Alissa Jeffries

Alissa Jeffries Memorial Award Alissa Marie Jeffries April 25, 1992 - May 9, 2005 Awarded Annually to the 8th Grade Student who Best Exemplifies Outstanding Qualities in Academics, Integrity, Service, and Citizenship Download Student Application pt. 1 Download Student Application pt. 2--Make sure to download TWO copies of this one!

Alissa's friends and teachers gathered at RMS on the first anniversary of Alissa's passing. Dressed in purple and with pictures of Alissa on T-shirts, the group shared stories and memories along with Alissa's parents, Keith and Angela. 2009 Alissa Jeffries Memorial Award Recipient Regan Waneka "I would love to see everyone being kind to everyone, not just the people they know. We all need to feel like someone cares about us. So just give someone a smile. It's not that hard." --Regan "She is the first to ask to help, the optimistic person in a rough situation, and the caring person when you need it the most. I hope that when I have kids of my own that they are like Regan." --Mr. Joiner "I am confident that Regan makes a difference every day in the lives of her peers." --Susan Payne Click the picture to view this beautiful tribute written by classmate, Holly Berg. Read memories about Alissa already submitted by other friends and family.		Share your story about Alissa for this site. Read memories already submitted. We lost Alissa in the spring of 2005 to an unexpected illness. In 2006, the Russell community established the Alissa Jeffries Memorial Award in remembrance of our dear friend and classmate. The Alissa Jeffries Memorial Award is awarded annually to the 8th grade student who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities we best knew Alissa for -- academics, integrity, service, and citizenship. Alissa was an amazingly passionate person! She was passionate about her faith, the children she taught at church, the Easter production she participated in each year, school projects (She loved projects!), forensics with Mr. Hess, her family, and last but not least, her friends! Alissa was involved in her community, her church, and her school. Her list of activities is extensive: National Junior Honor Society Forensics (1st member from Russell of the national organization), 2 years Girl Scout for 8 years Preschool teaching assistant at church, 1 year Acted in the Thorn, Easter production for 4 years D11 Middle School Honor Band, 2 years D11 Elementary School Honor Band, 1 year King Elementary Student Council Member, 1 year Member of the World's Most Dangerous Summer Band, 3 years Played piano, trumpet and French horn Her big sister, Breann, describes her best of all: I want the whole world to know how amazing my little sister is: drama queen zookeeper forensic scientist/CIA agent in the making genius goofball entertainer musician dreamer comic poet friend daughter sister my sister and she is so much more. 2008 Alissa Jeffries Memorial Award Recipient Danni Douglas "Music is so amazing because everyone can be connected, no matter what language they speak, just through one song because of the emotion and feeling." --Danni "I have personally seen Danni make many sacrifices of her personal time to help and encourage both friends and strangers." --Jared Newman, Youth Pastor Share your story about Alissa for this site.