(BY VANESSA C. ROLLE
GUARDIAN STAFF REPORTER)
Students of Bahamas Academy of Seventh Day Adventists cheered and applauded as two schoolmates were honored for heroism in saving the life of a 2-year-old girl being viciously attacked by four dogs.
The administration and faculty surprised 13-year-old Alvia Penn of Grade 8, and her 7-year-old sister Alvoneé, a second grader, during a special assembly Wednesday, showering them with accolades for their courage.
Their parents, Alvin and Loletta Penn, the
president of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Leonard Johnson,executive secretary Pastor Dannie Clarke and Education Director Mrs. Cheryl Rolle were on hand for the celebration.
Pastor Johnson expressed his admiration for the girls and said how proud he was that national heroines were students of BA.
"We are extremely pleased to identify with this service because only a week ago, we talked about making our church more relevant and here it is, through the education arm of our Conference, we have students like you who are making us so proud because you have reached out beyond the comfort zone and you have put yourselves at risk in seeking to save that little one."
Pastor Johnson said, "On behalf of our Conference, we are so proud of you and we pray that you would continue to be courageous; and we are very thankful for your parents because without Godly parents like these ones, we would not have such outstanding children like these ones. God bless you all."
Principal Lynn Smith said "We want to say to both of you that we think that what you did this past weekend was very courageous. For those of you who didn't read the story in The Guardian on Monday and don't know by now, both of these girls saved a little baby girl from being viciously attacked by some stray dogs," she said.
At that point the students began to cheer and applaud.
"What I found interesting when I read the article was that Alvoneé was the one that first heard the little girl screaming and without thinking, she went back and she went to her sister Alvia and woke her up. And from what I can gather, she didn't think twice, she jumped out of her bed went outside, chased the dogs away, took up the little baby and took her next door to her mother," Mrs. Smith said.
The students began cheering and squealing in delight once again.
"Alvia and Alvoneé, what you did was very brave. I don't know if I would have had the courage to do it. This morning in a very, very small way, we'd like to just say thank you for acting so quickly and thank you for being so unselfish, thinking about someone else, even before you thought about the safety of both yourselves," Mrs. Smith said.
She presented a plaque to the sisters which read: "Bahamas Academy of Seventh Day Adventists presented to Alvia Penn and Alvoneé Penn for your outstanding act of bravery displayed on January 18, 2003."
As the students cheered again, Mrs. Smith said "We are proud of you".
Students from Alvia's class presented her with a gift basket.
Young Alvoneé said that when she got to school Monday morning, all her friends had seen her picture in The Guardian and had heard about had happened.
"They say I saw you in the paper and all that stuff. I felt happy," she said.
Somewhat shy, Alvia said it was a wonderful surprise by the school and "they didn't have to do it."
"I feel good to know that what I did was very heroic even though I don't really think so. But I like how I'm being thanked for everything that I did. I hope that everybody could learn from what I did. They should know that they don't really have to be afraid because if they trust God He will bring them through."
Caption
HONOURED — For their act of bravery in saving a two-year-old frm a vicious dog attack, Alvia and Alvonee Penn were honoured in a special assembly at Bahamas Academy on Wednesday. Thirteen-year-old Alvia is pictured being given a plaque by Mrs Cheryl Rolle, the Seventh Day Adventists education director. Also pictured are Mrs Loletta Penn (mother), Alvin Penn (father), Alvonee, and Pastor Dannie Clarke, executive secretary.
