Meeting at the middle school, Dowagiac Board of Education Wednesday night presented certificates and orange-and-black T-shirts to three January Students of the Month, Union High senior Whitney Donaldson, Isabelle Deering of Kincheloe and Amissa Hawley of Justus Gage.

Three other students, Nick Hackworth, Faith Billing and Laura Schaller, will be honored in March.

Whitney Donaldson

Whitney is the daughter of Chad and Angel Perrin. She has two brothers, Jordan and Dameon, and one sister, Morgan. Whitney has two dogs, Ozzie and Hades.

Math is Whitney’s favorite subject because she understands it and can help her classmates. She is currently studying calculus and was introduced by Principal Paul Hartsig.

She likes school because she is always learning new things.

lf she could change one thing at school it would be to have it year-around.

Whitney’s high school day includes choir, calculus, college English on campus, but then Whitney goes to Southwestern Michigan College and takes art history, education exploration and introduction to ethics for 12 total college credit hours.

This makes her not only a high school student, but also a fulltime college student.

Besides her schooling, Whitney is involved in many other activities, including choir, volleyball, track, National Honor Society, Rotary Interact, Humanities Club, Fine Arts Booster Club and the musical.

In her free time, Whitney volunteers at Dowagiac Conservation Club.

After high school, Whitney will be attending SMC to earn her associate degree, then Western Michigan University to pursue a teaching degree. She wants to be a math teacher.

Isabelle Deering

Isabelle is a first-grader in Christa Siegel’s classroom. Belle is the daughter of Bill and Kim Deering of Niles. She has a 3-year-old sister, Tessa, at Lighthouse Preschool. Belle also has two cats, Snowflake and Lucy.

Hardworking and compassionate, Belle completes her work on time, going above and beyond what is asked. She constantly makes time to assist other classmates around the room. Her demeanor is always friendly and she is up for any challenge she faces.

Belle serves as both a citizenship and academic role model for others.

When Belle is older she wants to go to college. She would like to be a zookeeper because she loves animals.

She also loves art, especially making pictures with art stuff. She wants be an artist someday.

Be||e’s favorite subject in school is math because she likes figuring out problems. She thinks telling time is really fun.

“Belle is kind and caring toward all those around her,” Mrs. Siegel said. “Through her dedication to learning and eagerness to help others, she sets an example for all students at Kincheloe.”

Principal Dawn Conner introduced her.

Amissa Hawley

Amissa, a student in Ronna Page’s class, was introduced by Title I teacher Cari Soderbloom.

A model student, she always comes into class with a big smile and eager to learn.

She is a “fantastic helper” to Mrs. Page and her classmates. She never complains and makes an effort to complete everything they do in first grade.

Known as a talented author, Amissa likes to write stories about her family and kittens. She enjoys books about dogs — especially the big red one named Clifford.

Amissa is artistic, loves to draw and goes to the art center each week.

Her brother, Douglas, also attends Justus Gage and Amissa has a younger sister, EmmaLeigh.

She would like to be a police officer when she grows up so she can help people in need.

She is the daughter of Heather Hawley and of Douglas Hawley Jr.