PACE Center for Girls celebrated the successful promotion and transition of several girls at the Transition Ceremony on June 4, 2009, at the PACE Center.  Awards were given by the PACE staff for those girls who achieved academic excellence.   Amy Wick Mavis, Executive Director, described the ceremony as “a time when many of our girls are promoted to the next level of their education at PACE, or return to public school for the next phase of their education.”

Suspense built throughout the festivities until a surprise Special Award was announced by the Academic Manager, Michelle White, for Stephanie Southerland, chosen as PACE Manatee Teacher of the Year.  On presenting the award, Michelle White expressed that “Ms. Southerland was awarded this high honor for her consistent quality of quiet, calming care and honor. Her impact at PACE Manatee can perhaps be summed up with the following: 'People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.'"

In accepting the award, Mrs. Southerland expressed her gratitude by saying:  “I have worked at PACE for eight years and I am  very lucky; each day I come to work and feel fortunate because the girls give me so many more gifts than I give them; they teach me more than I teach them."

PACE Manatee is one of 17 PACE centers across the state whose mission is to provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.

For more information on PACE Manatee, please contact Amy Wick Mavis at 941.751.4566.