Annie J., a third grader at Burchfield Primary School, was recognized for her compassion and creativity. The nine-year-old was a member of the Caring Team at Burchfield Primary, which worked with School Counselor Lezlie DelVecchio-Marks to facilitate supportive programming around childhood grief. In her role as a Caring Team Representative, Annie co-taught grief awareness lessons, decorated a Wall of Hope in the school for Childhood Grief Awareness Day, helped with donation drives for charity, and more. Annie drew on the lessons she learned through her involvement with this student leadership team and created a submission for Highmark Caring Place’s annual poster contest. The contest invited students to create a poster about how to help a grieving friend. Annie’s poster design was selected from all elementary entries in the region. Annie was surprised with the news that she was a winner on Thursday, April 30th, at 9:30am in Mrs. Monica McElwain’s art class. Shawn Sledzianowski, Lead Grief and Clinical Services Specialist and School Services Coordinator for Highmark Caring Place, presented Annie with a certificate and gift card in recognition of her win. Annie’s parents were on hand to witness the surprise.