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 congratulations Ben Francoeur on being named Student of the Week. Ben lives in Leicester with his parents, Kris and Paul Francoeur.
In ninth grade, Ben received a school citizenship award. In 10th grade, he represented Otter Valley as the male ambassador at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. In 11th grade, he received the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Prize for Social Studies from Rochester. Now in his senior year, his classes include AP European History, AP literature, Calculus, and his sixth and final Spanish class. For the last three years, Ben has remained in the top 10 of his class.
Ben was a member of the varsity boys’ soccer team for all four years of high school, and the manager for the boys’ varsity lacrosse team the last two seasons. He has also been doing theater since seventh grade, acting in many plays, including a show performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the stage manager in OV’s production of “Cinderella.”
In the winter, Ben works at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl, and in the summer he works at the Leicester Central School summer camp.
His hobbies include playing soccer, skiing, and hanging out with friends.
Ben says of the last four years: “High school has been an awesome time for me. I’ve met some of the most interesting people and formed friendships that I would have never expected, all while gaining a quality education in one of the best school communities imaginable.”
After high school, Ben plans on attending college, although he’s not sure where yet. He will most likely pursue a major in either art history or human resources.
Mr. Dwyer calls Ben “a superb student,” and says, “The qualities that earn him this distinction are his delight in learning, his innate curiosity, his thirst for knowledge, and his enthusiastic engagement in class. He is the man behind the curtain in many Otter Valley theater productions, a task at which he excels because he remains calm under stress and pressure.”
The Otter Valley community wishes Ben the best in whatever his future holds for him.
 
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School proudly names Eliot Brett as its student of the week.
Eliot is the son of Dave and Ilana Brett of Lincoln. His older brother, Turner, is a sophomore at Colorado College.
In ninth grade Eliot attended the North Branch School. He began at Mount Abe in 10th grade. During the fall semester of his junior year he attended The Island School in the Bahamas where he studied marine biology. He took Advanced Environmental Science in 11th grade. In 12th grade he took AP English and AP U.S. History.
Eliot ran cross-country in 10th grade and was captain in 12th grade. He played ultimate Frisbee in grades 9 through 12. As a sophomore he was in the fall musical, and he has been in the spring musical from 10th to 12th grade. He was also a member of the Scholars’ Bowl team grades 10-12 and helped the Mount Abe team place second at the Vermont Small Schools tournament.
Last summer Eliot worked at the Village Creeme Stand and then began catering and bussing tables at Tourterelle. While at The Island School, he worked with local Bahamian students, creating an aquaponics system.
Outside of School Eliot enjoys hiking, skiing at Mad River and adventuring with pals.
When asked for advice for other students, Eliot said, “Do your own thing, and not what everyone else is doing. It’s a lot more fun that way. In the words of Rihanna, ‘Do ya thang.’”
After high school Eliot hopes to attend a four-year college and major in cinematography.
English teacher Addie Thompson says, “Eliot is a remarkable young man. He is kind, compassionate and has a knack for making people smile no matter what. When not listening to Rihanna, or performing on stage, Eliot is a conscientious student always willing to respectfully share his opinion or contribute in any way he can. He makes us all smile, laugh and find the joy in each part of our day.”
The Mount Abe community congratulate Eliot on all he has done and wishes him the best as he moves on after high school.
 
Otter Valley Students of the week receive a gift certi?cate from the Book & Leaf Bookstore. Mt. Abe Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Cubbers. Students of the Week from all area high schools will receive a gift certi?cate 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 Army National Guard
Vermont Book Shop