By Staff
NILES - Niles High School has announced the list of top 10 graduating seniors for 2005. The co-valedictorians, Rebecca Bowser and Ben Landgraf, both had 4.0 averages.
Members of the Top Ten Academic Students are as follows:
Rebecca Bowser
Rebecca Bowser, daughter of Sue and Jim Bowser, co-valedictorian. She is a flute section leader in the varsity band, the editor of the yearbook, and captain of the PSI (Postponing Sexual Involvment) group. Rebecca is also a National Honor Society member and has also been a sophomore, junior, and senior class officer. She is also a 10-year veteran of the Girl Scouts. Some of her accomplishments include being awarded the Niles Daily Star Student of the Week, the Rotary Club Student of the Month, the Optimist Club Student of the Month, the School-to-Career Student of the Year, and the Girl Scouts Silver Award.
After graduation, Rebeca plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University, majoring in graphic design and a minoring in marketing.
Ben Landgraf,
Ben Landgraf, also a co-valedictorian, is the son of Ann and Bill Landgraf. Ben is the captain of the golf team, a member of the National Honor Scoiety, a member of the French Club, on the Student School Improvement Team, and a member of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America).
He is also member of the Granger Violin Academy. Included in his list of awards are Michigan High School State Golf Champion, Academic All-State 2004 in golf. Landgraf plans on attending the University of Michigan in pre-med, biological sciences.
Lesley Simanton
Lesley Simanton, daughter of Joyce and Robert Simanton, and salutatorian for the class of 2005, has been actively involved in the Science Olympiad, the National Honor Society, and the Envirothon. She is president of the Ecology Club and is active with the Disciples of Christ Church.
Lesley also participates in various stewardship activities with St. John's United Church of Christ. Lesley is also a tennis player. Some of her awards include the Rensselaer Math and Science Award, winning 11 top medals in the Regional Science Olympiad, and a first place in 2005 Regional Envirothon.
She will attend Albion and has been admitted to the Honors and Environmental Institutes, which is a special program the college offers as an area of focus.
Aaron Ralston
Aaron Ralston is the son of Cheryl and John Ralston. He enjoys sports, playing varsity soccer and baseball, and sings with Counterpoints, the high school show choir. Outside of school, Aaron is a member of the Boy Scouts and has completed all the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout.
Other awards he has received include being a Scholar Athlete for baseball and soccer. Aaron has been accepted at Michigan State University, Michigan Tech, and Purdue, one of which he will attend to pursue a major in mechanical engineering.
Geoffrey Antos
Geoffrey Antos, son of Cindy and Joseph Antos, is active in Business Professionals of America, placing second in Administrative Support Concepts at the national competiton and also a third place award in C++ Programming. He is a member of the Robotics Club, the Ecology Club, and the German Club. Geoffrey also competed in the Regional Science Olympiad.
He is a member of St. Ann's Church youth group and does tutoring and other miscellaneous community service activities. Geofrey is listed in "Who's Who Among America's High School Students, and is in the National Honor Society and on the National Honor Roll. He plans to attend Michigan State University as a computer engineering and business major and hopes to eventually work toward a graduate degree.
Austin Neilson
Austin Neilson is the son of Dana and Randy Neilson. He is the feature editor for the school newspaper, the Viking Journal, and is a member of the Niles Blaze Indoor Track Club. Austin has spent four years running on the Varsity and Cross Country Track Teams and participates in the South County Democratic Club.
He was chosen president of the freshman class for 2001 school year and was the 2004 Rotary Student of the Month. Austin was a state finalist in 2003 in the Business Professionals of America competition and was the 2004-5 Sportsmanship Award winner.
Neilson was an Election Day Poll Inspector in 2004 and has been a sports announcer for WNIL Radio. He has free-lanced for the Niles Daily Star. His plans are to study political science with a minor in either broadcasting or history.
Daniel Anglin
Daniel Anglin, son of Lynn and Jim Anglin, participates in the Professonal Health Career Academy. He is a member of the National Honor Society and previously was a Spanish Club member.
As a freshman, he played basketball and has participated in varsity football and track. Daniel has been a medical records clerk at the Madison Center and Hospital, a volunteer for AUBT and Rocket Football as well as a member and volunteer for the Duneland Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Hunting. He also plays guitar.
Anglin has received the Scholar Athlete Award for three years and was a member of the Academic All-State Football Team for three years. He was nominated for the National Youth Leadership Forum of Medicine and appeared in Who's Who Among High School Students. He is on the National Honor Roll and the National Society of High School Scholars. Anglin will attend Wabash College in the fall. Upon graduation, he will seek a career in medicine.
Steven Shane
Steven Shane is the son of Gretchen Anderson and William Shane. He enjoys fencing and studies piano. Steven is a member of the German Club and recently participated in the Regional Science Olympiad. He is a National Merit Scholar, a Niles CTE Award Student, and an award winning German student. He plans to study engineering at Michigan State University and possibly the Chinese language.
Christine Hadley
Christine Hadley is the daughter of Gail Hadley. She has participated in the Science Olympiad and is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the news editor for the Viking Journal. She was on the track team during her junior year, and played varsity tennis the past three years.
Christine volunteers at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve. She was named Outstanding Math Student in geometry her sophomore year and Outstanding Math Student in math analysis (pre-calculus) her junior year.
She placed second in Chemical Lab and Tower Building, and fourth in Health at the Regional Science Olympiad competitions. She plans to attend Michigan State University as part of the Lyman Briggs School to major in Biology and Animal Science. She would eventually like to practice veterinary medicine.
Elisha Pelley
Elisha Pelley, daughter of Shannon Pelly, is a member of the National Honor Society and the Ecology Club. She recently participated in the Envirothon. She plays basketball and volunteers both at the Riverfront Park, helping with clean-up, and at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
She also enjoys tutoring. Elisha is on the National Honor Roll and is a Michigan Merit Award winner and a Rotary Student. Elisha plans to attend either Grand Valley or the University of Notre Dame, majoring in legal studies with a minor in Spanish. She hopes to become a paralegal before entering law school.