- February 3, 2026
Matanzas High sophomore Ella Forbes receives Sheriff Rick Staly’s “Great Kid” Award for December 2025. Courtesy photo
First Baptist Christian Academy sixth grader Elizabeth Hardcastle receives Sheriff Rick Staly’s “Great Kid” Award for December 2025. Courtesy photo
Belle Terre Elementary School second grader Bodhi Rivers receives Sheriff Rick Staly’s “Great Kid” Award for December 2025. Courtesy photo
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office presented Sheriff Rick Staly’s “Great Kid” Award to three exceptional students at Flagler County schools on Jan. 15. Investigative Services Division Chief Agustin Rodriguez, Youth Services Section Commander Jennifer Nawrocki, and School Resource Unit Sergeant Shane Meehan visited the schools to present the awards alongside school resource deputies and school administrators.
The “Great Kid” Awards are presented each month during the school year to three students — one each in the elementary, middle, and high school levels — who respect their peers, help others, work hard in academics and represent themselves and their school well. The recipients are nominated by SRDs and school staff members.
Bodhi Rivers, a second grader at Belle Terre Elementary School, received the elementary school-level award. According to the SRDs and teachers who nominated him, Rivers “is a hardworking, respectful, and caring student that all enjoy being around."
Elizabeth Hardcastle, a sixth grader at First Baptist Christian Academy, received the middle school-level. According to those who nominated her, she “consistently strives for excellence, setting a high standard of achievement for her peers. She demonstrates an incredible spirit of kindness and empathy, showing genuine care and concern for others and always supporting her classmates." They also noted that Hardcastle took the initiative to start a school newspaper.
Ella Forbes, a sophomore at Matanzas High School, received the high school-level award. According to the SRDs and teachers who nominated her, Forbes “maintains an impressive 4.4 GPA, balancing academic excellence with a wide range of extracurricular activities. She serves as the goalkeeper for both her high school and club soccer teams. She also participates in flag football, plays the acoustic guitar and contributes to her school community through her active involvement in Student Government Association.
