By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Hard work and dedication was rewarded Tuesday afternoon.
The entire Howard-Ellis student body, administration, staff, community members and parents shared in the pride, which came with the presentation of the first Blue Ribbon award to a Niles school.
Howard-Ellis also has the distinction of being the only one in the state with two buildings, but one award.
"It's a special day for our students and staff," Principal Barb Garrard said. She thanked everyone for their participation in making Howard-Ellis such a good school and was surprised when she was honored by the students at the end of the ceremony.
Michelle Asmus, assistant principal, also praised the staff, teachers, parents and students. "They give everyday. In a nutshell, it's a community effort," she added.
"The Blue Ribbon is one of the highest honors a school can achieve. I couldn't be any more proud of the staff of Howard-Ellis." said Doug Law, superintendent of Niles Community Schools.
Law started his career teaching at Howard. He commented on the "never give up attitude," which reminded him of the story of Walt Disney.
The process of being awarded a Blue Ribbon is "not just test scores. You document everything you do. The Howard community should be extremely proud," he added.
President of the school board Dana Daniels introduced himself as, Mrs. Daniels' husband, as his wife Barb teaches in the computer lab. He informed the students, spread out in the infield of Champ's Field, when he was a student at Howard himself, "Ellis was a man, not a school."
Honored guest, Cass County Commissioner Johnie Rodebush of Howard Township also remembered Jim Ellis.
Rodebush was president of the Parent Teachers Organization and Ellis was principal at Howard.
"It was the mid-'60s and we were busing into Niles and couldn't afford it," Rodebush said. Unable to add the older classes, Ellis was looking into annexing into the Niles district.
Ellis was at a meeting about the question when Rodebush, a first aid instructor, was called to come to help a man down. The man was Ellis and he didn't make it.
"I never got a pulse," Rodebush said. He did though promise Ellis' wife, "I would finish what he started and get Howard annexed," Rodebush recalled.
Nancy Danhof, of the Michigan State Board of Education, presented both a plaque and a trophy to a selected group of students.
This means "good teachers and parents who care," she said, adding the achievement even affects those in Lansing.
She added the custodians, lunch people, secretaries and those in town who "look out for you," to the ones who made the award possible.
"All these people are part of the Blue Ribbon award," she added. "Without community you can't have a Blue Ribbon School," she said.
Principal Garrard praised Gretchen Hart, who "put the report together." The application process takes three years, with much documentation.
"It was a labor of love," Hart replied.
Girl Scouts from Troop No. 755 led the raising of the flag and Pledge of Allegiance.
The Niles Community School High School Pep Band played for the ceremony, under the direction of Steve Gruver.
Students also participated with a student selected from each classroom. Chelsea Hamm and Abby Rzepka, both fifth graders led the Star Spangled Banner.
Student essays were read by Abbie Harpenau, kindergarten; Jaycee Myer, second grade; Sinte Spring, fourth grade; Lucas Harmon, fourth grade and Lakeshie Webster, fifth grade.
"We do good work," Harpenau said. "We deserve the Blue Ribbon," Myer added. "We aren't just any school – we are a Blue Ribbon School," said Spring. "It's a rare combination: fun and learning," Harmon said. "Don't judge our school on the outside," Webster said.