Published: May 19, 2009 07:05 am      

Education Newsmakers: 05/19/2009

-- Brandon Deike, of Fife Lake, a music education major at Saginaw Valley State University, recently participated in a concert with the ensemble string orchestra, Forever Strings, in Founders Hall.

-- Gregory M. Meyer, son of Mark and Tracy Meyer of Traverse City, recently graduated from Goshen College in Goshen, Ind. He is a 2004 graduate of Traverse City West Senior High School.

-- Three students representing West Shore Community College recently attended the Future Business Leaders of America -- Phi Beta Lambda state competition at Michigan State University. All three qualified for the national leadership conference to be held early this summer in Anaheim, Calif. In accounting analysis, Mariya Nummerdor scored second place and for statistical analysis Ashley Morgan placed first. For business law, Andrew Sebolt, the college's FBLA chapter president, received first place honors.

-- Elementary school students from Traverse City Area Public Schools had their artwork featured during the month of April at the Children's Art Exhibit in the Traverse Area District Library Children's Section. Blair Elementary School: Kelly Abundis, Tyler Boyd, Katie Carlyle, Arianne Lawson, Summer Lopez, Alexis Mathews, Taylor Morrison, Kendra Pickard, Tanner Plamondon, Averie Rauff, Sam Richards, Autumn Richmond, Krystal Salenski, Mika San Clemente, Kaleb Schlegel, and Caleb Triplett. Central Grade School: Zachary Andrews, Jacob Beyer, Alysa Bezotte, Sara Gustafson, Danielle Hollyday, Ashley Hood, Erin Huls, Victoria Koro, Kenneth Math, Anna Muzzarelli, and Madison Widmar. Cherry Knoll Elementary School: Adara Benton, Anna Davidson, Malachi Farmer, Olivia Fiebing, Crista Gaz, Abby Hunt, Kyle Knowles, Skylar Light, Matthew Machin, Lindsey Mosley, Maia Ober, Anthony Reamer, Alyssa Schweifler, Trevor Sears, Jessie Smith, Shelby Snell, Stephen Summers, Jacob Tolfree, Luis Vasquez-Antonio, Isabell Wejrowski and Jewel Wonegeshik. Long Lake Elementary School: Katie Doll, Jessica Freeman and Alissa Novak. Westwoods Elementary School: Katey Bank, Charlie Beck, Breanne Canning, Mary Chesney, Ashley Cleland, Anita Pashchuk, Kalyn Peterson, John Ruffing, Jacob Stevenson, Grace Warren, Lauren Wright and Hannah VanHoorne.

-- Traverse City West Senior High School was recently named the winner of the 2009 International Reading Association's Exemplary Reading Program Award. The IRA said TC West's program "is an example to other schools of literacy approaches, programs and creative education techniques that work."

-- The following local students recently graduated from Central Michigan University: Sarah Hayes of Central Lake; Kristin Fox of Elk Rapids; Sarah Polleys of Charlevoix; Stephanie Stelk of East Jordan; Kristin Skiera of Cheboygan; Kimberly Depew of Vanderbilt; Jeremiah Bergman, Carrie Harrison, Megan Johnson, Joseph McPherson, Megan Serafini, Jeremy Stults and Jerome Vanorman of Petoskey; Kathy Britton, Julia Edson and Jessica Schlimme of Traverse City; Kimberly Raymond of Rapid City; Sadie Robinson of Cedar; and Jennifer Brooks of Johannesburg.

-- Students at Eastern Elementary School celebrated the success of March's National Reading Month with a "Choice Awards" ceremony. The winners by popular vote were: Best Performance by a Dog in a Picture Book: "Bad Dog, Marley"; Presenters: Hanna Asiala and Cassidy Merten, Accepter: Rachel Socks. Best Performance by a Mouse in a Chapter Book: "The Tale of Despereaux"; Presenters: Erica Hall and Camille Madion, Accepter: Lena Gerstle. Best Performance by an Alphabet Book: "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"; Presenters: Jessica Olson and Mia Jongen, Accepter: Kilee Crews. Best Performance by a Series with 20+ Titles: "Geronimo Stilton"; Presenters: Kelley Olson and Margaret Hoagg, Accepter: Lauren Lange. Best Performance by a Friend in a Picture Book: "Henry and Mudge"; Presenters: Cassidy Merten and Keely Golden, Accepter: Jake Spann. Best Performance by a Poetry Book: "Where the Sidewalk Ends"; Presenters: Sierra Moore and Lauren Yeoman, Accepter: Luke Smith. Best Performance by a Friend in a Chapter Book: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"; Presenters: Maddy Zimmerman and Macy Cook, Accepter: Jake Ryan. Best Performance by a Counting Book: "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"; Presenters: Michala Macek and Claire Beutler, Accepter: Emily Hart. Best Performance by a Fantasy Series: "Harry Potter"; Presenters: Keely Golden and Austin McClary, Accepter: Alex Pierce. Best Performance by a Mouse in a Picture Book: "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"; Presenters: Elise Miller and Molly Hogan, Accepter: Katie O'Donnell. Best Performance by a Dog in a Chapter Book: "Marley, a Dog Like No Other"; Presenters: Ava Valesano and Isabella Pirola, Accepter: Fielding Schaefer.