Saratoga Springs sixth grader receives ‘Kindest Kid in America’ award
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- Sage Hills Elementary School sixth grader Aspen Rowley receives the “Kindest Kid in America” award Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Saratoga Springs.
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- Sage Hills Elementary School sixth grader Aspen Rowley receives the “Kindest Kid in America” award Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Saratoga Springs.
Aspen Rowley knew something was up when her mom made her dress up in nice clothes for a Friday school day.
When her family members showed up unannounced to a schoolwide assembly inside the Sage Hills Elementary School gym in Saratoga Springs in the afternoon, her friends began asking questions, too.
What proceeded was something Aspen never anticipated.
In front of the entire Sage Hills student body and her family, Aspen, a sixth grader, was surprised with an award for being the “Kindest Kid in America.”
“I kind of knew something was coming, but I didn’t think I had to get called up on stage,” Aspen said. “That was crazy. I was thinking it would be someone like a cute little kindergartner or a third grader. I didn’t think it would be me.”
The award is part of Kindest Kid in America, a Utah-based organization that started in September, attempting to promote kindness in schools across the nation and help prevent school shootings.
Founded by Brian Williams and spearheaded by Jessie Hansen, among others, the goal is to give out a Kindest Kid in America award in each of the 50 states this year and create illustrated children’s books based on each child’s story.
Aspen, who was nominated by her principal, Terri Rigby, for the prestigious title, was presented with a ribbon by Saratoga Springs Mayor Jim Miller and received a congratulatory video from Gov. Spencer Cox.
“She has been through a lot in her life with difficulties, with family health, that kind of thing.” Rigby said. “But she comes to school every day and is so kind to everyone else. And we just noticed that every day. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t see her talking to someone that needs to be talked with.”
The award was paired with a children’s book called “Princess Aspen.” Written and read aloud by Hansen, the story is based on a true event of how Aspen started a helping club in her community.
The story highlights Aspen and her friends giving food to the homeless and visiting a community center. Princess Aspen also takes it upon herself to invite a new girl to sit with her at lunch and encourages a boy in her class who is having a difficult time.
“The book I wrote is based on real facts of this cute girl,” Hansen said. “By herself with no adult, she said, ‘Hey, we should start a helping club.’ She came up with that. That’s incredible. So, being able to really celebrate that, like, I didn’t fabricate anything. I got all those details from her mom.”
Aspen accepted her award the way you’d expect the kindest kid in America to — with humility and thoughtfulness.
“I’m just a girl,” she insisted.
But she was willing to share her secret about how to be kind to people.
“Sometimes when you’re not having a good day, even when you just say, ‘Hey, I like your outfit,’ even though you’re not getting the compliment, it still makes you feel better,” Aspen said, “because that person receiving the compliment is like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You just made my whole entire day.'”
Aspen’s mother, Toni Rowley, called Aspen “one of the greatest kids” and said the award was perfect for her.
“There’s so many kids here, and to see Aspen stand out a little differently is pretty amazing,” she said.
The announcement was the culmination of an hourlong assembly that saw Hansen, a motivational speaker, instruct the elementary kids on the importance of treating each other kindly and how they can open up to someone when they’re having a hard time.
She encouraged the kids to each do seven acts of kindness at school, which could add up to 5,000 acts of kindness in five days.
“It’s so important, because we are social creatures,” Hansen said. “We assimilate into our culture, whatever that culture is. So if people around us are mean, we’ll be mean. If people around us are kind, we’ll be kind. It’s just psychology.”
Through Kindest Kid in America, Hansen is hoping to inspire kids to create a culture of kindness and combat bullying and violence.
Aspen is the sixth announced winner of the event. Hansen said eight new books are in the illustration process, soon to be awarded to eight additional winners.
