Students at Dowagiac Middle School will once again be awarded for embodying the traits of respect, responsibility, integrity, sacrifice and courage.

Next Monday, the Five Star after-school program will hold its annual winter awards ceremony, honoring students who reached new heights, both in terms of their academic performance and in improving their character. The awards that will be handed out include the Student of the Season award, the Extra Mile award and the Spirit award.

Monday will mark the fourth time Five Star has awarded students since the program was first introduced to the middle school last year, said Principal Matt Severin.

“I look forward to every award assembly,” Severin said. “It’s such a celebration of our kids. Any time we honor their accomplishments it’s one my favorite days of the year.”

Stopping by on Monday afternoon will be State Senator John Proos, who will deliver a tribute for the work that Five Star and the program’s coaches have done for students since coming to the district.

“It’s exciting to have him come down and see the things that are coming from the program,” Severin said.

Proos first learned of the program after a member of his office spoke with Janie Reifenberg, manager of the Dowagiac Honor Credit Union.

“She’s been so excited about the program since it started,” Severin said. “Whenever she has the opportunity to talk about it, she does and we always appreciate it.”

Honor has helped support the program since it began last year, Severin said. Also sponsoring the program is the Dowagiac Rotary Charitable Foundation, the Dowagiac Union Schools Foundation and the Dowagiac Optimist Club.

“It’s our community support and their belief in us that makes possible for have these types of activities for our kids,” Severin said.

The last Five Star awards ceremony took place in December, shortly before the district recessed for winter break. Since then, student attendance for the weekly sessions has remained steady, with participants remaining engaged with weekly challenges, Severin said.

“Every time I look, I see improvements in the responsibilities of our kids, the commitment from our coaches and the positive impact it’s making inside our school,” Severin said.

Volunteers interested in helping out with the program are encouraged to contact the middle school, at (269) 782-4440. Five Star meets at 2:30 p.m. on Mondays throughout the school year.