MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – For its 33rd year in a row, Grow & Lead held it’s Excellence in Education awards program Monday evening at the Northern Center.
50 seniors at the tops of their classes, hailing from schools in Marquette and Alger counties were each awarded $2,000 scholarships before taking their next steps into college. 25 outstanding teachers were also awarded with professional development grants of $1,000 each, to further continue their beloved coursework.
“This is really nice because I’ve worked really hard to get the grades I have,” said Ishpeming High School Senior, Lydia Seelen.
“We have a very smart senior class this year, so it was always very competitive and I was very grateful to receive this award,” said Negaunee High School Senior, Alina Nelson.
Each student was accompanied by a chosen educator that made an impact in their learning experience. To these teachers, leaving this mark is part of the job, but standing out to those who have done so well is what makes a difference.
“You hope you make that difference every day with a lot of students, but when you get selected by one in particular for something like this, it really means a lot,” said Westwood High School Business teacher, Rachel Perala.
A full list of celebrated students and educators from each district can be found below, with the student’s chosen educators in parentheses.
Au Train-Onota Public Schools: Educator Amy Pihlainen-Gabler.
Burt Township School: Students Ethan Brauer (Amy Ross) and Katherine Irvine (Jenny Irvine); Educator Scott Roberts
Munising Public Schools: Students Sage Anderson (Heather Nayback) Oliva Cotey (Jim Cotey), Tamryn Nolan (Hilary Ludecke); Educators Ann Gendron and Heather Nayback.
Superior Central School District: Students Rowan Allender (Shannon Hancock), Clay Horne (Nathan Sherman), Kiera McDonnald (Jessica Kelto); Educator Nathan Sherman.
Father Marquette Catholic Academy: Educator Rachel McKnight.
Gwinn Area Community Schools: Students Erica Lundholm (Leela Heinzel), Gunnar Nordeen (Daniel Turecky), Jordyn Pelkola (Heather Hollands); Educators Elizabeth Henry and Amy Kimsel.
Ishpeming Public Schools: Students Tiana Bosworth (Caitlin Palomaki), James M. DeCaire (Kaitlyn Rich), Sara Harvey (Erl Langness), Natalie Heinzelman (Ben Zindler), Janelle Seelen (Holly Letson), Lydia Seelen (Becky Bertucci); Educators Andrew Henseler and Beth Lawson.
Marquette/Alger Regional Education Service Agency: Educator Travis Smith.
Marquette Alternative High School: Roi Helminen (Nora Torreano).
Marquette Area Public Schools: Students Bjorn Anderson (Diana Reeves), Peter Argeropoulos (Katelynn Jensen), Ella Fure (Derek Marr), Reya Ghiardi (Natalie Messano), Boyne Gregg (Kim Carr ), Rorik Holmquist (Shannon Fisher), Marin Johnson (Sheila Grazulis), Isabella Kim (Greg Thocker), Caden Laurn (Blythe Raikko), Boden Moore (Natalie Messano), Grant Simon (Steve Solinski), Kylie Smith (Jillian Perry), Sawyer Stelwagen (Cody Wetton), Esme Ulland-Joy (Jacob Fether), Nicholas Zerbel (Blythe Raikko); Educators Ellyn Delpier, Jacob Fether, Kimberly Fryzel and Melissa Teasley.
Negaunee Public Schools: Students Mialie Arbelius (Cory Richards), Ainsley Brunette (Sherri Holmgren), Kennidy Glasheen (Megan Kerkela), Keira Heino (Erin Menhennick), Nicole Kerkela (Megan Kerkela), Alina Nelson (Lacy O’Donnell), Rheana Nelson (Nicole Whitford), Lilliana Saunders (Kyle Saari); Educators McKenna Carvenough and Kelsie Luokkala.
NICE Community School District: Students Gavin Comero (Rachel Perala), Kaylin Doney (Terri Balzarini), Olivia Letson (Cara Anderson), William Niemi (John Jessen), Lucy Ostola (Emily Grout), Evynn Seablom (Terri Balzarini), Connor Thomas (Emily Grout); Educators Alanna Hamel and Christina King.
North Star Montessori Academy: Educator Tiffany Stevens.
Powell Township School District: Educator Amber Dohrenwend.
Republic-Michigamme Schools: Students Kenny Ambuehl (Emily Harmon), John Wheeler (Annette Gleason); Educator Lily VandenLangenberg.
Wells Township School: Educator Hope Bruce.
