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 Max Maron as its Student of the Week. Max lives in Pittsford with his parents, David and Peggy Maron. He has two older sisters who are out of college.
Max moved to Vermont from Massachusetts about 5 years ago. At first, he says, Otter Valley overwhelmed him and he floundered academically, but now he is a successful honor roll student. He was recently invited to the National Honor Society. He is taking AP Literature and AP Calculus, along with Physics and Advanced Behavioral Science. This year he took a dual-enrollment course known as Collaborative Peer Review.
Max earns money as an online video producer who uploads to YouTube, with videos of various video games that he played growing up, and him commentating over them. Through a partnership with a company outside of YouTube, he has been earning income, which has grown over time. This work has been on the backburner recently as he’s been fairly busy with school but he hopes to do more with it when school is over. He also live streams to a website known as Twitch TV, where he interacts with the game and does a chat at the same time, usually doing “speed runs” of games.
When asked what he has learned in high school, Max said, “Time management is a big thing for me. … Respect is another component; you must respect your instructor and peers no matter which class you are in. The most important piece of advice for any student, not just high school, is to not underestimate what you are capable of. I thought I was down and defeated back in freshman and sophomore year, but I have proven otherwise. I’m now looked at as an intelligent young man who has made some pretty remarkable achievements.”
Max plans to attend Castleton State College next year, but he may transfer to Salem State in Massachusetts for their strong mathematics program. He is considering a career as an engineer or an actuary.
Max is proof that hard work and determination can take you far. All of us at Otter Valley congratulate him on his accomplishments and wish him the best in what is sure to be a very bright future.
 
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School proudly names Kiley Pratt of New Haven as its Student of the Week. Kiley is the daughter of Kim Callahan and Jeff Pratt. She has one sibling, Morgan, who is a junior at Mount Abe.
Kiley has achieved high or highest honors throughout high school. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has received the Harvard Book Award and the the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and was recently named an AP Scholar. She has taken or is taking numerous AP classes.
She attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference in 10th grade, as well as the Governor’s Institute for Current Issues and Youth Activism, and the Global Leadership Forum in New Mexico the summer before. This fall, she studied religion, language, Nepali and sustainable development in Nepal, getting credit through the Mount Abe Pathways program.
Kiley has been a member of the Scholars’ Bowl team since grade 10 and is co-captain. She played soccer and ran cross-country one year each. She has participated in both the fall and spring musicals. She attended the New England Young Writers’ Conference in grades 11 and 12.
Kiley has worked at Tourterelle Restaurant and Inn for three years. She also spent a few weeks last summer working at Timberlock Family Resort, and was a technological manager for the Scottish independence movement Free Scotland Now based out of Middlebury. She spends a few weeks in the summer volunteering for Zeno Mountain Farm, and last year taught chess at Beeman Elementary School.
Kiley enjoys hiking, travelling, playing guitar, cooking and hanging out with friends.
Kiley’s advice for other students: “Take and create whatever opportunities you can. There are so many wonderful things out there, and if you pursue what you love, it’s going to pay off.”
After college, Kiley plans to attend college and do more traveling.
Alan Kamman says Kiley “is an intelligent, motivated, and enthusiastic young woman. … She has an open-minded approach to life, and a diverse worldview that goes well beyond the borders of our county and state.”
All at Mt. Abraham wish Kiley the best in her future.
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