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 announce Lennon Philo as its Student of the Week. Lennon lives in Brandon with his parents, Matthew and Jennifer Philo, and his younger brother, Alex.
Lennon is senior class president at Otter Valley, and in 2015 he became the Walking Stick Theatre president. He has been involved with Rutland Youth Theatre since sixth grade, and is playing Horatio in their current production of “Hamlet.” He has been part of Otter Valley’s theater department since eighth grade.
He has worked at Café Provence in Brandon since 2012.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, creating video games and playing Magic the Gathering.
His advice to his peers: “Remain on task and work hard. If you’re working as hard as you can, push yourself a little further. All of the effort you put in will make a huge difference when you get older.”
Lennon plans to attend college, hopefully Castleton University. Post-college he is interested in moving to New York to be closer to family and to pursue a career in acting. He also hopes to open a collectibles and toy shop with his father one day.
Of Lennon’s work as president of Walking Stick Theatre, teacher Jeffrey Hull says, “Lennon has nurtured an atmosphere of acceptance and creativity for all members. He has accomplished this through his charismatic and friendly demeanor.”
And Larry Marzec-Gerrior says, “Lennon is a highly intelligent, perceptive young man. … He seeks truth in each and every area of his life, whether in learning, discussing philosophy, or relating to his fellow students and his teachers. Because of his positive disposition, his reflective way of operating, and all of the character traits that make him so special, Lennon’s questions never go unanswered, and his searches always bring him to exciting new discoveries.”
Everyone at Otter Valley wishes Lennon the best as he goes on to explore the limitless discoveries that await him after high school.
 
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School is proud to call Alicia Mary Stone its Student of the Week. Alicia is the daughter of Lori Stone and Scott Stone, both of New Haven.
Alicia has made the honor roll throughout high school. She has taken AP Art the past two years. Last year she painted a mural inside of the windowless school nurse’s office, and this year was chosen as the school’s yearbook artist.
Alicia started working at the Bristol After School Program last summer. She was also asked by the Five Town Friends of the Arts program to donate a painted chair for the silent auction in the Bristol Fourth of July parade to benefit Bristol’s art program. She has volunteered serving food at the Young Life camp at Saranac Lake as well as at the New Haven Congregational Church.
Outside of school, Alicia likes to hang out with her friends. She also likes to take naps, eat snacks, play with her dog, make some art, go camping in the summer, and going on road trips.
Alicia says she learned in high school “that you should make sure you don’t look back on life wishing that you had more experiences to remember.” She encourages her peers to “make your thoughts be heard even if you’re afraid to speak.” She advises others to not worry about making mistakes, and to “always focus on what is truly important in life, keep your priorities straight.”
This fall, Alicia will attend Lyme Academy College of the Fine Arts in Connecticut, close to where some of her family lives. After college she hopes to travel the world, have her own art studio and live in a town near her friends, in a house with lots of dogs.
Art teacher Bruce Babbitt says “Alicia is a creative, positive person who understands the hard work of art making. … Her enthusiasm for art is infectious and she has a great impact on others around her.”
Congratulations to this talented young woman. The Mount Abe community is happy to know that Alicia will continue her artistic endeavors after she leaves high school. 
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 Army National Guard
Vermont Book Shop