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 Austin McCullough its Student of the Week.
Austin lives in Pittsford with his mother, Darcey Pape. His father, Kenneth McCullough, lives in Rutland Town. He has two younger sisters, Brenna and Kathleen.
Austin is a National Honor Society student who is regularly on honor roll or higher. He has been the vice president of his class since freshman year. He is also an active member of student council. He has received numerous academic excellence awards, and last year received the Clarkson University Leadership Award as well as the Physical Fitness award. He is currently taking AP literature and pre-calculus for advanced classes, and hopes to take AP calculus next semester.
Austin played baseball through middle school, and has played at the high school level since 10th grade.
He has been working at Mitchell’s Tees as a screen cleaner/printer for three years. He says the job has taught him a valuable lesson: In life, nothing is ever handed to you and that you have to work for what you want.
Outside of school Austin enjoys weightlifting. He also enjoys hunting and fishing and says he cannot wait for deer season!
When asked what he has learned in high school, Austin said, “Hard work pays off! One of my favorite quotes is ‘Fear is temporary but regret is forever.’ If I were to give advice to other students it would be to try your hardest and enjoy your time here. … Time flies by fast so enjoy your time here now and make the best of every opportunity.”
After high school Austin plans to go to college. He is currently thinking of majoring in business management and minoring in marketing.
Mr. Dwyer says Austin “exemplifies strong school spirit and makes positive contributions to many aspects of school life.” Physics teacher Ms. Bly praises Austin’s problem-solving skills in her class’s physics engineering projects, saying “Even through failures, I heard laughter coming from his group and you could tell by the intricacy of their end product that Austin had a fair hand in the design.”
The Otter Valley community wishes this fine young man the very best in his future.
 
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School proudly presents Lane Fisher of Lincoln as its Student of the Week. Lane is the daughter of Mike and Ann Fisher. Her brother Ira is a sophomore at Clarkson.
Lane has been on the highest honor and honor roll throughout high school, and has achieved academic excellence awards in grades 9 and 11 (in 10th grade she was on an exchange year in Hennebont, Brittany, France). She is currently National Honor Society secretary. Last year she received the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony scholarship for humanities and social sciences at Rochester University.
Lane played soccer in grades 3-9, and has participated in school musicals in grades 6-12. She has been part of the Environmental Actions Group (EAG) at Mount Abraham since ninth grade.
Developing an interest in politics after grade 10, Lane joined Community Council and has been the School Board Student Representative for the past two years. She began the Vermont-based International Awareness Club. In May of this year she was a host student at the New England Young Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus.
Lane has worked at Bristol Fitness since the summer of 2014. She is the Host Student Liaison at Mount Abraham, and was the varsity girls soccer manager her junior year.
Lane is an avid reader and loves writing (short stories, poetry, etc.). She also finds the opportunity to speak French and learn other languages.
She says high school has taught her to follow through with her interests, and delve into subjects that fascinate her no matter what may be holding her back. Lane’s advice for other students would be: “As cliché as it sounds, explore your options and interests. … Find passions and don’t be afraid to pursue them with unwavering vigor.”
After high school, Lane plans to attend college. She is interested in international relations or affairs, but is also passionate about political science and writing (journalism).
According to social studies teacher Scott Beckwith: «Elle vit sa vie avec une passion pour changer le monde.» (“She lives her life with a passion to change the world.”)
We at Mount Abe warn the world to get ready! Congratulations, Lane.
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
Jackman’s Inc
JW DE Ryan
Martin’s Hardware
Paige and Campbell Insurance
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Book Shop