Northeast Florida Counties ShowcaseVSA Florida October Students of the Month
VSA Florida is proud to announceJordan Belford and Jeremiah Huggins astheir October 2014 Students of the Month.
Ten year oldJordan Belford is a second year student at North Florida School of Special Education in Jacksonville who has demonstrated outstanding participation and artistic growth in not only his studio art program but music as well. His nominating art teacher, Jill Morrow, writes, “Jordan is very focused when he is in his art zone and has created some beautiful pieces that have been showcased in various art shows”, both at school and within the Jacksonville community. The North Florida School of Special Education recently opened a new Music Department where Jordan has eagerly become involved. Ms. Morrow tells us that Jordan’s increased self-confidence was validated at the last school assembly where he sang a vocal solo piece in front of the entire student body!
As extracurricular involvement, Jordan enjoys yoga and the after-school social club, both wonderful supplementary activities to help deal with his Autism. He enjoys coming to most school events both on and off campus as well.
Jeremiah Huggins is celebrated in the older category as anOctober 2014 Student of the Month. “Since attending VSAFL After-School Art Program in Flagler County, he has blossomed into a very creative artist under the direction of their artist-in-residence Chris Kastle”, says Jeremiah’s nominator, ESE Parent Specialist for Flagler County, Sue McVeigh. These art classes have paid off by the recent publication of his two art pieces illustrating Inclusive Communities for Diverse Abilities and Cultures by the City of Orlando's Florida Fair Housing Summit 2014 Calendar. Sue McVeigh writes, “Jeremiah has come a long way as a student in general. Being classified as Speech Impaired at a very early age, Jeremiah learned how to express his individuality through the venues of art and music. With an additional obstacle of ADHD, he has learned to focus his energy in the details of art mastery and musical expertise”.
As many special needs students discover, art relaxes Jeremiah and keeps him on task. Although his current schedule is not able to accommodate an art class this term, he still draws for fun. He is currently enrolled in the Florida Pre-International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in English and Spanish, in addition to being enrolled in Honors Biology and Geometry.
Jeremiah is a member of the Flagler Palm Coast High School Band and participates in the Brainchild After-School tutoring club for students with disabilities.
In the coming weeks, VSA Florida is looking forward to presenting Jordan and Jeremiahwith their gift certificates and personalized trophies for being the 2014-2015 OctoberStudents of the Month.
The VSAFL Student of the Month Program is designed to increase public awareness and recognize the impact arts make on students with disabilities statewide. Students who participate in the arts develop creativity, have increased self-confidence, understand teamwork, have increased language and math skills and are generally more engaged.
For more information about the Student of the Month program and others, please visit To nominate a student you may follow the link: