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 proud to recognize Lauren Bartlett as its Student of the Week. Lauren is the daughter of Derek and Nicole Bartlett of Middlebury. Her brother, Keenan, attends Skidmore College, and twin siblings Alexis and Kamrin are in 8th grade at MUMS.
Lauren has achieved High Honors or Honors throughout high school, and has been recognized with the Buster Brush Achievement Award. In 10th grade, Lauren was selected for the VT Athletic Directors’ Leadership Conference and received the 21st Century Award in English. She attended Girls’ State last summer and has been a Peer Leader this year.
If it came to light that Lauren’s first toy was a hockey stick, very few of us here would be surprised. The only question would be, “Field or ice?” Voted MVP for JV Field Hockey in 9th grade, Lauren moved right to Varsity the next year. She was selected for the competitive Metro Division 2nd Team for her junior and senior seasons. Lauren is Captain of the team this year and is scheduled to play in the Twin State game in June.
Lauren has been playing Varsity Ice Hockey since 9th grade, and she has been Captain for the past two years. Her determination and desire earned her the coveted Weston Award at the end of this season. Lauren recently played in the Key Bank All-Star Classic, and come June she’ll compete against New Hampshire in the Make-A-Wish Classic – a day after her field hockey match.
Lauren hopes to teach and coach some day, and she has already found multiple ways to share her knowledge, skills and enthusiasm. In addition to volunteering as a skating coach during high school, Lauren has assisted with MUMS and Club Midd field hockey and lacrosse programs. She also has been a summer classroom assistant, a camp counselor for Middlebury Parks and Recreation, and a 2nd grade class volunteer.
Lauren was accepted in early decision to Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where she plans to major in Elementary Education. Those hockey sticks will be close at hand, as Lauren will be morphing from Tiger to Lion (Lyon, actually) and playing Varsity Field Hockey and club ice come winter.
Lauren, we wish you the greenest of fields, smoothest of ice, and continued great success in the classroom and beyond.
VUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Vergennes Union High School is pleased to recognize Nathan Rowell as its Student of the Week. Nathan and his parents, Lisa and Dan Rowell, live in Addison. Nathan’s older brother, Aaron, is a sophomore at Bentley College.
Nate was inducted into NHS during his junior year and became president for his senior year. He has maintained honors or high honors all throughout high school while taking a rigorous courses such as AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP European History and Humanities.
Nate is a very active member of our school community. Nate played football during his freshman and sophomore years before switching over to soccer for his last two years of high school. Nate played lacrosse during his freshman year and baseball for his last three years. Nate was one of varsity baseball’s captains during his sophomore and senior years. He has also been in pep band for all four years and was captain during his junior and senior years. Nate also plays trombone in the school’s jazz band and has been its manager for two years.
Nate has worked as a busboy at Two Brother’s Tavern and has also committed time to the Open Door Clinic, worked with the American Cancer Society and the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation. Nate also has helped tutor middle schoolers and helped to repair the local elementary school’s baseball fields.
Nathan says this about his high school education: “I have learned the value in a self-driven education. Vergennes has given me many opportunities to look into things that I might be passionate about. To be honest, I didn’t like everything that I learned but I’m glad that I tried it. Once I found how much I enjoyed learning about medicine and neurobiology, it was easy to begin learning about it on my own.” Sarah Thompson, a science teacher at VUHS, said, “Nate Rowell is a highly motivated student. He sets challenging goals for himself and then works diligently to achieve those goals. Nate often comes to me with questions based on something he read or saw; it is always so much fun to try to answer his questions! His love of science is clear. There is nothing Nate can’t accomplish if he puts his mind to it.”
Following graduation from VUHS, Nate plans to go to either Syracuse University or the University of Delaware as a neurobiology major under a pre-medicine track to become a spinal surgeon. The faculty, staff and students of VUHS wish Nathan the very best in the 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
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