By Kyle LoJacono
Last spring, Sickles High student Jonathon Bermudez was running with a new track teammate, Abdin Fator, when he noticed the freshman had large holes in his shoes. What he did next helped earn him a nomination.
Bermudez took Fator to a local sporting goods store and bought him new running shoes with his birthday money.
“I had just turned 17 and had some money from that,” said Bermudez, a senior. “I’ve always valued personal enjoyment over money, so it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t even think about it much because I knew it was the right thing. People save money all their life and then can’t spend it.”
Fator, 16 and a sophomore, is a young man of few words, but said he was very grateful for what Bermudez did for him.
“It’s nice to have shoes without holes,” Fator said. He then added, “I didn’t know a lot of the other runners and over the season we kind of developed that running bond. I started just running track and he kept bugging me to join cross country. I said I’d give it a try, but my old shoes wouldn’t last running a 5K (five kilometers), so he took me to get the shoes.”
Fator was born in the war-torn Sudan and moved to the United States in 2003. Before coming here, his father moved to Egypt to raise money to move them to this country.
Bermudez continued to help Fator during the summer. He would drive his younger teammate to cross country practice because he did not have a ride. Then when Fator had no way to get to his physical required to run for the Gryphons, Bermudez stepped in and again chauffeured him.
“He took Abdin under his wing like he was his little brother,” said Sickles boys cross country coach Gail Bottone, who nominated Bermudez for the award. “Now Abdin is one of the top-three runners on the team up there with Jonathon. It’s amazing because Abdin might get a scholarship to go to college because Jonathon helped him.”
Bottone, the Sickles guidance department head, said Jonathon’s actions have helped renew her faith in teenagers.
“I got goosebumps when I first heard about what he did,” Bottone said. “I couldn’t believe a teenager could be so selfless. He didn’t do it for the notoriety. When he first heard about it he said he didn’t know because of the attention. He just did it because he knew it was the right thing.”
Fator has continued to be surprised by Bermudez’s generosity.
“I keep thinking why would someone do so much for me,” Fator said.
“I don’t really think I did anything special,” Bermudez said. “I saw a teammate that needed some help and I gave it to him. I just hope other kids who hear about this will do the same thing the next time they see someone who needs some help.”
Colton Shepard’s actions save family
It was a good thing Colton Shepard decided to wear is brother’s combat boots June 16 because without them, he might not have been able to rescue a mother and child from a burning car.
The Gaither High senior was walking home from a friend’s house when he saw the aftermath of a car accident near the intersection of Dale Mabry and North Lakeview Drive, just south of Lutz. Despite the vehicle being on fire and the real possibility of it exploding, Colton jumped into action.
“I ran across the road and kicked through the windshield, which was already cracked,” Colton said. “Then I took off my shirt and used it to clear the glass from the opening so I could get the mother and kid out without hurting them or hurting myself.”
Colton, 17, does not know the people he saved. He believes the child to be 5 or 6-years-old.
“They didn’t really say anything to me because I think they were in shock,” Colton said.
Colton stayed with the family until paramedics arrived. When he saw they were being treated by rescuers, he left instead of staying for potential adoration.
“I knew they were OK so I just walked home,” Colton said. He then added jokingly, “I still had to get home and I didn’t think they’d be able to take me home on the way to the hospital.”
When he got to his house, Colton told his mother Kathy what happened.
“I can’t tell you my exact words, I was very surprised,” Kathy said. “We went to the fire station and they told me the same thing he said.”
Colton attributes his quick actions to what he has learned in Gaither’s JROTC program. Besides acting fast, he told others on the scene not to throw water on the fire because of all the gas and oil.
“That also comes from working at McDonald’s,” Colton said. “A fire like that, water just spreads it around.”
Kathy sent a letter to Colton’s JROTC instructors, Senior Chief Edward Donohue and Capt. Sreten Zivovic, along with Gaither principal Marie Whelan. The letter thanked them for helping teach Colton to do the right thing and also to tell them what he had done. After learning about what he did, his instructors nominated Colton.
Colton said he wants to join the military after graduating. His older brother, James, served four years in the Middle East, following in the footsteps of Kathy (20 years in the armed forces) and Colton’s grandfather, James, who served four years.
Colton is currently the commanding officer of Gaither’s JROTC athletic team and also the executive officer of the academic team.
“JROTC is all about working as a team,” Colton said. “When I saw that car on fire I felt like that was a member of my team in trouble. I just acted the way I’ve been taught.”
