The entire country has been a buzz about the recent school shooting in Florida where 14 students and three teachers lost their lives at the hands of a former student. Out of the 14 students killed, half were only 14 years of age. Local teen, Kaylie Rae Basso felt a connection with one of the young victims, Jaime Guttenberg, who has been described in the media as a passionate dancer.

Basso is also 14 years of age, she attends Mont Harmon Middle School and loves to dance, which has her passion since the very young age of two. She is currently part of the Miss Carbon County Organization as Outstanding Teen First Attendant. She explains her pageant platform, “It’s called Peace, Love and Respect, it teaches young adults and adults not to put labels or judge anyone and it also prevents suicide. I just feel as if I keep doing my service projects than it will definitely make an impact.” One of her past projects she accomplished in January was recognizing the hard work of local law enforcement officers by showing her appreciation with a delivery of cupcakes and goodies.

 So, it was no surprise to her parents, Sonny and Karen Basso, when their daughter was ready to take on another service project to show her support for a fellow dancer whose life was tragically taken away. “I heard about the shooting but I didn’t know who the victims were until I saw on Instagram by the Houston Ballet and they were wearing orange ribbons to show support and that really made me want to research on what is going on and I found her and just felt connected to her,” stated Basso. She found in her research that Guttenberg was a dancer whose favorite color was orange, which explained the color that had been chosen by the ballet company.

Without any hesitation Basso took the lead from Houston’s Ballet company by using her own money to purchase several spools of orange ribbon. She quickly started making remembrance ribbons for dancers in both Carbon and Emery counties. She took to social media to invite dancers to be a part of her project, “I have friends that are coaches and own a studio, so I reached out to them and they informed their dancers and other dance studios. I’m hoping they are going to wear it for awhile as they perform and compete in different competitions or performances.” Guests who attend the United Way Souls2Sole Dance Benefit on Saturday, February 24 will notice that every single dancer will be adorned with an orange ribbon  in remembrance of Guttenberg.

Basso has shown her entire community that with one small gesture towards total strangers can offer comfort, compassion and extend genuine love. When members of the public see Basso around town tell her job well done and thank her for being a positive role model for her peers.