06-07-2018 Ellie Troyer and Ryan Chisek named WHS Outstanding Senior Boy and Girl;

Ellie Troyer and Ryan Chisek named  WHS Outstanding Senior Boy and Girl

By Annette Christie Watervliet High School held their graduation ceremony in Panther stadium on Friday night. The outstanding boy and girl of the Class of 2018 were named as a traditional part of the ceremony. Ellie Troyer

Ellie Troyer is graduating at the top of her class with a 4.26 grade point average. She is the daughter of Kendall and Julia Troyer. She is the recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Award. She served as the president of the National Honor Society and is a Class of 2018 Co-President. In addition, she is a Senior Scholar and Senior Top 10 Honoree and has served as the Drum Major for the Marching Band and Pep Band Leader. Troyer has participated in Science Olympiad, Marching Band, Youth Group and Club YUMA. She is the reigning Miss Watervliet. In her spare time Troyer volunteers at her church’s Technology and Child Development Teams, mentors and tutors students in Middle School, and held a leadership role in the Community Give Back Project. Following high school, she will be attending Bethel College to pursue a degree in Chemistry before proceeding to Ferris State University for the doctorate program in Pharmacology. Ryan Chisek Ryan Chisek is the son of Chris and Shelley Chisek. He is graduating with a 4.2 grade point average. He has been a stand-out student athlete excelling in and out of the classroom. Chisek is a Class of 2018 Co-President, Senior Scholar honoree, and Senior Top 10 honoree. He is a SAC Student/Athlete All-Conference honoree. He has been a member of the National Honor Society for three years, WHS Leadership Council for four years, and is a WHS Good Ambassador member. Chisek is a MITES Regional and State Medalist. He is a strong leader, being named captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was All Conference in football and was voted Defensive Player by his team for his junior and senior year. In baseball he is Academic All State, All District and All District Academic Team. In his spare time, he competes in the Berrien County Youth Fair, has interned at Whirlpool Corporation, serves as a referee for Watervliet Youth Basketball, and volunteers for WHS Youth Sports Camps. Following graduation, he will attend Western Michigan University to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Matthew Davis is CHS Green & Gold Award winner

By Annette Christie Coloma High School held their 2018 Commencement Ceremony in the gymnasium Friday night. As is traditionally done during the event, the Green and Gold Award winner was named.

COLOMA HIGH SCHOOL Principal Dave Ehlers (left) presents the Green and Gold Award to Class of 2018 recipient Matthew Davis (right) Friday night at the Graduation Ceremony. (TCR photo by Annette Christie)

The Green and Gold Award was established in 1931. This is the most prestigious honor of Coloma High School. The student receiving the award shall be a person who has displayed outstanding qualities of scholarship, industry, leadership and citizenship throughout their four years in high school. The student shall have been influential in the promotion of school activities as well as an active participant. The winner is chosen by the high school faculty. Matthew Davis Matthew Davis is the son of Scott and Melissa Davis. He is in the Top 10 of his class. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Academic Challenge Team. Davis is on the football team and is a member of the Concert Band and Marching Band. Following high school, he will be attending Adrian College to major in mathematics. He plans to pursue a Masters Degree in Financial Mathematics for a career in Business.

Hartford graduates 71 in the 135th graduating class

By Jon Bisnett As the 71 members of the 135th Hartford High School Graduating Class of 2018 flung their caps in the air with reckless abandon, we spoke with Board President Ben Chambers. He expressed his thoughts of this newest addition to the Hartford alumni family, “Just a great group of kids… really pleased to see over a third getting scholarships and moving on to higher education including seven of our Top Ten moving towards medical fields. I’m also pleased to see some apprenticeship plans and the Jobs for Michigan Grads students better prepared for the adult workplace.”

AND THEY’RE OFF… as the 135th edition of new Hartford High School Alumni sail their green and white caps in celebration of the Class of 2018 Commencement held Friday June 1. Seventy-one grads marched to the traditional “Pomp & Circumstance” receiving their diplomas before a packed house in the High School gymnasium. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Superintendent Andy Hubbard echoed Chambers praise for the group noting, “…Some really outstanding examples of volunteerism within this class… Combined with academics success makes for a well-rounded young adult who can really make a difference in the community in which they ultimately settle.” Speakers Esmeralda Garcia is headed for Western Michigan University with a dual major in Special Education and Music with plans to become a Music Therapist. She quoted Dr. Seuss in her speech saying, “Today you are YOU, that is TRUER than true, There is NO ONE alive that is YOUER than YOU!” Elly Valdes will attend Andrews University pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy, perhaps motivated by her years a high-level athlete earning Academic All-State honors. Valdez spoke of embracing the changes that lie ahead… to always be open-minded when change and opportunities arise. Olivia Ziemer served as class president and will be heading to Ann Arbor with pre-med in mind and the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatrician with intentions to return to local practice. Ziemer became nostalgic in her speech of all the people that had influenced and helped her along the way citing a specific thought from one of her teachers to, “Find your own Hartford away from home; and then make it your home.”

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS… Lakeland Hospital Watervliet Auxiliary recently awarded scholarships to three area high school students during their annual luncheon event. In the photo (from the left) are: Mallory Spaulding, Kendall Ziemer and Olivia Ziemer. Mallory Spaulding, a 2018 graduate of Coloma High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship on behalf of Lakeland Hospital Watervliet Foundation. Spaulding is a member of the certified nursing assistant program at her school and has been accepted by Lake Michigan College where she will work toward becoming a registered nurse. Kendall Ziemer, a 2018 Hartford High School graduate, received a $2,000 scholarship. Ziemer will be attending Grand Valley State University to study diagnostic medical sonography. Olivia Ziemer, also a 2018 Hartford High School graduate, received a $2,000 scholarship to attend the University of Michigan, with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.