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 happy to name Robert Cook as its latest Student of the Week. Robert’s parents are Kate Cook of Brandon, with whom he lives, and David Cook of Florence. His brother Brady Cook is a mechanic at New England Kenworth.
Robbie has always worked as hard as he could in high school. He did his best to challenge himself. A consistent presence on the OVUHS Honor Roll is clear evidence of his success. He has also been a member of Otter Valley’s football team since freshman year.
Robbie keeps busy outside of school as well, holding down a job doing auto detailing at G Stone Motors since summer 2016 and another at Basin Sugar Works since 2017. He also volunteers at the Brandon Fire Department as has loved every second of it.
In his spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as going on ATV rides with his friends.
Robbie’s advice to his fellow students? “Take your time through high school and really enjoy it.  Grades 9-11 all I wanted to do was graduate and wanted nothing to do with school. Now that senior year has hit you start to realize all the stuff you’ll never be able to do again, and it really sinks in hard, so just take your time and enjoy every moment of high school, because you will miss it someday.”
After graduation Robbie plans on getting a job and working.
“Robbie is a hard-working and well-rounded student,” says teacher Chas Hall. “Beyond doing well in school Robbie was a senior captain of the Otter Valley Football team. He also works several jobs and enjoys hunting and fishing as well. Robbie has been a joy to have as both a student and a student-athlete.” Michelle Cioffredi adds, “Robert is one of those students who always greets people with a smile. While in my class he was a hard worker, but more importantly, he was an asset to the class because of his easy going nature and willingness to work with anyone in class. In class as well as a team member on the football team he could be counted on to do his part and encourage others to do their best.”
The students, faculty and staff at OVUHS all wish Robbie the best of luck in all his future plans.
Otter Valley Union High School is happy to name Robert Cook as its latest Student of the Week. Robert’s parents are Kate Cook of Brandon, with whom he lives, and David Cook of Florence. His brother Brady Cook is a mechanic at New England Kenworth.
Robbie has always worked as hard as he could in high school. He did his best to challenge himself. A consistent presence on the OVUHS Honor Roll is clear evidence of his success. He has also been a member of Otter Valley’s football team since freshman year.
Robbie keeps busy outside of school as well, holding down a job doing auto detailing at G Stone Motors since summer 2016 and another at Basin Sugar Works since 2017. He also volunteers at the Brandon Fire Department as has loved every second of it.
In his spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as going on ATV rides with his friends.
Robbie’s advice to his fellow students? “Take your time through high school and really enjoy it.  Grades 9-11 all I wanted to do was graduate and wanted nothing to do with school. Now that senior year has hit you start to realize all the stuff you’ll never be able to do again, and it really sinks in hard, so just take your time and enjoy every moment of high school, because you will miss it someday.”
After graduation Robbie plans on getting a job and working.
“Robbie is a hard-working and well-rounded student,” says teacher Chas Hall. “Beyond doing well in school Robbie was a senior captain of the Otter Valley Football team. He also works several jobs and enjoys hunting and fishing as well. Robbie has been a joy to have as both a student and a student-athlete.” Michelle Cioffredi adds, “Robert is one of those students who always greets people with a smile. While in my class he was a hard worker, but more importantly, he was an asset to the class because of his easy going nature and willingness to work with anyone in class. In class as well as a team member on the football team he could be counted on to do his part and encourage others to do their best.”
The students, faculty and staff at OVUHS all wish Robbie the best of luck in all his future plans.
MAUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Mount Abraham Union High School is pleased to recognize Emily Aldrich as its latest Student of the Week. Emily lives in Monkton with her parents Elizabeth and Bob Aldrich and her sister Ashley, a junior at Mt. Abe. Her older brother, Will, graduated from Mt. Abe last year and is now in the Navy for Nuclear Power Training.
Emily has been on Mt. Abe’s honor roll with highest honors and received academic excellence since her freshman year. Last year she was named to the National Honor Society. Currently she is enrolled in French 5 and AP United States History.
Sports are a big part of Emily’s life. She has played softball and field hockey all four years of high school. She has played in three state championships and was a captain of both teams this year. She was the Addison Independent Player of the Year for field hockey. During the off seasons she plays for recreational field hockey leagues and a travel softball team.
Emily serves on the Mt. Abraham Athletic Leadership Council and represented Mt. Abe at the Athletic Leadership Conference. After three years of trying, this year she has fit Yearbook into her class. Emily served as class vice president freshman through junior year and helped coordinate homecoming, winter ball, and prom. She also helped behind the scenes in the spring musical in her junior and senior year, filming each show and doing hair.
She has been working at the Bristol Cliffs Café since October 2016. Before that, she had a few other part time jobs. Over the winter of her junior year, she worked at Monkton Central School supervising and helping students with their homework in the Expanded Learning Program. She says being a student-athlete and having a part-time job can be difficult to manage sometimes, but it has given her a better work ethic and time management skills.
And then there’s volunteering. The Humane Society, softball clinics, the local food shelf and “Feed My Starving Children” have all benefitted from her help.
Does she have free time? Yes. She likes to go out with friends, read a good book, go online shopping, or be outside. She is also a huge baseball fan, so you can probably find her catching up on the Red Sox or watching a local game.
“Be open to trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone,” she says of high school. “I have formed great relationships with people and learned many life lessons by trying something new. It’s so easy to say ‘no,’ so challenge yourself and say ‘yes!’”
Community Mentor Kathleen Clark comments, “Emily is focused on her goals in life, she knows what she wants and sets her priorities to make sure she achieves it. She has made us all proud!” 
In the fall Emily will attend Endicott College and major in Sports Management. Everyone at MAUHS wishes her all the best.
 
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