Onaway High School honors exceptional students
The Onaway High School jazz band under the direction of Larry Schaffer entertained the audience of parents and friends of Onaway students slated to receive recognition for academic, scholarship, and departmental awards for the 2003-2004 school year. Schaffer played trumpet right along with his students, who set toes a tappin? along with setting the scene for the presentations to come. Principal Matt Lukshaitis began the ceremonies with recognition for all honor students in the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes.
Proud parents and anxious students waited to hear who would receive which awards; Mrs. Nowak announced the first awards for the Wendy?s High School Heisman Award for a female, Michelle Ellenberger; and a male, Taylor Beswick. Nowak followed that by announcing Thomas Aaron Price as the National Merit Finalist.
?THIS YEAR we had one student qualify for the first time in seven years?Mr. Thomas Aaron Price,? as applause, hoots and hollers filled the room. The President?s Awards for Educational Excellence for outstanding achievement went to seniors Taylor Beswick, Michelle Ellenberger, Megan Michiels, and Thomas Aaron Price. Lukshaitis then presented the President?s Award for Educational Achievement, a commitment to learning and improvement to Amanda Fagel, Jessika Gelo, Jamie Grainger, Jessica Havel, and Lindsey Herremans. The Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award went to Taylor Beswick and Michelle Ellenberger. S/SGT Day of the United States Marine Corps presented the Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award to distinguished high school students for academic achievement to Michelle Ellenberger and Thomas Aaron Price. ?These students can be the most inspirational or show the greatest determination in the pursuit of their studies,? Day said as he announced their names, and had the audience stand up in recognition of their award.
THE SCHOLARSHIPS were next on the agenda, for awards that were determined by ?Student leadership, in the classroom, the community, and throughout the student body,? Lukshaitis said. ?The Certificate of Merit Scholarship winners will be notified by mail,? he continued, ?representing Onaway High School with academic integrity, and community service?is this year?s recipient, Michelle Ellenberger!? Nowak presented the scholarships from specific colleges and universities beginning with the Eastern Michigan University Recognition of Excellence Award that went to Maggie Coats ?This is valued at $6,000 over four years,? Nowak said. Next was the Board of Regents Scholarship from Baker College awarded to Josh Coggins. ?This requires a 3.5 GPA with teacher recommendation,? Nowak added. ?The value is worth up to one half of tuition for each quarter up to four years.? A Central Michigan University scholarship went to Amanda Fagel.
MICHIGAN COMPETITIVE Scholarships went to the following students based on financial need: Taylor Beswick, Maggie Coats, Josh Coggins, Michelle Ellenberger, Jessica Havel, Adam Main, Megan Michiels, Heather Nolde, Thomas Aaron Price, Logan Schaedig, and Tony Skuse. The Rusty Martin Scholarship went to Thomas Aaron Price for the top GPA student planning to attend Michigan State University. The Thomas and Henrietta Ellenberger Scholarship for extra financial help went to Amanda Fagel for her hard work and d
?This is a student based scholarship chosen by the student council,? Nelson said. Michelle Andrews presented Jessica Havel with a Presidential Scholarship for $5,000 to North Central Michigan College.
?This is the most prestigious scholarship that North Central gives. It is for two years of paid tuition.? Linda Pitts, representing the Presque Isle Chapter of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel, presented Amanda Fagel with a $300 scholarship. Superintendent Bob Szymoniak presented Michelle Ellenberger with the $1,000 Knights of Columbus Scholarship in the final presentation before many certificates of recognition were given to students from each department in the high school.