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Students of the Week – January 12, 2015
The Addison Independent is proud to publish the Students of the Week from area High Schools each week. The students are chosen by teachers and administration from each school who would like to recognize their exceptional engagement in the high schools they attend.
OVUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Otter Valley Union High School is proud to name Katy McCarthy of Pittsford as its Student of the Week. Katy is the daughter of Lisa and Stephen McCarthy.
Katy has consistently been on the honor roll. Currently she is enrolled in AP Biology, pre-calculus, AP Literature and AP European History. She is also completing an exploratory ELO, or external learning opportunity. Last spring she joined the Lutra chapter of the National Honor Society. Since freshman year she has achieved excellence in several subjects, including three consecutive years of Spanish.
Katy is heavily involved in the Otter Valley Walking Stick Theater department, recently performing in “Chicago” as June while also choreographing several of the numbers. Currently she is co-directing a one-act play with fellow thespian Andrew Jerome, which will be performed with the rest of the student-directed one-acts in February. She is the current Otter Valley Student Council president, and has been actively involved with student council since freshman year.
She has worked for the past two years at Keith’s Country Store in Pittsford as a cashier. The job has been a great opportunity for her to learn so much about her community and the world around her, and learn practical things that will stick with her throughout college like responsibility, accountability, etc.
Outside of school Katy enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Katy says, “I have learned that high school, much like the rest of life, is a balancing act. It’s not easy to fit in everything that has to be done, but it is worth it at the end of the day.”
Katy has recently been accepted to both the University of Vermont and Fordham University.
Mrs. Dardeck calls Katy “responsible, enthusiastic, and a pleasure to work with,” while Mr. Dwyer describes her as “exuberant, lively, engaged, dynamic and versatile.” Mr. Gerrior says, “Katy has a wonderful rapport with people of all ages. … She has excellent written and verbal communication skills, and is extremely organized, reliable and computer literate. Katy can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. She accomplishes these tasks with great initiative and with a very positive attitude.”
Everyone at Otter Valley wishes Katy the best in all her future endeavors.
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School proudly names Isabel Brennan its Student of the Week. Isabel lives in Monkton with her parents, Bonnie and Kevin Brennan. She has an older brother, Ian, who is attending college in Colorado.
Isabel has been on high or highest honors throughout high school. She is co-secretary of the National Honor Society at Mount Abe. She is working toward the Challenge Diploma. This year, she is taking advanced courses including AP Calculus, AP English, Advanced Environmental Science, and French 5. She has been an active member of the Mt. Abe Environmental Action Group since ninth grade.
Isabel has played soccer all four year at Mount Abe and was on this year’s D-II state championship team. She is also a four-year basketball player and was on the D-II state championship team in grades 10 and 11.
Isabel works at the Bristol Bakery and Café in Hinesburg. She has been a member of the Monkton Maples 4-H Volunteer Club since ninth grade. She has helped out at the Monkton recycling center, volunteered at many local food shelf and holiday dinners, helped the Addison County fair vendors, and has raised money for various local organizations.
In her spare time, Isabel enjoys hiking and snowshoeing in the mountains, running, biking, skiing, attempting to sail, playing basketball, spending time with friends and family, and singing along to Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift.
Isabel says she learned from high school “that there’s endless options and opportunities in life, and you have to learn to choose the ones that are right for you. Don’t live for others, live for your own happiness.” Her biggest piece of advice to other students: “Become best friends with the lunch ladies. Also, the procrastination outlook of saving homework until the last minute so you’re older, therefore wiser, doesn’t work as well as you’d think.”
After high school, Isabel will attend St. Lawrence University, where she will play basketball and study environmental science and environmental law.
Math teacher Heather MacDonald says of Isabel, “She is a leader among her peers and uses the drive and work ethic she has learned through sports to shine in all areas of her life.”
The Mount Abe community is proud of all that Isabel has accomplished and wishes her the best at St. Lawrence.
Otter Valley Students of the week receive a gift certificate from the Book & Leaf Bookstore. Mt. Abe Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Cubbers. Vergennes Students of the Week receive a free sandwich and drink from 3 Squares Cafe. Middlebury Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Green Peppers. Students of the Week from all area high schools will receive a gift certificate from Vermont Book Shop.
With support from:
Barash Mediation
Business Telephone Systems
Cubbers
Champlain Valley Plumbing and Heating
JW DE Ryan
Martin’s Hardware
Paige and Campbell Insurance
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Book Shop
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