Emma Allen

Emma, a student in Mr. Leazenby’s classroom, is the daughter of Ronald and Ann Allen and is a triplet with a sister, Sarah, and a brother, Ryan.

Emma also has an older sister, Alyssa, who attends Dowagiac Middle School.

Emma is known as a fantastic student. She has and continues to work very hard on her reading skills.

Emma is a top math student as well and a creative writer.

Her teacher never knows what interesting topic she will think of to write about.

Emma always listens, always plays nicely and always does her very best work.

She is an all-around excellent student and a joy to teach.

Samantha Mathews

Samantha, daughter of Dr. David Mathews, has two younger brothers, Michael, in middle school, and Daniel. Her step-mother is Sarah. She also has two gerbils. Samantha, who was not present is involved in many things at Union High School. Her daily schedule includes pre-calculus, honors English, choir and psychology.

Samantha is also an athlete, playing on the soccer and cross country teams.

At school, Sam is involved in Student Senate and National Honor Society.

One of the things she likes about school is that “the teachers are always willing to help out so that students can try different things. Samantha attends Sister Lakes Community Church and is a longtime member of Encore Dance Company.

Samantha volunteers in her spare time by working at the soup kitchen, visiting local nursing homes and was a cheerleading coach for the rocket football cheerleaders. After high school, Samantha plans on attending Hope College or the University of Michigan to study business and marketing with an interest in public relations.

Adrianna McClenahan

Adrianna is a student in Nancy Northrop’s class. She is the daughter of Shauna Lafferty.

Adrianna is known as a model student who makes good choices each and every day.

She is kind, responsible, respectful and helpful to her classmates.

She is very helpful at home as well.

She enjoys writing and hopes to be a paleontologist to study dinosaur bones when she grows up.

Calley Ruff

Calley is the daughter of Julie and Michael Ruff and younger sister to Hannah in fifth grade at Kincheloe.

Calley is a wonderful, quiet, hard-working first grader in Katrina Daiga’s class.

She is always helping others without being asked and wants her classmates to be successful.

Calley always give assistance when she can.

She listens very carefully to her teacher to apply the information in her daily work.

Calley has made great growth in all academic areas and shows hunger for knowledge every day.

Calley enjoys time with her family. They play many games together. Checkers and Kings’ Corners are her favorite games.

Her talent shines in dance class. Her feet are always in motion, making her heels click.

Calley is thinking about becoming a teacher when she gets older. She loves when she can read books on her own.

One thing she would teach her students is how to split or break words in chunks so the words are easier to read.

Connie Grabemeyer

Connie is the daughter of Aaron and Noreen Grabemeyer.

Connie has an older brother, Isaac, who is a fifth grade student at Sister Lakes Elementary.

She was nominated because of her academic success as well as the positive interaction she has with her papers.

Connie is an unbelievable reader. She enjoys going to Mrs. Sylvester’s first grade classroom for special reading instruction.

Not only is Connie succeeding in reading, she is also above grade level with her math skills as well.

She is using a computer software program, Success Maker, where she can work on both reading and math skills at her own pace.

Connie is a great help in the classroom. She enjoys helping her peers with tasks completed in the classroom.

She is known as a great friend to all. When asked what she would like to be when she grows up, she said, “Just a normal parent. When I see Mom and Dad do it, it really looks fun.”

Zach Davis

Zach, 12, is a seventh grader and the son of Dave and Beth Davis. Zach was nominated by his Healthy Living teacher, Meredith Marrs.

Zach is quite active. He is a member of the basketball team, the football team, 4-H and the Mayor of Munchkin City in the “Wizard of Oz,” which Principal Mike Frazier acknowledged in his cadenced introduction.

His hobbies are baseball and playing with his two dogs, three cats and a goat. Zach would like to be in the FBI or a chef.

He wants to attend Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.

He believes he won student of the month because he can be quite charming, as well as a good student. Mrs. Marrs related, “Zach Davis is a kind and considerate seventh grade student who is always going above and beyond. I have the privilege of having Zach in class and directing him in the high school musical, Wizard of Oz. Whether it is in the classroom or in extra-curricular activities, I have watched Zach give 100-percent to everything he is involved in. In my opinion, Zach is a true Chieftain Hero.”

Sydney Brooks

The 14-year-old eighth grader is the daughter of Kelley and Jeff Gnodtke and of Noel Brooks. She was introduced by Principal Matt Severin.

She has a brother, Cody, a senior; a sister, McKenzie, in sixth grade;and sisters, Halle and Hanna, at home.

Sydney enjoys cheerleading and is a member of Honors Club.

She likes to read books of all types.

Her favorite class is science. Sydney was nominated by her science teacher, Amy Hackett.

She would like to go to college, but doesn’t yet know where. She also is undecided on a career.

Simply stated, Sydney attributes her success to doing all her work and paying attention at all times.

Mrs. Hackett remarked, “I had Sydney last year in seventh grade and am lucky enough to have her again as an eighth grader. Sydney is a very well-mannered, responsible students. She is always prepared when she comes to class and is very motivated to do well on her work and to keep her grades up. Sydney is friendly and shy, but always willing to participate and works well with others. Sydney will definitely be successful in the future because she is very bright and always motivated to do her best.”

Sashenka Cruz

Sashenka, daughter of Maria Cordero and Mario Cruz, the kindergartner has an older sister and a younger sister.

She also had a pet dog named Brownie. Principal Gretchen Hart introduced Sister Lakes students. Robin Ennesser is her teacher.

Sashenka is a great student because she is a good listener, a good friend who thinks of others and always does her very best at everything she tries. She loves reading, playing with her friends and doing her work. “Barbie” is her favorite bok.

At home, Sashenka likes to play blocks, tag and swing with her sisters.

When she grows up, Sashenka would like to be a painter.

She likes painting animals — especially elephants and flowers.

Emily Smith

The junior is the daughter of Everett and Julia Smith. Her mother serves on the school board. Emily has a younger sister, Lauren, who attends DMS. She also has seven cats, a dog and goats.

Emily is involved in many things at DUHS. Her daily schedule includes pre-calculus, honors English — her favorite subject — honors America studies, sociology (for college credit) and physics.

Emily is also taking medical terminology at Southwestern Michigan College.

At school, Emily is involved in Student Senate and National Honor Society.

She enjoys learning and finds school fun and interesting, though she dislikes school starting so early in the morning and finds herself “athletically challenged.”

Emily is an active member of Sister Lakes Community Church and volunteers to teach music to younger students on Sunday nights. Emily is also involved in 4-H.

After high school, Emily plans on attending Wesleyan University to study nursing with a goal of working in pediatrics.

Abraham Guernsey

The kindergarten student who wants to grow up to be a bow hunter was introduced by Patrick Hamilton Principal Heather Nash.

He loves to draw and write many things. He often draws and writes about Beyblade.

Abraham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guernsey, has two older brothers and a sister.

He understands about being a good friend. He shows this by helping his friends.

Abraham is becoming a super reader and has already progressed to level 77 on reading eggs at computer time.

Dustyn Bell

The son of Kevin and Jessica Bell was presented by Kincheloe Principal Dawn Conner.

Dustyn has one younger sister, Alivia, 2.  He is a motivated, hard-working, courteous kindergartner in Mrs. McDonald’s class.

Dustyn is a great role model for the rest of the students as he is always focused and following directions.

Dustyn is very respectful to other classmates and adults.

When you pass him in the hall or see him in the classroom, he always has a smile on his face.

Dustyn’s favorite foods are hog dogs and macaroni and cheese.

At home, Dustyn likes to play with his army tanks and his Lightning McQueen games. He also enjoys playing soccer. He is really good at scoring goals.

At school, Dustyn enjoys math activities and going outside to play with his friends.

Nicholas Schultz

Nicholas, a kindergarten student, was unable to attend.

He is a student in Ms. Maiers’ classroom.

Nicholas, 6, is the son of Christopher and Heather Schultz.

He has two older brothers, Colin, who attends the middle school, and Jonathon, a second grader at Justus Gage.

He has a cat and a dog named Daisy at home.

Nicholas is a hard-working, well-mannered student.

His teacher can always count on Nicholas to be a role model for other students.

Nicholas always strives to work hard both academically and socially.

At home, Nicholas likes to watch TV. His favorite channel to watch is Nick Jr.

He also enjoys playing Xbox with his brothers.

When the weather is nice, he likes to play baseball.

When Nicholas is older, he would like to play football.

Nicholas wants to build when he grows up.