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Students of the Week – 3/19/18

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
Courtney Lee of Brandon/Leicester has been selected as Otter Valley Union High School’s latest Student of the Week. Her parents are Mark and Dolores Lee. Her older sister, Kristen, is an OVUHS graduate and studies Biology at Paul Smith’s College.
Courtney has been a consistent honors student throughout high school. She enrolled for the Automotive Technology program at Stafford Technical Center in Rutland for her junior and senior year. Junior year she not only got inducted into National Honor Society, but the National Technical Honor Society as well. Her first year in auto tech was all hands on — working on vehicles and learning how to diagnose problems on cars and fix them. Her second year is more geared towards the business aspect — how a business should operate and how to make and pay customer bills. Both junior and senior years Courtney has been in college-prep english classes. At Stafford she has received student of the marking period not only in Auto Tech but also for English. Going to Stafford for a second year has helped her realize that she wants to be involved in business after graduating.
Courtney played softball her freshman and sophomore years. She currently works at CED in Rutland. and volunteers for the Brandon Fire Department. She notes that both working a paid job and volunteering keeps her busy and helps her give back to her town.
Outside of school Courtney likes to stay active outdoors, hunting, fishing, and sugaring with friends in the winter.
“During my high school experience I learned that if you work hard and focus on your classes you will end up not having to work as hard outside of the classroom on schoolwork,” Courtney says. “Staying focused on my classes has given me enough free time to do the things I want, like volunteering at the Brandon Fire Department.”
After high school Courtney will be working at CED in Rutland, which will give her on-the-job training so she can advance her knowledge in the electrical field.
“From the very first day, Courtney exhibited a very high level of intelligence, hands-on skill, enthusiasm, and work ethic that guarantees success in today’s world of work,” says Stafford Technical Center teacher James Woodward. “During her first year in the program, Courtney was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society, an achievement rarely accomplished by a first year student. During her second year, Courtney interviewed and was accepted for a Cooperative Work Experience at CED Electric Supply Company here in Rutland. Courtney not only brings a high level of skill and abilities to the workplace, but also a great sense of humor, smile, and enjoyable personality that her co-workers and classmates like to be around. If I could keep her for a 13th year, I would do so.”
Everyone at Otter Valley Union High School wishes Courtney all the best as she shapes her post-high school career.
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School is proud to recognize Emma LaRose as its Student of the Week. Emma and her family, parents Kevin and Megan and brother Koby, live in Bristol.
Emma has shown continuous academic growth while at Mt. Abe, achieving academic excellence every year of high school. In her freshman and sophomore years, she made the honor roll. Last year, she made high honors and this year she made highest honors. She is challenging herself this year by taking AP Calculus and an online, three-credit literature class at Saint Michael’s College.
Emma has been a member of the school’s chorus and a cappella group, Sweet Transition, every year of high school. This year, she is the student leader or “pitch” of Sweet T. She was also a member of the school’s band in 9th and 10th grade. Emma also keeps herself active — playing softball in 9th and 10th grade, and soccer and basketball throughout high school. This is her second year as a basketball team captain and she has just been named to the Vermont Senior Basketball All-Stars team. She has participated in both fall and spring musicals every year. This is Emma’s second year on the Mount Abraham Athletic Leadership Council (MAALC), who plan pep rallies and try to make the lives of student-athletes fun and enjoyable.
For two summers Emma has worked at the Village Creemee Stand in Bristol. She also works part-time for her dad at his surveying business, creating maps and filing paperwork. She volunteers at the Bristol food shelf, is a counselor at a week-long basketball camp during the summers and hopes to continue doing so throughout college, and co-teaches her parish’s Kindergarten and First Grade Catechism class every week.
Outside of school, Emma enjoys drawing and sketching, and spending time with her friends and family.
Emma encourages her fellow students to work hard. “As you enter high school, it doesn’t initially seem important to get good grades or participate in extracurricular activities,” she says. “I thought that if I missed an assignment or didn’t do so well on a test that it wouldn’t matter in the long run. But down the road, you will feel so proud of yourself looking back on all of the things you accomplished, even if it seemed difficult at the time.”
Emma plans to attend Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont in the fall, double-majoring in Early Education and Mathematics, and hopes to work part-time during the school year and summer.
“Emma is a rock solid human being. She is the go-to person. She has drive and passion matched by few,” says Assistant Principal/spring musical Director, Justin Bouvier. French Teacher, Jori Jacobeit adds, “As a language learner, Emma demonstrates confidence and creativity. Teachers and peers appreciate her vibrant spirit and her consistent engagement.”
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 Services
Bourdon Insurance Agency
Business Telephone Systems
Champlain Valley Plumbing & Heating
Cubbers
Green Earth Energy
J.W. & D.E. Ryan
Jackman Fuels Inc.
Middlebury Antique Center
Peak View Eye Care
Tinker and Smithy Game Store
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Book Shop

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