At Charmaine and Robert Price Career Institute South, sawdust fills the classroom as students sand, drill, and assemble wooden rocking horses, each one built by hand for children staying at the Ronald McDonald House. For 21 years, Terry Stotts’ classes have crafted and donated wooden rocking horses to bring comfort and joy to children during the holiday season. The annual project teaches students practical woodworking skills while giving them a chance to give back to the community. Edgar H., a senior at Sunset High School, puts the finishing touches on a wooden airplane, carefully sanding the edges before moving on…

When Dallas ISD police officer Omar Sepulveda decided to bring holiday cheer—and presents—to students with special needs at Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School, he asked the JROTC cadets to help him organize the drive.  Sepulveda went a step further by incentivizing students to participate through a competition among five different classes to see which would raise the most donations. The winner, he said, would get a pizza party. It worked.  Students brought enough donations for the special education population but also for the children at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.  That act of generosity marked the beginning of the Officer…