students exhibiting skills of leadership at Flushing's Seymour Elementary.
Students at Flushing's Seymour Elementary spent the first part of the new year helping out in their community, whether that meant volunteering, helping around the house or giving a classmate something extra to eat.
"To see our students emerge as leaders, to see their caring and generous spirit and compassion for others, what an amazing journey it's been," teacher Marueen Shipley said.
Genesee Junior/Senior High: The Blueberry Ambassadors in the Genesee School District kicked off their program by making pancakes for the entire school.
Now, the Blueberry moments at the school have become so important that the students are given "paws" that are collected by Blueberry Ambassadors every Friday. The "paws" feature acts of kindness throughout the school day that are then put on the school's "Kindness Tree."
"The ambassadors want to recognize acts of kindness in hopes that it will gain momentum to help these acts grow as the year progresses," said Dinah Schaller, guidance counselor at the school. "The students want to create a safe environment where all students feel connected and this is just one way of facilitating connections between all the members of the Genesee School Family."
Goodrich Middle School: The ability to do something nice for others "just because" was exhibited throughout the student body by 10 Blueberry Ambassadors from Goodrich Middle School.
Robyn Batterbee, middle school counselor, said the students, in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, learned that it can be the simple things that show kindness to others.
"I felt this was a good opportunity for our kids to think outside the box and focus their attention on someone else because they chose to do it, not because someone told them to," Batterbee said.
Grand Blanc Brendel Elementary: The presence of Blueberry Ambassadors has created a "culture of kindness" and has inspired other students in the school to do good deeds.
"It has shown them the power of random acts of kindness," said Kathleen Pickard, student liaison for the program. "Not only have these students made holiday cards for a Senior Community, hosted a luncheon for our local police and fire departments, and helped in the organization of school wide fundraising efforts for the FISH holiday basket program and a toilet paper drive for Catholic Charities. Individually, they have reached out to students and community members."
Grand Blanc City School: Teacher Vicki Weiss said she was thrilled with her students for taking pride in the idea of helping out in the community.
"They learn compassion and understand the difference a small moment can make in someone's life," Weiss said. "They also learn that even though they may be young, they have gifts' to give others."
Grand Blanc East Middle School: It was just a group of students who answered a morning announcement to be a part of the Grand Blanc East Middle School Kindness Club.
The goal: for students in the sixth through eighth grade to encourage positive experiences at their school.
"I think that we've realized that we may think that we are just doing one small thing for one person, but the reality of it is, we are encouraging others to do the same," school Counselor Nicole LaFluer said. "Hopefully, we are creating a snowball like effect in spreading kindness. It's pretty powerful when you think that you have the ability to impact someone's day in a positive way with just a small gesture."
Grand Blanc Indian Hill Elementary: For students at Indian Hills Elementary, being a Blueberry Ambassador meant finding those who needed help.
The students helped not only at school and at home, but also when they were out in the community, helping strangers in grocery stores or surprising veterans.
Grand Blanc West Middle School: Jennifer Kent-Bryant said going the extra mile and helping people is so ingrained into some students at West Middle School in Grand Blanc, she often has to remind them to use their Blueberry Ambassador cards when they do a good deed.
But they still all could recall moments that meant a lot to them, meant a lot to others and made them feel happy about helping out others.
The Blueberry Ambassadors group at West Middle School is also a part of Be The Change, a group dedicated to creating a positive atmosphere at the school and helping others, Kent-Bryant, adviser at the school, said.
Kearsley Armstrong Middle School: The excitement to give back to the community was shining brightly for students at Armstrong Middle School in Genesee Township.
Eighth-graders from the school spent time helping out those around them.
Teachers and advisers Sue Gill and Courtney Emerick said the students were part of the school group called the Power of 100.
They said the students at the school, in the Kearsley School District, became more aware of their surroundings and how they could help.
Kearsley Fiedler Elementary: Students on Fiedler Elementary's Leadership Council learned plenty and being Blueberry Ambassadors built new relationships at the Kearsley school.
Principal Kelli Verran said the students built friendships through the process of helping each other.
"It has helped this new group bond together and learn things about each member," she said.
LakeVille Middle School: It was only a small act of kindness -- but for many students at LakeVille Middle School, they learned that the act -- no matter how small -- can make an impact in those around them.
And from making a card for a expecting-teacher, to creating locker notes for the entire school, students realized that they can begin to make the world a better place.
"They liked that not only did it make the other people feel good, but it really helped them to feel good too," LakeVille guidance counselor Robin K. Mitchell wrote in a letter accompanying the Blueberry submissions. "Also, by actually making it a project, they realized that 'paying it forward' is actually a huge thing to pass on to others to help make this world a better place."
Linden Hyatt Elementary: Students at Linden's Hyatt Elementary actively looked to help out others.
Diane Hoffman, adviser to the student council members of the Blueberry Ambassador program, said the service group often helps out around the area, but the Blueberry Ambassador programs gave new opportunities.
"This program opened our eyes to the needs in our school and community," she said. "Students felt good reaching out to their neighbors and seeing smiles on people's faces."
Montrose Kuehn Haven Middle School: At Kuehn Haven, student Matt Wanink made sure to always be thinking of paying it forward by helping his grandmother and always try to help when needed.
Mt. Morris E.A. Johnson High School: From helping a new student who just moved to town or aiding a stranger in chasing down school papers after the wind blew them away, students at Mt. Morris' EA Johnson High School aimed went outside of themselves to help others through completing random acts of kindness.
"Students need to be taught to look and act outside the box of their own comfort zone. They need to be taught to give, share, sacrifice for others. Many students either have nothing or have everything and at the age they are - they are the center of everything, the core. They need to be able to look beyond that at others and grow as caring people," teacher Amy Massey wrote in a letter that accompanied her student's submissions. "My students had a hard time with this, as always. They think they have to do a large act of kindness or pay their way. It is difficult to pinpoint the tiny acts but enough of those make a huge difference.
Swartz Creek High School: For students at Swartz Creek High School, helping random people in the community was simple.
It came in many forms: Helping an elderly woman to her car, picking up a classmate or even buying a meal for a stranger.
"Paying it forward is a lifelong mission of mine," said Shannon Cumming, a teacher and leadership/student council adviser at the school. "I believe that every one of us can make a difference, big or small."
Westwood Heights Hamady High School: From helping the homeless to buying lunch for a classmate, Hamady High School Blueberry Ambassadors helped in their community.
Students who are in the student council all participated. Salli Stevens, student council adviser, said it's made a big impact on the students and the school.
"It made them much more mindful of what they should appreciate and that even a small act of kindness can brighten someone's day," Stevens said.