By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Seventh graders Brooke Means and Ethan Pasternak won "Chieftains of the Year" and Elizabeth Kolden and Kent Emerson were honored as the outstanding eighth graders with American Legion awards at Central Middle School's final honors program after 80 years.
Eighth graders advance to high school. Seventh graders will be the first class to occupy the new Dowagiac Middle School.
Chieftain of the Year and American Legion recipients are based on a combination of academics, citizenship, leadership and "exceptional contributions" to Central.
Three eighth graders, Savannah Eby, Mara Lawrence and Emily Primley, and one seventh grader, Joseph Van Tuyle, completed the 2004-2005 school year with straight A's.
Mike Frazier gave his Principal's Award Tuesday night to eighth grader Angelie Torres for most improved citizenship.
Frazier identified two themes - celebrating the pursuit of excellence by recognizing outstanding accomplishments by extraordinary students and a personal history lesson. He pointed out a seat and remembered that's where he sat for his awards program 39 years ago.
Assistant Principal John Pasternak announced that Central's last yearbook is available for $25 for anyone who wants a collector's item.
English
Eighth grade
Derek Carpenter, Savannah Eby, Kent Emerson, Andrew Hurrle, Kayleigh Hutchings, Kristan Stelmasiak, Erika Taylor, Chelsea Whiteoak, Lenora Vollmer.
Seventh grade
Casey Collins, Ryan Daly, Kelsey Foote, Macy Howard, Kyle James, Alexis Loyd, Juan Meza, Sheena Perkins, Joseph Van Tuyle.
Spelling bee
Eighth grade
Jessica Hargett, Elizabeth Kolden, Kayla Montgomery, Amanjot Sarao, Chelsea Whiteoak.
Seventh grade
Joseph Gajewski, Brandon Stattler, Yasmine Chambliss, Chelsea Kaphaen.
Shelby Willis, first place; Elizabeth Kolden, second place; Elizabeth Phillips, third place.
Spanish awards
Eighth grade
Adali Brito, Caitlin Courtney, Savannah Eby, Kevin Holmes, Mara Lawrence, Emily Primley, Holly Smith.
Seventh grade
Michael Bomani, Cody Cox, Justin Mersereau, David Nelson, Mary Squires, Mark Westendorp.
Social studies
Seventh grade
Cody Cox, Alexandra Hess, Macy Howard, Kyle James, David Nelson, Joanna Pickar, Haley Spencer, Joseph Van Tuyle.
History
Eighth grade
Travis Bruens, Derek Carpenter, Matthew Dazell, Savannah Eby, Brianne Emmons, Scott Ferrier, Stephanie Grabemeyer, Kassi Herter, Kayleigh Hutchings, Elizabeth Kolden, Mara Lawrence, Chelsea McIntyre, Michael McNeil, Emily Primley, Jonathon Richcreek, Jessica Robinson, Zachary Russom, Lenora Vollmer.
Geography Bee
Eighth grade
Mark Westendorp, first place; George Tovey, second place.
Eighth grade
Brandi Broussard, Aaron Caldwell, Savannah Eby, Kent Emerson, Brianne Emmons, Stephanie Grabemeyer, Stacy Grayam, Kassi Herter, Andrew Hurrle, Elizabeth Kolden, Vanshelli Langford, Mara Lawrence, Joel Martinez, Chad Reschke, Alexandrea Schuster, Kristan Stelmasiak, Lenora Vollmer, Kiley Taylor.
Seventh grade
Robert Andrade, Kelsey Foote, Holly Gillesby, Alexandri Hearington, Kyle James, Emily Means, Joanna Pickar, Kasey Proshwitz, Joshua Taggart, Kirstin Varney.
Math team
Eighth grade
Jessica Hargett, Rebecca Howe, Andrew Hurrle, Mara Lawrence, Chelsea McIntyre, Amanjot Sarao, Chelsea Whiteoak.
Seventh grade
David Compton, Andrew Cripe, Allyson Flewelling, Macy Howard, David Nelson, Joseph Van Tuyle, Mark Westendorp.
Science Olympiad
Rui Azevedo, Derek Carpenter, Jason Collett, Megan Corey, Jordan Daly, Dusten Downey, Andrew Hurrle, Chelsea Kaphaen, Joseph Larson, Ethan Pasternak, Elizabeth Phillips, Andrew Seurynck, Arthur Springsteen, Larry Tartt, Forrest Topping, Joseph Van Tuyle.
Berrien County Math
and Science Center
Eighth grade
Caitlin Courtney, Timothy DeRyder, Rebecca Howe, Andrew Hurrle, Julia Kendrix, Amanjot Sarao.
Eighth grade
Savannah Eby, Kevin Holmes, Dominic Rappelli, Alex Schuster, Holly Smith, Erika Taylor.
Computers
Eigth grade
Stephanie Grabemeyer, Emily Primley, Lenora Vollmer.
Choir
Stacy Grayam, eighth grade; Macy Howard, seventh grade.
Eighth grade
Rebecca Howe
Health
Eighth grade
Charles Allen, Tucker Alsup, Alexandrea Schuster, Chelsea Whiteoak.
Life skills
Eighth grade
Antwan Bacon, Savannah Eby, Brittany Gnatz, Stephany Gross, Briana Hunsberger, Cayli Hyche, Dannielle Irving, Corey Kovatch, Mara Lawrence, Jenna Mitchell, Gregory Nelson, Rayann Scott, Tiffanikay Stacks, Caitlin Tinker.
Seventh grade
Sena Hargreaves, Willie Lewis, Brooke Means.
Yearbook
Kristan Stelmasiak, top salesperson; Amanjot Sarao, adviser's award.
Perfect attendance
Eighth grade
Brianne Emmons, Rebecca Howe, Elizabeth Kolden, Eric Morton, Monika Ruchniak, Amanjot Sarao, Katie Wood.
Seventh grade
Robert Andrade, Yasmine Chambliss, Ryan Daly, Spencer Dodd, Kyle James, Noelle Jamison, Joseph Larson, Tori Lowe, Marissa Tidey, Tiffany Tyus.
Near-perfect attendance
(no more than six periods)
Eighth grade
Amanda Cross, Kent Emerson, Andrew Hurrle, Jessica Hargett, Brittany Gnatz, Tori Gaideski, Dominic Rappelli, Victoria Shank.
Seventh grade
Rebecca Hassle, Juan Hernandez, Matthew Morehouse, Andrew Murphy, Elizabeth Phillips, Sinjin Ownby, Kasey Proshwitz, Brooke Means, Christopher Murray, Kirstin Varney, Brandon Wilson.
Eighth grade
High honors
3.4-3.99
Corey Ausra, Tesla Ayers, Derek Carpenter, Caitlin Courtney, Jordan Daly, Alexandra Dean, Tasia Diaz, Kent Emerson, Brianne Emmons, Scott Ferrier, Tori Gaideski, Stephanie Grabemeyer, Stacy Grayam, Jessica Hargett, Kassi Herter, Rebecca Howe, Andrew Hurrle, Jason Hurrle, Kayleigh Hutchings, Julia Kendrix, Elizabeth Kolden, Rebecca Mattix, Chelsea McIntyre, Kayla Montgomery, Eric Morton, Jaron Mosier, Joseph Ohlenbusch, Kayla O'Konski, Andrew Ostrowski, Amanda Pettitt, Elizabeth Phillips, Jonathon Richcreek, Karlee Rife, Jessica Robinson, Amanjot Sarao, Alexandrea Schuster, Brandon Smith, Christine Stanton, Kristan Stelmasiak, Erika Taylor, Kiley Taylor, Chelsea Thompson, Forrest Topping, Kaitlyn Tyrakowski, Lenora Vollmer, Chelsea Whiteoak, Shelby Willis, Katie Wood.
Honors
3.0-3.39
Charles Allen, Chelsea Allison, Travis Bruens, Matthew Bussler, Amber Collett, Kayla Dewey, Olivia File, Kevin Holmes, Jenna Huffman, James Hunter, Joey Lane, Michael McNeil, Tanner Melvin, Andrew Murphy, Gregory Nelson, Robert Price, Chad Reschke, Haley Richter, Monika Ruchniak, Zachary Russom, Rayann Scott, Andrew Seurynck, Holly Smith, Amanda Swartz, Caitlin Tinker, Linda Vela, Adam Wilson, Blake Zebell.
Seventh grade
High honors
Leana Allen, Michael Bomani, Casey Collins, Matthew Collins, Cody Cox, Andrew Cripe, Ryan Daly, Spencer Dodd, Tyler Dutoi, Marcie Ennesser, Danielle Etzel, Kelsey Foote, Amanda Frantz, Elisabeth Gokey, Alyssa Greenwood, Taylor Gross, Alexandri Hearington, Alexandra Hess, Macy Howard, Kyle James, Cody Klomes, Isaac Longden, Torie Lowe, Alexis Loyd, Allycia Mather, Brooke Means, Emily Means, David Nelson, Bo Parsons, Ethan Pasternak, Joanna Pickar, Jeremy Pletz, Brad Ruminer, Haley Spencer, Mary Squires, Cassandra Stone, Danielle Taylor, Marissa Tidey, Scott Trout, Lindy Valenzuela, Mark Westendorp.
Honors
Robert Andrade, Zachariah Blank, David Compton, Megan Corey, Sara Curtis, Michael Dowsett, Allyson Flewelling, Rebecca Hassle, Zachary Hatch, Travis Herman, Brittany Hodge, Travis Jensen, Jessica Krueger, Joseph Larson, Drew Luthringer, Lorina Ohl, Alyse Pellow, Kasey Proshwitz, Angela Reese, Brent Saltzman-Christ, Sarah Schuur, Marquira Smith, Morgan Tanzillo, Kirstin Varney, Rebecca Villegas.
Presidential awards
Tesla Ayers, Derek Carpenter, Savannah Eby, Stephanie Grabemeyer, Stacy Grayam, Jessica Hargett, Kassi Herter, Rebecca Howe, Andrew Hurrle, Elizabeth Kolden, Mara Lawrence, Chelsea McIntyre, Emily Primley, Karlee Rife, Jessica Robinson, Amanjot Sarao, Alexandrea Schuster, Christine Stanton, Kristan Stelmasiak, Erika Taylor, Kaitlyn Tyrakowski, Lenora Vollmer, Chelsea Whiteoak, Shelby Willis, Katie Wood.
Counselor Barb Strlekar read a letter from President Bush.
To qualify, students must attain high honors both years of middle school.
Chieftains of the Month
September - Stacy Grayam (8), Seth Spaulding (7), Lenora Vollmer (8).
October - Kayla Barnas (8), Casey Collins (7), Cody Cox (7).
November - Savannah Eby (8), Sheena Perkins (7), Kristan Stelmasiak (8).
December - Elisabeth Gokey (7), Jonathon Richcreek (8), Chelsea Thompson (8).
January - Chelsea Allison (8), Derek Carpenter (8), Jason Collett (8).
February - Alyssa Greenwood (7), Joel Martinez (8), Emily Primley (8).
March - Yasmine Chambliss (7), Macy Howard (7), Lorina Ohl (7).
April - Samuel Gantt (7), Pierre Reed (7), Joshua Taggart (7).
Citizens of the Month
September - Karlee Rife (8).
October - Jessica Robinson (8).
November - Jessica Hargett (8).
December - Tori Lowe (7).
January - Ethan Pasternak (7).
February - Amanda Swartz (8).
March - Elizabeth Kolden (8).
April - Briana Hunsberger (8).