On May 7th 2019, a school shooting occurred at STEM School Highlands Ranch, located just south of Denver, Colorado. STEM is a charter school serving students in grades K-12. 

On that day, an act of heroism occurred when Kendrick Ray Castillo, 18 years old and set to graduate high school that month, tackled the gunman, one of his own classmates, preventing further harm from happening that day. In the process, Kendrick gave his own life to protect those around him. 

Kendricks classmates, Joshua Jones and Brendan Bialy, were able to hold the gunman down until assistance from law enforcement arrived. All three boys went above and beyond that day, and all three should forever be regarded as heroes. 

This petition was created in an effort to recognize them for their act of heroism. We, as a Highlands Ranch community, believe the three boys are deserving of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which is given to individuals at the ESPYS annually, for those who exhibit "the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost" This award is not limited to individuals who have participated in athletics. 

Dave Sanders, the only faculty member to pass away in the Columbine Tragedy, received this award posthumously for his willingness to exhibit this same act of heroism on 4/20/1999. He, just like Kendrick, sacrificed his own life in order to save others. 

Over the last five years and four months that this petition has been active, it has been signed by 76,450 people, from all fifty US states, most of Canada's provinces, and 188 countries around the world. This is 97% of the countries recognized by the United Nations. 

The message is clear: Kindness wins every time. The boys are more than deserving of this honor. 

With the hope going forward that we will not have to continue to live in a world of mass shootings 

Maddy Wickoren