Students of the Week – February 15, 2016
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.
MUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Middlebury Union High School is pleased to recognize Kyle Pecsok as it Student of the Week. The son of Steve and Noreen Pecsok, Kyle and his family live in Cornwall. His brother, James, attends the University of Hartford, and his sister, Emily, is in the eighth grade at MUMS.
After spending the first half of his ninth-grade year on Honor Roll, Kyle worked his way to High Honors and has never stepped back. He received the President’s Education Award for Academic Excellence in both grades 11 and 12, and he is a member of National Honor Society. Kyle has taken or is currently enrolled in AP Calculus, English, Environmental Studies, Statistics and World History. He is registered to take Microeconomics at Middlebury College this spring.
Kyle attended Vermont Boys’ State last summer. He is a Peer Leader at MUHS and tutors in the Learning Lab. Since ninth grade, Kyle has channeled his fondness for running as a member of the cross country and track teams.
Outside of school, Kyle has volunteered with Special Olympics, the Middlebury Recreation Department and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce. His ninth-grade volunteer time at Ilsley Library led to a job offer in 10th; Kyle has worked there ever since.
Kyle literally likes to run all over places represented on maps. He’s done a lot of it in Vermont, and he just may be the youngest person ever to visit all of its 251 cities and towns. Besides his travels in Vermont, Kyle has logged many U.S. and international miles. Kyle plans to follow his passion for maps and geography in general at college before travlling on to graduate study in (more!) geography or community/urban development.
If one were to say to Kyle in a kindly, well-intended way, “Take a hike” or “Get lost,” we suspect he’d gladly do the former and find the latter problematic. We only care to wish you the very best in your plans and travels, Kyle, and hope you’ll occasionally find your way “home” to visit us at MUHS.
VUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Vergennes Union High School is pleased to recognize Xavier Provencher as its Student of the Week. Xavier lives in Panton. His parents are Benjamin Provencher and Mani-Kui Fuller. Xavier has a brother, Troy, who is in 11th grade, and a sister, Viktoria, who is in eighth grade.
Xavier is a National Honor Society member, and was a VUHS delegate to Boys’ State last year. He has earned high honors every year. Currently, Xavier is a student in the Medical Professions program at the Hannaford Career Center. Through this program he is enrolled in two Community College of Vermont courses: Medical Terminology and Human Biology.
Xavier has also been an active member of our sports teams. He played on the JV basketball team. He was also a participant in varsity cross country, varsity indoor track, and varsity track and field. Outside of school Xavier is a cashier at Shaw’s. Also, Xavier volunteers at a summer camp called CAMP! His role at the camp is to “ensure that children have fun with the camping experience while maintaining their safety.”
When asked for his personal philosophy, Xavier says, “Work hard on everything you do, but make sure you have time to relax and have fun.” He says his advice for other students would be to not stress out. “Even if the works gets hard or you just can’t solve a problem, do not stress too much about. Stress will just make your task harder. Give yourself time to relax and recuperate your thoughts and energy.”
Kristin Caterer, the French teacher at VUHS, said, “As a generous, intuitive, well-liked student, Xavier is a role model for his peers. He is often called upon to tutor in mathematics or sciences. He successfully balances a demanding academic schedule while participating in the sports of cross country, indoor track and track.”
Following graduation from VUHS, Xavier plans on studying nursing. The faculty, staff and students of VUHS wish Xavier the very best in the future.
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 certi?cate from Vermont Book Shop.
With support from:
Barash Mediation
Business Telephone Systems
Champlain Valley Plumbing and Heating
Jackman Fuels
JW DE Ryan
Martin’s Hardware
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Army National Guard
Vermont Book Shop