By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Dowagiac Union High Schools Class of 2010 received $387,650 in scholarship offers Wednesday night at the 52nd annual honors program in the DUHS cafeteria.

Retiring Superintendent Peg Stowers said in her welcome, “I’m going to challenge any number of you to stop the oil leak with the education that you’re going to get. As smart as we think we are, walking in space, I’m amazed that we haven’t been able to put an end to that. For the rest of your lives we’ll be dealing with that ecological hazard, so put this money to good use. You worked hard to earn it and persevered against peer pressure.”
Added Stowers, “Remember to thank those around you who helped you get here – parents, family, friends. You’re really only on the ladder now. The next rung is reaching the next level of goals you’re going to attain … Don’t forget to come back to Dowagiac and to take the seats of these folks of the community who worked hard to give you a chance to move forward.”

Principal Paul Hartsig, presiding at his sixth program, introduced Valedictorian Cassandra Stone and Salutatorian Kelsey Foote, who will lead the class at Dowagiac’s 146th Commencement at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6, on Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.
Guidance counselor Kristin Dockerty chaired the honors program for her second year, with reception planning by Toni Pasternak.

Twenty-three students achieved grade-point averages (GPAs) between 3.4 and 4.0.

Twenty-five students will be graduating with a 3.0 (B) or higher GPA.

The 23 high honor graduates (* denotes National Honor Society membership) also include Leana Allen*, Michael Bomani, Michael Boyd, Brent Christensen, Casey Collins*, Matthew Collins, Cody Cox*, Andrew Cripe*, Ryan Daly*, Elisabeth Gokey*, Alyssa Greenwood*, Taylor Gross*, Rebecca Hassle, Macy Howard, Kyle James, Andrew Kurdelmeyer*, Isaac Longden*, Allycia Mather, Emily Means*, Ethan Pasternak, Joanna Pickar*, Haley Spencer* and Rebeca Villegas*.
The 25 honor graduates are Robert Andrade, Zachariah Blank, Nancy Contreras, Megan Corey, Michele Dowsett, Marcie Ennesser, Danielle Etzel, Samuel Gantt, Katheryn Haneberg, Travis Herman, Alexandra Hess, Cody Klomes, Jessica Krueger, Joseph Larson, Torie Lowe, Alyse Pellow, Andrew Roden, Elizabeth Schaefer, Sarah Schuur, Derek Simpson, Danielle Taylor, Marissa Tidey, Scott Trout, Lindy Valenzuela and Brandon Wilson.

Student Advocate Randy Yoder presented exemplary attendance certificates to Samuel Gantt, Ethan Pasternak, Joanna Pickar, Sarah Schuur and Brandon Wilson for missing no more than five days in four years.

Stephen Kidman, representing Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1855 Men’s Auxiliary, gave its $1,000 scholarship to Morgan Tanzillo.

Retired superintendent Ron Jones, on behalf of Dowagiac Lions Club, presented its scholarship from 35 applicants to Andrew Cripe.

Judy Schalm and Martha Paulsen awarded $500 Sister Lakes Lady Lions Club scholarhips to Casey Collins and Emily Means.

Ronald Jacobs of Sister Lakes Lions Club presented a $1,000 scholarship to Joseph Larson.

Dowagiac Middle School Principal Michael Frazier, scholarship chairman of Dowagiac Elks Lodge 889, extended its $1,000 Most Valuable Student Scholarships to Cody Cox and Kelsey Foote.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz, representing Dowagiac Rotary Club, gave its scholarship to Ethan Pasternak.

Karen Judd, vice chair of the Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, presented the Leo Krziza and Esther Krziza-Condry Scholarship to Nancy Contreras. The $500 is renewable for up to four years, or $2,000, to help students pursuing health careers.

Lisa Reavis, on behalf of Zeta Chi Sorority Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, bestowed the $500 Toni Shaer Memorial Scholarship on Emily Means.

Mrs. David (Camille) Briegel, on behalf of their family, awarded the 21st annual Steven Briegel Memorial Scholarship to Taylor Gross.

Andrea Bradshaw, Cody Cox, Andrew Cripe, Danielle Etzel and Emily Means were selected for fourth annual Kameron Belew Memorial Scholarships of $500 from his father, Keith.

Kameron, a former all-conference linebacker who graduated in 2005, was 19 when he died in an auto accident on Rudy Road Dec. 31, 2006.

Guidance counselor Randy Luthringer, representing the Dehring family, gave the $1,100 Kenneth Dehring Memorial Scholarship to Ethan Pasternak for a career in education, counseling or social work. Mr. Dehring, who died in the spring of 1999, had been a counselor at Central Middle School.

Jones presented the first Craig Behnke Memorial Scholarship to Emily Means. Craig and his father, Bill, were “driving forces” in the local Lions Club.

Jon Biek, representing Knights of Columbus, awarded the $1,000 John Tuka Memorial Scholarship to Allycia Mather for her service to community, church and academics.
Cass County Clerk-Register Barb Runyon presented the $500 David Wilson Memorial Scholarship in memory of her husband, a 1975 DUHS graduate and football player who died in 2004; the $300 Burt and Virginia Atkinson Memorial Scholarship in memory of her parents; and the $500 Fred Dowsett/Arthur Towe Scholarship named for Civitan Special Olympics activists, all to her niece, Michele Dowsett.

Undersheriff Richard Behnke, on behalf of the Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood’s office, gave $500 Cass County Community Policing Scholarships to Matthew Collins, Michele Dowsett, Taylor Gross, Emily Means and Sinjin Ownby. As a DUHS graduate, Behnke said he was glad to see five of the eight awarded in Dowagiac. Emily will study business at the University of Michigan, the rest are for SMC. Behnke said the scholarships, funded by a summer golf outing, are entering their 14th year after 117 for $59,000.

Retired principal David Strlekar, president of Dowagiac Optimist Club, presented its $500  scholarship to Michele Dowsett.

Hartsig, representing Sodexho Services, awarded $500 business scholarships to Andrew Cripe and Emily Means.

Chris Lear of Quality Dining, gave one of the restaurant’s $1,000 Burger King scholarships to Allycia Mather.
Julie Hewitt, president of Kappa Beta, bestowed the sorority’s $250 scholarship on Kyle James.

Norma Greenman, assistant manager, and Nicole Lutz, teller, on behalf of Berrien Teachers Credit Union, presented a Community Commitment Scholarship to Joanna Pickar.

Dockerty, for the Wal-Mart Foundation, awarded a $3,000 Sam Walton Community Scholarship to Nancy Contreras.

Luthringer, representing Best Buy, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Emily Means.
City Clerk Jim Snow, representing the City of Dowagiac, presented its $500 SMC scholarship to Michele Dowsett.

Luthringer, for Silver Creek Township, presented its $500 SMC scholarship to Ethan Pasternak.

Dockerty, on behalf of LaGrange Township, gave its $500 SMC scholarship to Ryan Juroff.

Russ Barnes, representing Dowagiac Education Association, presented $500 DEA scholarships to Marcie Ennesser, Isaac Longden, Ethan Pasternak and Cassandra Stone.
Ashley Franklin and Audrey Maxey, directors of the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant, presented awards to the 2010 court, including queen Katie Haneberg, $1,600, who was also the communication winner for platform speaking for an additional $400; Taylor Gross, first runner-up, $800; and Alyse Pellow, second runner-up, $700.

Chuck Timmons, representing Masonic Peninsular Lodge 10, F&AM, presented the $500 Masonic Charitable Foundation Scholarship to Nancy Contreras. The Masons have been active in Dowagiac since 1855

Ryan Zietlow, on behalf of Educational Talent Search, presented the $500 Michigan College Access Program and Professionals Academic Achievement Award to Katheryn Haneberg.

Emily Means received the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award from the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, represented by Luthringer. That includes $1,000 from Chemical Bank and $1,000 from Gateway Foundation awarded to the non-profit or her choice.

Mandy Smith, Dowagiac’s 2007 salutatorian, representing Southwestern Michigan College, announced Awards of Excellence (half-rides for tuition and fees) for Michael Boyd, Matthew Collins, Elisabeth Gokey, Andrew Kurdelmeyer, Allycia Mather and Ethan Pasternak.

Smith, again on behalf of SMC, presented Fine and Performing Arts Scholarships to Zach Blank, Megan Corey, Samuel Gantt, Taylor Gross, Christopher Murray, John Philip Sousa winner Joanna Pickar and Joseph Van Tuyle. Most are for $500.

Smith also announced a $500 SMC Dance Performance Scholarship for Krystle Willming.

Dockerty, representing DePauw University, presented the Old Gold Honors Award Scholarship of $40,000 over four years to Andrew Cripe.

Dockerty, on behalf of the University of Michigan, handed the Michigan Experience Scholarship to Ryan Daly – also $40,000 over four years.

Cassandra Stone received the $16,000 University of Minnesota Gold National Scholarship Luthringer delivered.

Dockerty presented the $250 Career Technical Education Award to Sara Curtis.
Ryan Daly received the Business Professionals of America Award from Dockerty for finishing first place in regional competition with 16 school districts for desktop publishing.

Retiring 27-year journalism and yearbook adviser Teri Frantz, representing the South Bend Tribune, awarded Most Valuable Staffer to Emily Means.

Betsy Doud, on behalf of the Junior League of South Bend, Ind., presented the 2009-2010 Junior League of South Bend Scholarship to Emily Means.

Academic Awards of Excellence were given by Luthringer to Matthew Collins, Cody Cox, Andrew Cripe, Ryan Daly, Kelsey Foote, Kyle James, Jessica Krueger, Isaac Longden, Haley Spencer and Cassandra Stone.

Sgt. Paul Williams, representing the U.S. Marines, presented the Montgomery GI Bill worth up to $80,000 to Brent Christensen and Malcolm Confer.