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| The 2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award Recipients Photo Credit: Bob Frei |
Twenty students from ten local high schools were recognized at the 10th annual Clare-Gladwin
Area School Board Association’s Turn-Around Achievement Awards on May 7. Held at Mid Michigan
Community College, community leaders in education celebrated the accomplishments of local high school students who have made a positive and significant change in their lives during their high school
careers despite extreme personal or academic
struggles.
The Keynote Speaker at the awards ceremony was Lindsay
Golden, an admissions specialist at Mid Michigan Community College. Originally
from Clare, Golden
revealed the series of poor decisions she made during her teen years that
ultimately led to her dropping out of high school and making choices that threatened
her well-being. “At that point, I was the worst possible version of myself,”
she said. “It was then I decided I couldn’t live like that anymore.” Golden’s
revelation resulted in her returning to school and working around the clock so
she could graduate with her class. Today, Golden holds an associate’s degree from Mid Michigan Community College and
is working toward her bachelor’s. “What you have accomplished is a big deal,”
Golden said, addressing the students. “You should be so proud of yourselves.”
As the awards were
presented, tears of joy were shared by both the students and the teachers as
they reflected on their journeys to success. “As an educator, you hope to make
an impact on students’ lives,” said Lori Taylor, Clare High School teacher. “But
I didn’t expect for the students to make such an impact on mine.”
Many award
recipients thanked their educators, families, and friends for their
encouragement along the way.
In addition to a certificate, recipients of the Turn-Around Achievement Awards were given one of three scholarships, each of which entitles them to six credit hours of in-district tuition at MMCC. The Scholarships included the Doug Dodge Academic Opportunity Award for the Beaverton, Clare, Farwell,
Gladwin, and Harrison schools students; the Al Roeseler Academic Opportunity Award for the students
from Coleman High School; and the Tom Gilstad Academic Opportunity Award for those attending Bullock Creek High School or Meridian High School.
The
2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award recipients include:
Beaverton Jr/Sr High School
April Gibson
Weston Muma
Bullock Creek High School
Trae Duby
Larissa Miller
Clare High School
Christopher Delong
Marissa MacDonald
Clare Pioneer High School
Emanueal Butts
Coleman Jr/Sr High School
Zachary Harris
Shyanne Loggie
Farwell High School
Kailyn Brugger
Travis Smith
Farwell Timberland High School
Joe Elsie
Gladwin High School
Donna Canfield
Blake Roggow
Harrison High School
Devon Barron
Joshua Veite
Harrison Alternative High School
Christopher
Hoefling
Bradley Walsh
Meridian High School
Kayla Callahan
Devin Wood
