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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education honored the district’s November Students of The Month during its meeting Monday night at Dowagiac Middle School.

Nominated by teachers and faculty from their respective schools in the Dowagiac Union Schools district, Mia Freeman, Cymone Bacon, Vertilla Bennett, Finley Cooper, Paige Tumbleson and Ryker Phillips received plaques and T-shirts with their names on them for their accomplishments and attitudes in the classroom.

Freeman is a sophomore at Dowagiac Union High School and was nominated by her English teacher, Kerith Spake.

“Teachers have acknowledged Mia as an exceptional student and a true pleasure to have in class,” Spake said. “Her enthusiasm for learning is commendable. She actively seeks out challenges, demonstrating a genuine desire for understanding rather than simply completing assignments. When faced with difficult problems, Mia does not shy away. Instead, she embraces the opportunity to delve deeper into the material, showcasing her dedication to mastering the subject. This approach not only enhances her own learning, but also inspires her classmates to adopt a similar mindset beyond her academic achievements. 

“Mia embodies the qualities of a remarkable individual, she consistently holds herself and her peers to high standards encouraging everyone around her to strive for excellence. Her motivational spirit fosters a positive classroom environment, where students feel empowered to reach their full potential.”

Bacon is a seventh grader at Dowaggiac Middle School and was nominated by her math teacher, Kaisey Bulifant.

“I nominated Cymone because she is an outstanding student who consistently demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and leadership skills in our classroom,” she said. “Cymone is a star student with excellent grades and test scores and is always willing to participate in class discussions. Cymone’s strong work ethic, positive attitude and good citizenship is a true measurement of her character. Cymone consistently goes above and beyond by helping her peers, making her a true asset to our learning. She is one of our great DMS Heroes, who is helpful, engaged, respectful, owns their learning and her actions and is empathetic and safe.

“Even when no one is watching, she leads by example.”

Bennett is a third grade student at Justus Gage Elementary and was nominated by her third grade teacher, Keary Fletcher.

Vertilla is a kind and caring young lady who comes to school prepared and ready to learn,” Fletcher said. “Vertilla treats students, teachers and staff with respect and appreciation. Vertilla embraces responsibility that is required to maintain progress in her schoolwork and goals. Vertilla has scored as high as an 87 percent in math and a 92 percent in reading assessments. She contributes to the success of our school in our classroom by being positive through her actions and words. Her participation within our class shows engagement with the material and motivation to learn. Vertilla is kind-hearted and always willing to help others in our classroom and comes to class every day with a smile on her face. 

“Vertilla is a hero in my eyes.”

Cooper is a third grader at Sister Lakes Elementary and was nominated by third grade teacher Lynne Seppala.

“Finley is a driven young lady who has been striving all year to do her very best academic week. Each day, she walks in with a smile and positive attitude and gets to work quietly. She motivates others to strive to be their best by her amazing example. Along with her perseverance, she also exhibits a bubbly love of life attitude. She seems to always find a positive spin on all situations. When challenges arise, Finley turns on her engines and is ready to conquer what may lie ahead, all while smiling… The third grade chapter in Finley’s book is filled with positive growth, ambition and excellence.

“As Finley continues to write her book, it will be filled with much success, joy, and love.”

Paige is a third grade student at Patrick Hamilton Elementary and was nominated by third grade teacher Sarah Eastman.

“She really enjoys coming to school every day with a smile on her face and great attitude. She certainly loves reading and learning multiplications. One of her goals for third grade is learning how to do division. She’s always a good worker, she always tries her best and is a great friend to everybody.”

Phillips is a third grade student at Kincheloe Elementary and was nominated by his teacher, Jessica Grey.

“Ryker has worked incredibly hard this school year and has made tremendous growth,” said Assistant Superintendent Michael Dunn. “He is always willing to help others in the classroom when needed. He always has a positive attitude toward learning. Even if there’s something that he struggles with, Riker is a shining example of what it means to be a Chieftain Hero.”