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Story By Alexis Stafford

Eighth grader Kaden Smith knows a thing or two about motivation.
Whether it is by excelling in his advanced courses or showing off his talent on the football field, he has made an impression on the faculty of Ernest Ward Middle School.
His ability to cultivate a welcoming environment to those attending the school as well as his outstanding accomplishments are what earns his recognition for the Eight Who Are Great feature.
Smith is not one to turn a blind eye to someone in need of help. It is said that he volunteers himself to show new students their way around school, allowing them to rely on a friendly face like Kaden’s when dealing with the stresses that come with moving to an unfamiliar place. His kindness continues to touch the hearts of both teachers and students alike.
Not only does Smith’s kindness contribute to his positivity, but his sharp intellect is exceptional for his age. He is currently a member of the honors society at his school, which places him within the category of the smartest kids at his school. He conquers the challenges that come with taking advanced courses, yet still finding the joy within learning about new things. His favorite subject is science due to the ability for him to learn reasoning for different things. He has a strong special interest in outer space, so watch out as he might grow up to work for NASA one day.
Smith isn’t just known for his intelligence — he’s also made a name for himself as a student athlete. He is involved in both football and track. His athleticism was noticed as he received the physical education award and the Eagle Award for football. It can be difficult to juggle multiple extracurriculars at once, however, Smith has managed it with ease.
You may be wondering: where did Smith learn to be such a wonderful kid? To his reply, it’s his role model and brother, Jaylen Parker. Jaylen has been there to guide Smith by showing him the benefits of dedication to not only your academics, but also to being kind to the people around you.
His brother spends a lot of time with Smith going to NBA games, Top Golf and unique restaurants. Having someone to look up to has made an impact on his personality that have allowed him to shine at his school.
He has already shown phenomenal attributes for his age by persisting through the challenging task of juggling passions with academics.
He is the son of Obreonne Parker and Karl Smith.