By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS -- Capt. Samuel Felt chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) each December recognizes six high school senior "Good Citizens" who display dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
Honored Monday afternoon at Cass District Library were John Klapchuk of Dowagiac Union High School, Jeff Peterson of Brandywine High School in Niles, Jason Dodge of Edwardsburg High School, John Gore of Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis and Alisha Rosen of Marcellus High School.
A sixth recipient of a pin and certificate, Sarah McNees of Buchanan High School, could not be present because she was at Central Michigan University testing for scholarships.
John Klapchuk
John attended with his parents, Ed and Diane Klapchuk, and sister, Amy.
The saxophonist has been "heavily involved" in concert band, marching band, pep band and one year of jazz band. He participated in all-star band the past two years and in district solo and ensemble festival.
Klapchuk is a three-year member of the varsity cross country team, a two-year member of the student mentor program and a two-year member and current president of the DUHS National Honor Society chapter.
The Cass County Fair king also participated on the Academic Challenge team for one year and was in Drama Club for one year.
Jason Dodge
Jason will be graduating as valedictorian of his 2004 class at Edwardsburg High School. His guidance counselor, Mrs. Dalrymple, and his mother, Beth Dodge, joined him. "My dad really wanted to be here today, but unfortunately, he had court. He's not in trouble, he's Judge (Michael) Dodge," he quipped.
Academically, Jason achieved a straight-A grade-point average in five out of six semesters for an overall 3.98 GPA. He's received his high school's academic letter recognizing outstanding achievement for the past three years.
Dodge was recently selected as the Burger King/WSBT Channel 22 Outstanding Student Athlete of the Week. He received scholar/athlete awards all three years. He made the Lakeland Conference All-Academic Team his sophomore and junior years. Last fall Dodge was selected most valuable runner for his cross country team.
In his community, Dodge has been a member of the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council for three years, was elected president of the National Honor Society last year and has belonged to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church since 1994.
Jeff Peterson
Each of Gail and Mary Lou Peterson's four children has been a DAR Good Citizen at Brandywine High School. He was also accompanied by his sponsor, Sarah Essex, and his grandmother, Virginia Springsteen.
His high school activities have included playing football, serving as president of National Honor Society, belonging to the Cassopolis FFA chapter, "which has given me the opportunity to participate in numerous leadership contests."
Outside of school, the Country Trailblazers 4-H club president has shown steers at the Cass County Fair for 10 years.
A member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles, he plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College before transferring to Michigan State University to major in animal science.
John Gore
Gore was accompanied by his mother and his grandparents Rice and Gore.
Through National Honor Society, Gore volunteers at the Council on Aging. "One day I even replaced some light bulbs for them," he smiled.
Alisha Rosen
Alisha brought her parents, Rich and Stacey Rosen, her sponsor, Mrs. Houghton and "my jazz band." The trombonist played in the Marcellus ensemble which, for the third year in a row, provided Christmas music selections for the DAR tea.
Alisha wants to study pharmacy at Ferris State University and eventually obtain her doctorate. She has been accepted and is currently focusing on admission to the honors college.