A social studies project designed to identify role models throughout our society has resulted in Gardner-Dickinson’s seventh-graders reaching out to and receiving responses from well-known individuals nationally and some lesser-known ones locally.

 

Social Studies teacher Mr. Lutz sought to emphasize a unit that involved the responsibilities of citizens and qualities of good citizenship by assigning his students to identify role models and write about why the individual choices qualified as one. The letters were then sent to the role models.

 

The 53 students sent out letters to individuals like musician Elton John, American Idol’s 2007 winner Jordan Sparks, New York Yankee baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez and professional wrestler John Cena.

 

While those individuals have yet to respond, a number of other selected role models did communicate, via mail, to G-D students.

 

Among the responses was a note from the White House signed by President George W. Bush.

 

Others who responded include filmmaker George Lucas, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Duke University Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, skateboard champion Ryan Sheckler, Cohoes mayor John McDonald and Matt Mauriello, the brother of one of

Mr. Lutz’s students, who is a Wynantskill volunteer fireman.

 

Sheckler sent back a poster and a signed letter. Coach Krzyzewski also signed a poster. Gates sent a T-shirt. Lucas sent a letter in which he indicated that he doesn’t autograph anything.

 

Although the students’ portion of the project was recently completed, students expect to continue to receive responses in coming weeks.

 

“A lot of the students picked well-known figures as their role models, but we wanted them to find a reason why those individuals qualified to be a role model,” said Mr. Lutz. “We wanted the students to find out something beyond fame that qualified the individuals as role models. They did research on their own to find out.”

 

Jeter’s “Turn 2” Foundation, for instance, seeks to motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “Turn 2” healthy lifestyles.

 

Gates is a well-known philanthropist having given millions of dollars to charitable organizations.

 

The political figures, from President Bush to Mayor McDonald, were cited by the students for their work governing the country and the city of Cohoes, respectively.

 

“It’s a project all the students were very excited about, and it helped them learn that there are other things that athletes or musicians do that make them role models beyond just their notoriety,” added Mr. Lutz. “It helped students understand that even nationally known celebrities recognize the value of doing something for society or within their communities.”