Over a Dozen Students Honored at Do the Right Thing Awards

Local leaders recognize Monroe County students for brave, generous, or thoughtful deeds.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Over a dozen students from schools in Monroe County will be honored on Thursday for their positive actions and good deeds. The Do the Right Thing awards ceremony, emceed by News10NBC's Emily Putnam, will recognize students in grades K-12 who have performed brave, generous, or thoughtful acts within the past year.

Why it matters

The Do the Right Thing awards program, run by the Rochester Police Department since 1995, aims to highlight and encourage positive behavior among local youth. By publicly honoring students for their good deeds, the program promotes community values and role models for other students to follow.

The details

The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, and News10NBC TODAY will feature a different winner each weekday starting on March 2. Nominations for the awards are open year-round, and anyone over 18 can submit a nomination for a student in a Monroe County school who has performed a good deed within the past year.

  • The Do the Right Thing awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • News10NBC TODAY will feature a different award winner each weekday starting on March 2, 2026.

The players

Emily Putnam

A news anchor for News10NBC who will emcee the Do the Right Thing awards ceremony.

Rochester Police Department

The organization that has held the Do the Right Thing awards since 1995 to recognize positive behavior among local youth.

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The takeaway

The Do the Right Thing awards program serves as an important way to highlight and encourage positive behavior among students in the Monroe County community, promoting role models and community values.