This newspaper is flooded on a daily basis with new releases concerning accolades earned by individuals residing in Bertie, Gates, Hertford and Northampton counties.

While each person is worthy of those honors, nothing warms the heart more than to see a young person from our area rewarded for their efforts.

Wednesday’s official announcement from the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, in particular its Center for Missing Persons and NC Highway Patrol, that 10-year-old Larry Futrell of Ahoskie had won a statewide contest should make us all feel extremely proud.

Futrell’s honor was a breath of fresh air….a chance for our local young people to be recognized for their lofty achievements rather than the bad news we too often have to report on local youth.

To hear the adults heap praise on Futrell was also encouraging. Even at a young age, the son of Shelia Futrell and the late Larry Futrell Sr. already has his priorities in order. He is an Honor Roll recipient and, according to his principal Stan Warren, “a model student.”

We feel Futrell’s honor is only the tip of the iceberg within Hertford County Public Schools. There are other, richly deserving students waiting in the wings to be recognized. There is so much untapped, undiscovered talent within those classrooms. All it takes are simple words of encouragement to bring out the best in these students.

That’s where our educational leaders come in. They are trained to seek what is just below the surface of our youngsters, bring out that talent and help them develop and refine those skills.

While congratulations are in order for Larry Futrell, a tip of the hat also goes out to his teachers and educational administrators for their positive influence on his young life.

We challenge all teachers to find a “Larry Futrell” in your classroom.