March 2026 C.A.K.E. Award Recipients Announced

Congratulations to Anela Jake, a 5th grade learner attending Indian Hills Elementary, and Lilly Russell, an 11th grade learner attending Highland High School, who were chosen as the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 March C.A.K.E. award recipients. C.A.K.E. stands for Character, Attitude, Kindness and Encouragement.

Anela was nominated by Ms. Kerry McNulty and Ms. Ann O’Donnell who described Anela as a learner who consistently leads with empathy, perseverance, and kindness. They shared that Anela demonstrates patience and respect toward all of her classmates and often chooses to support peers who may need extra encouragement or understanding.

Her teachers noted that Anela approaches challenges with determination and a positive mindset, always putting forth her best effort. Even when learning becomes difficult, she remains focused and committed to improving.

They also highlighted that Anela is a natural encourager in the classroom. Whether helping a classmate work through a challenging task or offering kind words when someone feels discouraged, Anela helps create a supportive learning environment for everyone around her.

Ms. McNulty and Ms. O’Donnell wrote that Anela is not only a dedicated learner, but also a compassionate friend whose actions reflect the true spirit of the C.A.K.E. Award.

As the Yearbook Design Editor, Lilly Russell is described by her advisor and nominator, Ms. Pauline Smith, as an exemplary leader any team would be lucky to include.

According to Ms. Smith, Lilly works incredibly hard and consistently goes above and beyond what is expected of her. She is quick to help anyone who needs support- whether that means answering questions, solving problems, or stepping in when a teammate feels overwhelmed. Ms. Smith noted that Lilly holds people to high standards, but she does so with kindness and respect, creating an environment where others feel encouraged to do their best.

One moment that stood out occurred when the yearbook staff was facing major software issues that caused frustration and stress across the team. During that challenging time, Lilly remained calm and positive. Instead of complaining or becoming discouraged, she focused on solutions, finding workarounds and helping keep her teammates grounded when emotions were running high.

Ms. Smith shared that Lilly’s steady leadership and positive attitude helped the team navigate a difficult situation and continue moving forward together. Her willingness to support others and lead by example makes a lasting impact on the yearbook staff and the Highland High School community.

Anela and Lilly were recognized at the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Our Partner for this award, Johnson Family McDonald's provides each learner and their nominators with a gift card, along with $50 to purchase books for the school’s media center in the recipients’ names.

PCSD 25 believes a safe, supportive, caring and respectful environment is critical to student learning. The District Education Foundation, in partnership with McDonald’s, supports the Learner-of-the-Month C.A.K.E. Award to recognize students who show great character.  The district recognizes one elementary learner and one secondary learner from October through May. Nominations for the C.A.K.E. Award are submitted by a teacher who has observed the nominee’s behavior, and are approved by the school’s principal.

C.A.K.E. Nomination Form