The long nights and countless hours local students spent hitting the books over the past 12 years paid off in a large way Wednesday.

Dowagiac Union High School hosted its 58th annual honors program that evening, with more than 100 students and proud parents, siblings and other family members packed inside the confines of the high school cafeteria. In spite of the warm temperatures inside of the room, the audience still loudly congratulated the dozens of seniors receiving scholarships from representatives throughout the Dowagiac community, money that will assist them as they move onto the next stage of their academic career.

According to Guidance Secretary Toni Pasternak, the students received nearly $800,000 worth of scholarship funds that evening, with students earning rewards from universities, colleges, local service organizations, businesses or endowment funds.

A list of scholarship recipients is below:

• Academic Awards of Excellence

Reid Adams

Kaitlyn Murphy

Elijah Blackamore

Taylor Myers

Jessica Burns

Heather Olson

Zachary Davis

Hope Rogers

Rebecca Fletcher

Harold Schaus

Gabrielle Harrison

Elizabeth Stockwell

Rachel Hatch

DeYonte Sullivan

Kaitlyn Johnson

Victoria Villegas

Mckinzie Kiggins

Star Whitmore

Laura Lynn-Lee

Justin Yakim

Brittany Malin

Anne Zebell

• Sister Lakes Lions Club Scholarship:

Elizabeth Stockwell

• Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship: 

Justin Yakim

• Dowagiac Rotary Club Scholarship:

Anne Zebell

• Lee Memorial Foundation Leo Krziza and Esther Krziza-Condry Scholarship Funds Awards:

Laura Lynn-Le

Elizabeth Stockwell

Taylor Myers

Justin Yakim

Heather Olson

• Peninsular Lodge #10 F. & A.M. Scholarships:

Rane Reeves

DeYonte Sullivan

• Dowagiac Education Association Scholarship:

Ellen Cox

• Jim and Mary Alice Giles Scholarships:

Brittany Strauss

Victoria Villegas

• Joe and Harriett Hassle Scholarships:

Marissa Dodd

Hope Rogers

• Cass County Republican Women’s Club Scholarship:

Hope Rogers

• Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Association Senior Scholarship:

Elizabeth Stockwell

• Dowagiac Lions Club Scholarship:

Heather Olson

• Craig Behnke Memorial Scholarship:

Jessica Burns

• Steven Briegel Memorial Scholarship:

Brittany Strauss

• Kameron Belew Memorial Scholarships:

Ellen Cox

Mitchell Warsko

Katelynn Dazell

Justin Yakim

Heather Olson • Dowagiac Optimist Club Dave Strlekar Memorial Scholarship:

DeYonte Sullivan

• Fine Arts Booster Club Rebecca Walker Memorial Scholarship:

Jessica Burns

• Zeta Chi Sorority Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Toni Shaer Memorial Scholarship:

Jessica Burns

• Ron Latourette Memorial Scholarship:

David Brogan

• Sodexo Services Scholarships:

Mckinzie Kiggins

DeYonte Sullivan

Brittany Strauss

Victoria Villegas

• Burger King McLamore Foundation Scholarship:

Anne Zebell

• Modern Woodmen of America Scholarship:

Justin Yakim

• Peter T. Swallow Founders Education Fund Scholarship Award:

Jacob Davis

• Michiana Two-Cylinder Club Scholarship:

Star Whitmore

• Powered By Honor Community Commitment Scholarship:

Anne Zebell

• Dowagiac Chieftain Scholarships:

Nijah Russell

Brittany Strauss

• Miss Dowagiac Scholarships:

Anne Zebell – Miss Dowagiac, Judy Dodd Community Service Award/Communications Award

Brittany Malin –First Runner-up

Di’maan McGill – Second Runner-Up, Miss Congeniality

• Educational Talent Search Outstanding Senior Awards:

Samantha Dowsett

Nijah Russell

Di’mann McGill

• Southwestern Michigan College Honors Program Scholarship:

DeYonte Sullivan

• Southwestern Michigan College Awards of Distinction:

David Brogan

Olga Dickson-French

Zachary Davis

• Southwestern Michigan College Awards of Excellence:

Rachel Hatch

Anne Zebell

Mckenna Richter

• Southwestern Michigan College Guse FFA Scholarship:

Star Whitmore

• Southwestern Michigan College Roadrunner Awards:

Genesis Avila

Jacob Peters

Cody Dodd

Derek Revis

Rebecca Fletcher

Kelsey Smith

Mason Hiler

Ethan Wagner

Heather Kiggins

Mitchell Warsko

Taylor Myers

LeAnna Washington

• Southwestern Michigan College Early College Scholarships:

Zachary Davis

Kelsey Smith

Cody Dodd

Heather Stolpe

Hope Rogers

DeYonte Sullivan

• Southwestern Michigan College Talent Scholarship:

Ellen Cox

• Western Michigan University Foundation Scholarship:

Laura Lynn-Lee

• University Technical Institute Imagine America Scholarship:

Colin Carpenter

• Cornerstone University Cornerstone Empowered Scholarship:

Anna Madison

• Grand Valley State University Early Awareness Scholarship:

Heather Hammond

• Eastern Michigan University Emerald Scholarship:

Harold Schaus

• Kent State University Award and Trustee Scholarship:

Anna Ennesser

• Michigan Technological University Presidential Scholarship of Distinction and University Student Award:

Joshua Lamphere

• Adrian College Dean’s Scholarship:

Lazaro Piedra

• University of Michigan HAIL Scholarships:

Elijah Blackamore

Kaitlyn Johnson

• Nova Southeastern University Razor’s Edge Shark Talent Scholarship and Dean’s Scholarship:

Brittany Malin

• Adrian College Presidential Scholarship:

Rane Reeves

• Saint Mary’s University Madeleva Award:

Elizabeth Stockwell

• Saint Xavier University Presidential Scholarship:

Reid Adams

• Valparaiso University Presidential Scholarship:

Jessica Burns

• Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Awards:

Keoante Blackamore

Anna Ennesser