Lawrence leading Class of 2006

Published 2:03 pm Tuesday, April 18, 2006

By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Valedictorian Austin Lawrence and Co-Salutatorians Lisa Rubino and Brittany Watkins will lead Union High School's Class of 2006 at Dowagiac's 142nd commencement Sunday, June 4, second-year Principal Paul Hartsig announced Monday night to the Board of Education at Dowagiac Middle School.
Austin Tyler Lawrence
Address: 408 W. Telegraph St.
Parents: William and Judy Lawrence
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
High school activities: Academic Challenge, Humanities Club, wrestling, journalism, Business Club, National Honor Society, student school improvement, varsity tennis.
Honors/awards: National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, 2005 Southwest Michigan ACLU Civil Liberties Essay Contest winner, 2005 Harvard Summer School student.
College: attend Columbia University in New York City to earn an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in economics-mathematics with a master's degree in business administration and a doctorate of philosophy in either economics or finance.
Career plans: To start out as either an investment banking consultant or mutual fund research analyst. “I would ultimately like to become a mutual/hedge fund manager or a financial management company executive.”
Lisa Rubino
Address: 28556 Maple Terrace
Parents: Chuck and Eileen Rubino
Cumulative GPA: 3.949
High school activities: NHS, Student Senate, Varsity Club, band, tennis, track, senior class board.
Honors/awards: Academic Award of Excellence, Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen, MEAP scholarship, Miss Dowagiac contest communications winner, All-State and All-Conference tennis.
College: Attend St. Mary's College and major in biology/nursing.
Career plans: become a nurse practitioner.
Brittany Watkins
Address: 54393 Indian Lake Road
Parents: Jeffery and Tamara Watkins
Cumulative GPA: 3.949
High school activities: manager/statistician for boys varsity basketball team, NHS president, Varsity Club, PSI, Student Senate, senior class board, peer mentor, sixth grade camp counselor.
Honors/awards: Academic Award of Excellence, MEAP award, Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit, girls basketball co-captain, Miss Dowagiac finalist.
College: “I will be attending the University of Michigan, where I will major in sports management at the School of Kinesiology.
Career: “My ultimate goal is to become a player agent/representative or a sport and entertainment consultant at either the college or professional level.”
Kim Luthringer
Address: 28770 Steve Road
Parents: Gordon and Marie Luthringer
Cumulative GPA: 3.92
High school activities: NHS, Student Senate, Dowagiac Leadership Group, Humanities Club, Business Club, basketball, volleyball, softball.
Honors/awards: Academic Award of Excellence, All-State Academic Award for volleyball, 2005-06 finalist for the MHSSA Scholar Athlete Award, Michigan Merit Award, Freshman Athlete of the Year Award, attendance awards, All-District Softball Team , 2003 and 2005, 2004 Rotary Life Leadership Conference.
College: Attend Lake Michigan College for two years, then transfer to a four-year university.
Career: Major in secondary education, then continue to become a school counselor.
Caroline Stanton
Address: 437 E. Division St.
Parents: Mike and Melissa Stanton
Cumulative GPA: 3.913
High school activities: soccer, NHS, Humanities Club, Business Club, Varsity Club, school improvement, senior class board.
College: “I plan on attending Bob Jones University, where I will major in pre-med/pre-dent.”
Career plans: “After graduating from Bob Jones, I plan on going to dental school, where I will study for a career as an orthodontist.”
Adam Carlson
Address: 55795 Forest Beach Road.
Parents: Tom and Carolyn Carlson
Cumulative GPA: 3.882
High school activities: varsity tennis captain, varsity golf captain, Business Club president, student school improvement vice president, NHS secretary, Student Senate representative, Academic Challenge, journalism business manager.
Honors/awards: Michael Collins Writing Contest first place 2004, tennis MVP 2004 and 2005, 2004 state qualifier in golf, Academic Award of Excellence.
College: “I plan to attend Holy Cross College in South Bend, Ind., then transfer to the University of Notre Dame.”
Career plans: undecided
JoLynn Hawkins
Address: 122 Dogwood Circle
Parents: Joseph Hawkins and Charlotte Dillard
Cumulative GPA: 3.83
High school activities: NHS, Teen SERT program, PSI leader, sixth grade counselor, senior board, Varsity Club, varsity basketball, varsity volleyball.
Honors/awards: Academic Award of Excellence, exemplary attendance award, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Michigan Merit Award.
College: Hope College or University of Michigan to major in biology.
Career plans: become a pediatrician.
Lindsay Tyler
Address: 504 Orchard St.
Parents: Ronald and Linda Tyler
Cumulative GPA: 3.833
High school activities: NHS, varsity softball, varsity tennis, varsity volleyball, journalism sports editor, Varsity Club treasurer, senior class board, community outreach.
Honors/awards: All-State Academic Team for volleyball, All-Conference for softball, All-District for softball, All-Region for softball, All-State Honorable Mention for softball, All-Conference Honorable Mention for tennis, Academic Achievement Award, selected as class representative for Rotary Leadership Camp.
College: “I plan on attending Grand Valley State University to pursue a degree in physical therapy.”
Career plans: to become a doctor of physical therapy.
Sarah Ostyn
Address: 33981 Indian Trail, Eau Claire
Parents: Dennis and Carol Ostyn
Cumulative GPA: 3.823
High school activities: Student Senate president, boys varsity basketball manager, NHS, varsity basketball, PSI, Varsity Club, peer tutor, sixth grade camp counselor.
Honors/awards: Miss Dowagiac 2006, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership representative, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Academic Award of Excellence, Michigan competitive scholarship, Michigan Merit Award, Academic Achievement Award, NHS.
College: “I plan to attend Michigan State University next year and major in social work and minor in business and childhood development.”
Career plans: “I plan to eventually run a Boys and Girls Club or a Police Athletic League in an inner-city area.”
Oscar Azevedo
Address: 57731 Sink Road
Parents: Oscar and Candy Azevedo
Cumulative GPA: 3.78
High school activities: Marching and Concert Band section leader, Student Senate vice president, NHS, cross country, soccer, leadership group, Teen SERT, math team.
Honors/awards: Academic Awards of Excellence, perfect attendance, Who's Who Among American High School students, Division I, Solo and Ensemble.
College: attend Southwestern Michigan College, then transfer to a four-year university.
Career plans: would like to pursue a career in digital movie effect or music production.