Another batch of Dowagiac Union High School freshmen were recognized Tuesday, as the school’s Youth Experiencing Success program hit another high point.

Officials with Burger King/Quality Dining joined school officials in honoring a group of 51 ninth-grade students who earned all As and Bs in their third marking period classes. Organizers handed out certificates to the freshmen for their accomplishments, while officials with the fast food chain gave out coupons for a free Whopper value meal.

A.J. Fitzpatrick, store manager of the Dowagiac Burger King; Jon Aumaugher, district manager with Quality Dining (the local Burger King’s parent company); and Ryan Pullen, regional manager with the company, showed up to speak to the students during Tuesday’s ceremony. They complimented students on their achievements, and highlighted the hard work needed to be successful in their organization, said Doug Pearson, coordinator of the YES program.

Over the past four years, Burger King has given out coupons for 198 meals to Dowagiac Union High School freshmen as part of the program, Pearson said.

“I am extremely impressed by the outstanding support that Burger King has shown over the years,” Pearson said. “They have demonstrated a high level of commitment to our Youth Experiencing Success Program, which highlights the involvement from the community in recognizing the school’s excellent academic student performance. I am very proud of these students and what they have accomplished in their first year of high school.”

Union High Principal Kelly Millin also praised the student performance, and how important their role would be as their generation moved into the years ahead, Pearson said.

The group is among the largest the program has recognized since its inception in 2013, he said.

Recognized students:

Elizabeth Brito

Audriauna Brown

Jose Carrillo

Arianna Conley

William Craft

Kylee Cromer

Matthew Curtis

Jenna Davis

Dakota Depoy

Mallary Dohm

Nickolas Dussel

Brandon Eichel

Haydyn First

Rebecca Franklin

Mekenna Gaideski

Mathen Galvan

Mikaylah Gardner-Dejoinville

Megan Hackworth

Maddison Hill

Tyler Huston

Austin Igert

McKenzie Janssen

Anthony Kidd

Ryan Kiggins

Adrian Lee

William Leonard

Shawn Little

Leticia Marquez

Benjamin McCrorey

Daana Mireles Veloz

Ethan Scott

Cailyn Murphy

David Napier

Macayla Neely

Matthew Nelson

Hiris Paredes

Lamberto Paredes

Haileahy Peters

Madison Potter

Desiree Raab

Destiny Reed

TaJaun Reed

Jossalyn Rogalski

Alexis Ross

Lynsie Stolpe

Greta Whitaker

Skylan Whitaker-Baham

Raegan Wild

Cristian Wilson

Justice Wirick Garrelts

Savannah Yeske