The Waterville Central School District varsity football team was recognized Oct. 20 by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).
The team was presented with a banner recognizing its “empathy, care and thoughtfulness shown by singing happy birthday to (and) dining with a younger student and paying forward a monetary gift to restaurant staff.”
Earlier this year, members of the Waterville football team gathered at a restaurant.
A member of the restaurant staff asked the players if they would sing “Happy Birthday” to a 12-year-old boy at the restaurant.
The football team agreed without hesitation and made the family’s night.
Another patron in the restaurant gave the team $50 to help pay for their meal, because of the team’s act of caring. The team paid it forward, leaving the money as a tip for the meal.
“Your contribution to a positive district and community culture is to be commended and celebrated,” NYSSBA continued on the banner.
“I am proud of the caring culture that our student-athletes and coaches have helped build here in Waterville. This is a great representation of all of our students,” said athletic director Tom Gifford.