Paris, Tenn.–Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway surprised students at Henry County High School during “Kindness Week” by presenting a student who personifies the word ‘kindness’ with a Loyal Patriot Award.
Ridgeway heard that Thursday was declared “Michael Pond Day” for a senior at the school who school officials said “is friendly to all, knows almost everyone on campus by name, and exhibits kindness skills always” and came to the school at lunch to present the Loyal Patriot Award–which is Henry County’s highest honor–in front of Michael’s peers.
As the school’s Student Helth Advisory Council planned the “Kindness Week”, Sophomore Draco Clark suggested to his peers the idea of “Michael Pond Day,” knowing how Michael impacts the campus daily.
School officials said, “Michael was surprised to learn the day had been named for him, and all students were challenged to make a new friend, like Michael is known to do. (As an example, when we went to find Michael to tell him this morning, he was greeting and fist bumping every student who was coming through C building!…that’s just who he is! 
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)”Photo: County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway, left, and Michael Pond with the Loyal Patriot Award. HCHS photo.