Youth Experiencing Success (YES) in Dowagiac is a new program

partnering local businesses and community assets with the school system.

The program is set up so a business can provide recognition to deserving students.

On May 7, Pizza Hut of Dowagiac sponsored a certificate of recognition for 30 freshman students who have shown excellent performance in the classroom or made significant improvements in their grades.

These students were rewarded for their efforts with a coupon for a complimentary meal at Pizza Hut.

“Your freshman class is changing the culture of this building,” Deputy Supt. Dawn Conner said. “I’ve been here 26 years and yours has the least amount of F’s.”

“Each of them earned this, in their own way, by what they’ve done in a particular classroom,” said Doug Pearson, DUHS student advocate and a retired Air Force colonel.

 “In a whole bunch of little ways, you have contributed to your classes and made them better places to learn,” Principal Pieter Hoekstra said. “Your teachers nominated you. We can all contribute to the community in our own small ways. Ultimately, despite what the teachers and administration do, you determine what happens here at school.”

It is expected the Pizza Hut-Dowagiac Union High School relationship will

continue as a way of recognizing good-performing freshman students at

the midpoint of each semester.

If there is a business that wants to participate in this program, contact Pearson at dpearson@dowagiacschools.org.

Dorishia McNeal, health, algebra.

Alexandria Robison, nominated by Assistant Principal Kelly Millin (AP)

Leroy Lewis, AP

Di’mann McGill, AP

Alexuss Brown, economics

Anna Madison, economics

Amy Schaus, economics, algebra 102

Logan Eby, economics

Kenley Belew, economics

Kaleb Kiggins, physics, civics

Taylor Liggett, physics

Haven Angell, physics, resource

Paige Dennison, physics

J W Wygant, English II, resource

Karsten Keller, English I

Arron Kiggins, English I

Danny Dahms, English I
Cassandra Galvan, resource

Milton Marshall, resource

Kevin Ottinger, resource

Jacob Allison, algebra

Ellen Cox, algebra

Gregory Hubbard, algebra

Sydney Moore, algebra

Tate Peterson, algebra

Samantha Simpson, algebra

Star Whitmore, algebra

Selena Mersereau, English I

Nickoles Labadie, life skills

Victoria Villegas life skills