This week's newsmakers: Nicole Blakken-Esser; Levi M. Roth; West Senior High finalists for the National Merit Scholarship; Dr. Ryan Brandt, of Lake City, and Dr. Samuel Blanchard, of Cadillac; Courtenay Sprague; four area Hope College students; Grand Traverse Musicale 2010 Scholarship recipients.

The Rotary Club of Traverse City has named the following Students of the Month: Jonathan Wheatley, a senior at St. Francis High School; and Shelby Osborne, a senior at Kalkaska High School and the Career-Tech Center.

East Middle School has named its December 2009 Students of the Month

The following have been named Students of the Month by the Kiwanis Club of Traverse City: Hattie Christie, a senior at Traverse City Christian High School; Leah Beemer, a senior at Traverse City Christian High School; and Allison Ostrander, a senior at Kingsley High School.

The following were named Students of the Month in 2009 by the Rotary Club of Traverse City: Michelle Rizor, a senior at Traverse City Central High School; Kyle Coggins, a senior at Traverse City Central High School; Andy Tuck, a senior at Traverse City Christian School; Lindsay Kostrzewa, a senior at Traverse City Christian School; Carolyn Vlach, a senior at Traverse City West High School; and Ray Innis, a senior at Traverse City West High School.