SMC hosts senior awards ceremony
Published 9:51 pm Thursday, May 26, 2011
Prior to Sunday’s graduation ceremony, Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School held its senior academic awards program Wednesday night at Southwestern Michigan College’s Mathews Conference Center, where the 82-member Class of 2011 graduating at 2 p.m. Sunday set a scholarship offer record of $822,100.
Cassopolis doesn’t name a valedictorian, but recognizes the Top 20 graduates with a plaque on the Academic Wall of Fame outside the main office at the high school.
Class ranking is determined by a calculation blending GPA, ACT scores and honor points: Anna Bosler, Lila Cox, Anthony Jones, Ryne Nickel, Jaclyn Titus, John Simpson, Richard Hayden, Charles Ayers, Jorge Maldonado, Bradley Green, Brendan Westrick, Zachariah Herrala, Bjargey Olafsson, Danielle Howard, Katlyn Grumm, Colin Harding, Ben Frank, Bretho Danzy, Brian Craft and Arminda Hershberger.
Courtnee Anderson — U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, SMC National Honor Society Scholarship, $1,200; Cassopolis Women’s Cosmopolitan Club Scholarship, $250; and Cassopolis Education Association Scholarship, $150.
Anna Bosler — St. Mary’s College Presidential Scholarship, $80,000; and Notre Dame University Scholarship, $137,200. Anna also received the John Phillip Sousa Award for band and math, English and social studies awards.
Anna, graduating summa cum laude (3.9 cumulative grade-point average or higher), has been active in thespian troupe, played soccer, dual enrolled in the Kendall College of Art after school and studies piano and violin.
Anna made the Lakeland Conference All-Academic Team and will pursue a degree in music therapy at the University of Notre Dame.
Steven Butler — Farm Bureau Scholarship, $500; 4-H PHD Scholarship, $200; and FFA Ross Beatty-Solloway Scholarship, $1,000.
Alina Canca — Ferris Achievement Scholarship, $4,000; and Ferris Achievement Bonus, $4,000.
Lila Cox — Midwest Energy Cooperative Scholarship, $500; SMC Award of Excellence, $5,000; and a Cass County Community Policing Scholarship from Sheriff Joe Underwood, $500. She’s graduating magna cum laude (3.7-3.8).
Bretho Danzy — U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award.
Tommy First — Outstanding Youth Volunteer Leadership Award Scholarship, $2,000; Joseph N. Sheteron Memorial Scholarship, $4,000; United Methodist Award, $8,000; Cass County Republican Women’s Scholarship, $750; Cassopolis Education Association Scholarship, $150; Prudential Spirit of Community Distinguished Finalist Award; and President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Benjamin Frank — SMC Fine Arts Scholarship, $5,000.
Katlyn Grumm — SMC National Honor Society Scholarship, $1,200. She is graduating cum laude.
Colin Harding — SMC National Honor Society Scholarship, $1,200. He is graduating cum laude.
Richard Hayden — Glen Oaks Presidential Scholarship, $8,000; and SMC National Honor Society Scholarship, $1,200. He’s graduating magna cum laude.
Arminda Hershberger — Lee Memorial Leo Krziza and Esther Krziza-Condry Scholarship presented by Karen Judd, $500; Cass County Community Policing Scholarship, $500; Michigan Blood Scholarship, $500; and Honor Credit Union Scholarship, $500.
Anthony Jones — Notre Dame Scholarship, $160,000. He’s graduating magna cum laude.
Jeremiah Lee — 4-H Leaders’ Award, $500; Lewis Cass Intermediate School District Career/Technical Education Award, $250; LaGrange Township Scholarship from Supervisor Rob Wright, who taught some of the graduates to drive, $500; Cass County Community Policing Scholarship, $500; VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary Scholarship, $500; Caryl Beck-Miller Pets Alive Scholarship, $500; and Cassopolis Women’s Cosmopolitan Club Scholarship, $250.
Jorge Maldonado — University of Michigan ETS Scholarship, $40,000; and University of Michigan M-Pact Scholarship, $48,800. He’s graduating magna cum laude.
Ryne Nickel — Central Michigan University Leadership Distinction Award, $3,000; CMU Honors Scholarship, $10,000; Grand Valley State University Laker Scholarship, $4,000; Adrian College Presidential Scholarship, $44,000; and United Methodist Scholarship, $8,000.
Bjargey Olafsson — Kalamazoo Tradition Award, $2,000; Kalamazoo Founders Scholarship, $40,000; Albion College Briton Award, $50,000; and Albion College Webster Scholarship, $56,000.
Marcus Ruff — Virginia Scheunemann Memorial Scholarship, $1,000.
John Simpson — Kettering University Provost Scholarship, $26,000; Western Michigan University Lee Honors Scholarship, $12,000; WMU Residence Hall Scholarship, $12,000; Trine University Distinguished Scholarship, $23,000; and University of Michigan SCEEP Scholarship, $6,000. John is graduating cum laude (3.5-3.6) and received a math award for excelling in calculus.
Jaclyn Titus — SMC Award of Excellence, $5,000. Jackie’s graduating magna cum laude.
Brendan Westrick — SMC Career Academy Student Scholarship, $300.