By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Dowagiac Board of Education honored five December 2009 Citizens of the Month Monday night at Patrick Hamilton Elementary School.

Receiving Chieftain Hero T-shirts and certificates or engraved plaques were Patrick Hamilton third grader Elizabeth Weatherspoon, Dowagiac Middle School eighth grader Nick Bogen, Justus Gage fourth grader Keith Kidd Jr., Sister Lakes third grader Alejandra Reynaga and Union High School senior Alyssa Greenwood.

Kincheloe kindergartner Mary Williamson was not present.

Elizabeth Weatherspoon
Elizabeth, daughter of Tina Weatherspoon, arrived in Dowagiac this fall from Arkansas, where she maintained membership in her previous school’s A-B Club.

She has continued her strong work ethic in Gloria Staten’s class at Patrick Hamilton.
Her favorite subjects are math and science.

Elizabeth plans to become an oncologist so she can help keep people such as her late father alive.

In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys reading, video games and playing with her cousin.
Also, her very active cats, Midnight and Aries, provide some relief after school and on weekends.

She hopes to play soccer in Dowagiac this spring.

Elizabeth was presented by Principal Heather Nash.

Nick Bogen
Nick, 14, is the son of Jeff and Debbie Bogen. He has one sister, Lindsay, who attends Sister Lakes Elementary School.

Nick is a member of Honors Club and Student Council.

He is also a soccer player in a local league. He refs AYSO.

Nick is one of the youngest certified CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members in Cass County.

He is the audio-visual technician for Federated Covenant Church.

He volunteers at Cass County Council on Aging, where he helps with meals and interacts with clients.

Nick enjoys fishing. His favorite teacher is Bernard Thomas and his favorite class has always been science with Amy Hackett and Karen Ennesser.

He would like to attend University of Michigan to study medicine.

Nick has a reputation of being a real go-getter and is involved in any activity where he can contribute to the school.

Mrs. Ennesser said, “I nominated Nick because he is both an outstanding student and citizen. Nick is always the first to volunteer when we start a community project. He gives 100 percent and follows through on every task he may be presented with. Nick is a great role model for other students and someone I am very proud to know.”

Principal Mike Frazier introduced “The Bogenator.”

Keith Kidd Jr.
Keith, a student in Cari Soderbloom’s classroom, is the son of Keith and Heather.
He has a little brother, Anthony. According to Keith, his dog, Kota, is much better behaved than Mrs. Soderbloom’s dog.

Keith guessed he was selected because “I’m kid of nice usually” – except to Anthony. He was introduced by Sister Lakes Principal Matt Severin, pinch-hitting for Justus Gage Principal Marcy Hendress.

Keith has a great attitude for trying new tasks, even if they take some extra effort to learn.He comes to school with a smile, showing he is ready to learn.

Keith is very helpful, always willing to go the extra mile to help out by running errands or by putting down chairs when school starts, and making sure chairs are put up again at the end of the day.

At school, Keith really enjoys math.

He is using his basic facts to help solve tougher problems, like two-digit by two-digit multiplication.

He is also working hard on his state report and using his time wisely in the computer lab to look up and learn interesting facts about Ohio.

Keith is a typical kid, though, and really likes recess. He plays football with his friends and enjoys the snow hills.

At home, Keith enjoys hanging out with his family, playing video games and sledding with Anthony.

Alejandra Reynaga
Alejandra, daughter of Norma Reynaga, has a sister, Julianna, in first grade.
She was introduced by Sister Lakes Principal Matt Severin.

At school, Alejandra is a hard worker and a good friend who is known as determined and kind.

Her favorite subject is math. She enjoys passing out classroom papers.

She enjoys reading the Cam Jansen, Horrible Harry and Magic Tree House series.

At home, her responsibilities include sweeping the floor, making her bed and picking up the living room.

In her free time, Alejandra enjoys coloring, using the computer and playing Nintendo.
Chicken hot wings are her favorite meal.

Alejandra intends to go to college and become a pediatrician.

Alyssa Greenwood
Alyssa is a student in Dean Hill’s second trimester clay class.

She is the daughter of Kimberly and Steve Greenwood.

DUHS Principal Paul Hartsig presented her.

“Although I have not had her in class previously, I knew who she was when she came into class because of the good words spoken about her by the other teachers,” Hill said.
“I had seen her in Mr. VandenHeede’s art class and she was always on task and trying to make good projects. The same thing is happening in my clay class.

“Alyssa works hard to create projects by following the guidelines that have been set and to make them unique and to the best of her ability. She has been fun in class because of her sense of humor, but she is also an excellent student who can think for herself and accomplish what she sets out to do.

“My nomination does not come from the several weeks that we have been together in the clay class,” Hill stated, “it comes from the acknowledgement of the years she has spent learning of life and from school to be the best person she can be and to have fun along the way.”