Horizons honorees celebrated with limo ride, lunch at The Kitchen

CHESTERTOWN — This was not just another summer day for Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s students Tatiana, Charlie and Vernon or their host Steve Quigg, the owner and award-winning head chef of The Kitchen at The Imperial.

They had come together to celebrate the legacy of Horizons champion Lauralea T. “L.T.” Goodall, who was known for her kindness and grace.

“I’m excited to have you guys here,” Quigg told his young guests, accompanied by their program site directors.

This was the third year in a row that Quigg partnered with Horizons for the L.T. Goodall Character Lunch & Limo Award, so he understood the significance of the special event.

“I have mad respect for you,” Quigg told Vernon, Charlie and Tatiana.

“Character means doing stuff, good stuff, when no one is looking,” Quigg said in a way that elementary and middle school students would understand.

“If you have character,” he added, “you carry it with you all through life.”

For six weeks in the summer, Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s offers a tuition-free academic and enrichment program for elementary and middle school students living in under-resourced communities.

This year’s program ran from June 24 to July 31 and served just north of 250 students at three sites — 100 students in grades pre-K to five at the Kent School site outside of Chestertown; 94 in kindergarten through grade five at The Gunston School site near Centreville; and 58 middle school students at the Washington College site.

“Fueled for Success” was the theme.

Teachers at each site were polled as to which students stood out for their kindness and thoughtfulness.

The Lunch & Limo event originated as a way to commemorate the legacy of L.T. Goodall.

“Over time, L.T. Day had evolved into a general celebration, losing focus on the specific values L.T. held dear,” Executive Director Emily Murphy told The Evening Enterprise in an email.

Murphy said Horizons “reinvented the event” by returning to its roots. It now centers on recognizing students who consistently exhibit exceptional character throughout the summer program.

“By selecting and awarding these students, we have successfully restored the day’s original intent, ensuring that L.T.’s commitment to character remains at the heart of our celebration and program,” Murphy said in the email.

The 2026 honorees are Tatiana Rochester of Stevensville Middle School, Charlie Butler of Rock Hall Elementary School and Vernon Gross of Bayside Elementary School.

They arrived at The Kitchen at The Imperial in downtown Chestertown by a chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle, courtesy of Prince Limousine, on July 23, and were accompanied by Horizons site directors Kristin O’Neil [Kent School], Patrick Hopkins [The Gunston School] and Cheryl Fracassi [Washington College].

It was a Thursday, so the High Street restaurant was closed to other patrons.

Quigg was there to greet his special guests, though he was dressed a little more causally than usual in a tank top underneath his double-breasted chef’s jacket, shorts, flip flops and a baseball-style cap.

Squatting so that he could be eye level with his youngest guests, Quigg took their orders, assuring them that “everything is prepared with love.”

Vernon chose a cheeseburger with American cheese; Charlie, who mentioned that this was his first time ever ordering from a menu for himself, opted for The Kitchen’s award-winning crab cake with french fries; and Tatiana selected a Caesar salad also with a side order of fries.

They ordered vanilla ice cream and chocolate bread pudding for dessert.

In an interview with The Evening Enterprise as they waited for their entrées to arrive, the students were asked what they liked most about Horizons.

Tatiana, who previously lived in Kent County and had attended H.H. Garnet Elementary School in Chestertown, said this summer provided her with an opportunity to “meet new people” and “reconnect with old friends.”

Becoming a stronger, more confident swimmer in weekly trips to the pool and “the quality of the food” were 10-year-old Charlie’s favs.

And Vernon, a first-year Horizons student, said the program allowed him to stay in contact with his Bayside Elementary friends over the summer. School work wasn’t a bad thing in the summer, he said, because “they [Horizons] make it fun.”

Horizons of Kent County was established in 1995, one of the very first Horizons National affiliates.

The program expanded to Queen Anne’s County in 2014.