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DOWAGIAC — The administration and staff at Dowagiac Union High School are proud to announce the Top Ten Graduates from the Class of 2024. 

The following students have excelled both in and out of the classroom by maintaining a superb academic record, while also participating in numerous extracurricular activities and teams. Commencement will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at Chris Taylor Alumni Field.

Graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 2024 is Abbey Dobberstein with a 4.0 GPA. Abbey is the daughter of Mark and Molly Dobberstein. During high school she has been Vice President of Student Senate and has participated in National Honor Society, volleyball and soccer. Her high school achievements include an Academic Award of Excellence, Student of the Month, Individual Academic All-State, Honorable Mention All-Conference for volleyball and First Team All Conference, a four-year varsity award for volleyball, Honorable Mention All-Conference and Co-MVP for soccer. Abbey plans to attend the University of Michigan where she will pursue a degree to become a Human Resources Manager.

Representing the Class of 2024 as Salutatorian is Hazel Kelly with a 3.958 GPA. Hazel is the daughter of Drew and Ileane Kelly. During high school she has been involved in varsity Volleyball, varsity Tennis, National Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society, Chieftain Heart, Student Senate and Educational Talent Search. Hazel’s high school achievements include a Honors award, Highest-Honors award, Most Valuable Player for Tennis, DAR Good Citizen and a Michigan Tech Certificate of Merit. Hazel plans to attend the University of Notre Dame where she plans to study architecture.

Brooklyn Smith is the daughter of Steve Smith. During high school, Brooklyn was the president of National Honor Society, Vice President of Rotary Interact and participated in Volleyball four years and tennis two years. High school achievements include an academic award of excellence, MVP for volleyball, Academic all-state for volleyball, first-team all-conference for volleyball two years, honor community service award, merit community service award, Michigan community impact award (community service awards awarded through InnerView). Brooklyn plans to attend the University of Michigan and pursue a degree in biology. She hopes to become an anesthesiologist.

Dane Spagnoli is the son of Mike and Mikki Spagnoli. Dane achieved high honors all four years of high school and participated varsity golf all four years and varsity soccer senior year. He was named academic all-state as a freshman, sophomore and junior year for golf, all-conference individual as a junior state qualifier as a junior. Dane will be attending Ferris State University in the fall where he will participate in the automotive service technology program. He aims to open his own shop when he gets older. 

Aubrey Busby is the daughter of Bill Busby and Darci Greenwood. Aubrey has participated in Student Senate, Chieftain Heart, softball (all four years) and volleyball (freshman year) and received high honors and honors for academics. In athletics, she has earned softball MVP all three years, academic all-state, first-team all-conference, and all-state. Aubrey’s college plans include attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College and eventually going into the dental field with hopes of becoming a dental hygienist.

Elizabeth Burns is the daughter of Michelle Burns. Elizabeth has participated in chess and is a high honors student. AFter graduation, she plans to attend SMC for nursing. She plans to become a nursing assistant after high school to help pay for college. If nursing does not work out, her backup plan will be to go into law and be a paralegal.

Maggie Weller is the daughter of Mark and Lori Weller. In high school, Maggie has participated in National Honors Society, student senate, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Achievements include High Honors, Student of the Month, a three-time basketball MVP and one-time soccer MVP and First team all conference (Basketball x3, Soccer x1, Volleyball x1). Maggie will be attending Southwestern Michigan College to play basketball and obtain her Associates in Biology to become a conservation officer or wildlife biologist.

Michael Burks is the son of Jeffrey and Catherine Burks. Michael has participated in baseball, National Honor Society and dual-enrollment at SMC and has achieved high honors in the classroom. Michael’s college plans include finishing his two-year Associates degree at SMC and transferring to a university to get his bachelor’s. While his career is undecided, Michael is heavily leaning to the Dentistry field or a historical or scientific field.

Luke Spagnoli is the son of Michael and Mikki Spagnoli. Luke participated varsity golf all four years and varsity soccer senior year while being a proud member of the National Honor Society. Luke has earned an academic achievement award and an award for academic all-state with his golf team last year. Luke will be attending Ferris State University in the fall where he will participate in the automotive service technology program. He aims to open his own shop some day.

Jamie Howard is the daughter of Charlie McCarthy and Kimberley Howard. Jamie has participated in Dowagiac competitive cheer, Sideline cheer, Chieftain heart, student senate and National Honors Society. She has achieved highest honors academic four years, is a four-year varsity player and earned academic all-state and academic all-conference. Jamie plans to finish out her career academy at Southwestern Michigan College before transferring to Michigan State University to pursue becoming a ​​Physician’s Assistant in children’s oncology.