By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - Sarah Essex, who chairs the DAR Good Citizen tea for Capt. Samuel Felt Chapter, said Monday that seniors from six area high schools are selected on the basis of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
Cody Miller
Cody Miller of Brandywine High School in Niles would like to combine teaching high school math with professional golf.
The honorary Rotary member is president of his National Honor Society (NHS) chapter, ranks as salutatorian of his class and in choir received excellent ratings the past three years at state-level solo and ensemble competition. He was recently accepted into state honors choir.
As a golf team member he made second team all-conference this year.
Cody lists reading, woodworking and math as hobbies.
Kathryn Smith
She said being Drama Club stage manager for plays "is a lot of fun." She is also in NHS, Science Olympics, serves on the school improvement team and as student liaison to Dogwood Fine Arts Festival and Beckwith Theatre.
Kathryn, who works after school at Dowagiac District Library, said her broad range of activities "make me become a better person, and I enjoy every single one of them."
She has been accepted to a community college, then plans to attend Western Michigan University or Michigan State University to further her science career in some aspect of biology.
Blake Carlson
Blake is class president and president of his 4-H club, Kids-n-Kids, which led Cass County by collecting almost 500 non-perishable food items for needy families.
He plays three sports, track, cross country and football, for which his right arm is encased in a cast.
Blake attends business academy at the Voc-Tech Center in Lawrence, which has involved him in adopting a family, making strides against breast cancer and a South Haven food drive.
He's a member of the Business Professionals of America, an organization which runs through the Van Buren County vocational center.
In the fall of 2005, Blake expects to attend Davenport University for business and accounting or Hope College, which expressed interest in him playing football for the Flying Dutchmen.
Jealyn Foston
Jealyn participated in varsity girls basketball. Her team won a district title for the first time in 12 years. She runs track in the spring.
Amanda Tafunai
She is a Student Council member and a SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) representative.
Amanda is NHS vice president and recently added the Business Club presidency.
She volunteers at Pet Refuge. "I really enjoy going there. I learned about it watching TV. I really like animals. I go there every other Sunday."
Amanda also mentors at the high school, and "this year I have a first grader. That's a blast. They're so funny!"
Amanda doesn't play sports, but enjoys basketball, so she became manager of the boys varsity squad.
Regent Marilyn Cobb welcomed the seniors, their families and academic advisers to the annual event at Cass District Library. It's the last meeting for the DAR until March. Refreshment hostesses included Velma Schragge, Mary Ann Upp and Abigail Schten.
For the fourth year in a row, entertainment was provided by Marcellus High School Jazz Band. Director Joseph Lekan said the concert has developed into a tradition for the Wildcat musicians that includes lunch at China Garden in Dowagiac.