INS salutes Robert McCauley from South O’Brien High School as this month’s Superior Student. Bobby is involved in cross country and golf. At school he is also on the yearbook staff and participates in Speech and Show Choir. He maintains a 3.92 GPA. He is also involved in his community, Senior High Youth Group at church, National Honor Society, and is on the 4H County Council.

He just really enjoys helping out and being a part of projects that benefit other people. Bobby is someone that you can depend on and help out where ever he is needed.

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“Anthony in addition to being an outstanding editor for our school newspaper is also just an all around top student. He has a GPA of 3.9. He has taken advance classes and he does plan to major in the field of  Journalism. He is involved throughout the community, he is active in his church youth group, and has also been a mentor for elementary students. Anthony is also very active in the school’s music department and gets along very well with others and is able to motivate his classmates. He has also active in National Honor Society. He has helped with Operation Christmas and the Adopt a Road program. Anthony is just really one of the most responsible students that I have known.”

INS Superior Student: Anthony Robinson

INS salutes Paris Schnepf from Spalding Catholic High School as this month’s superior student. She has met all of characteristics that I believe a leader should have. She is always the first one there, last one to leave and doing everything. She is willing to help out anybody with any kind of task. She is very involved with everything that she does. She is involved in softball, basketball, cross country, and her church. She also did a year of volleyball and track. She has a GPA of 3.8. She is very involved in her community. She has done a lot of community service. She was recently crowned Queen at her county fair, and then crowed IA State Fair Queen out of 103 girls this past August.

Congratulate Paris Schnepf the INS Superior Student the next time you see her and be sure to nominate a student you think is superior at ins superior student dot com. Along with the title they will earn a $250 savings bond. INS and your local independent telephone company actively supporting academic achievement and the youth of Iowa’s future.

AUDIO: INS Superior Student. Paris Schnepf

Luke Symonds is a Senior at Cumberland-Anita-Massena (CAM) High School. He was nominated by Debra Brown:

AUDIO: About Luke Symonds

“Each and every Friday night Luke Symonds takes the field, he’s one of the smallest players on the gridiron. As a 5’8”, 155 pound starter on the fifth-ranked CAM football team, Luke has never let his small stature be a deterrent to success. Instead, he’s used this challenge to not only motivate himself but encourage others as well. His coaches describe him as a tremendous team asset, a great team member who leads by example.

While the CAM football squad has enjoyed recent success, the school’s baseball team has faced much adversity. Challenges include numerous coaching changes and rebounding from 0-22 and 4-18 seasons. As the lone senior on this year’s team, Luke has already begun planning upcoming projects that will positively impact future Cougar baseball programs.

From organizing elementary skills camps to heading up fund-raising efforts for new dugouts, Luke’s dedication to his school’s baseball program is unwavering. This enthusiastic team captain will use his experience and positive attitude to help rally this spring’s baseball team. Luke’s leadership spans far beyond athletics.

The Boomerang Character Ed Program is a positive character-building program which partners high school students with elementary youth. Luke is one of only eight students selected by his teachers to serve as a Boomerang leader at the Anita Elementary. Over the course of twelve weeks, this young community volunteer encourages respect and responsibility while helping impressionable fifth-graders make wise choices.

This CAM senior continues his volunteerism and service to others by being an active member of his church and youth group. Luke serves regularly in his church and is always eager to roll up his sleeves to assist with community betterment projects.

For the past four years, Luke has helped organize and sponsor benefit basketball tournaments, involving youth from more than eight different communities. Designed to encourage fun and fellowship among teenagers, this annual event has also raised dollars to assist the needy with medical expenses and restock depleted food pantries.

From athletics to school and community events, Luke Symonds has devoted many hours to improving the quality of life for others. His positive attitude, great work ethic, and ability to lead others by his example make him a worthy candidate for the INS Superior Student of the Month Award.”

Jason Meyer is a junior at Olin Consolidated School. He was nominated by Brenda Farrington who says:

“I believe Jason Meyer deserves to be recognized as an INS Superior Student for several reasons. Jason is a junior at Olin High School. Jason is a superior student in academics as well as community involvement, drama, church, sports and music. Jason demonstrates excellence in all he does. Jason is from a single parent home and you could not ask for a more dependable, polite and giving young man to be a part of our future. Jason has been involved with Boy Scouts of America for many years. Jason has also been involved with the Youth Group at the United Methodist Church and has been involved with several out of state mission trips to help those in need. Jason, as well as his family, has been involved with the holiday church plays for the surrounding communities. This brings the true spirit of the holidays alive.

When the flood devastated our town, Jason and his entire family were the first to volunteer to fill sandbags and save other homes from the water. Jason worked tirelessly for many hours non-stop. Jason also unanimously gave half of his birthday money to the local food pantry to help others in need. How many high school students would do this?

Jason is on his school’s football, basketball and baseball teams. Jason has participated in Drama, Band and Choir and is on the honor roll. Jason is also involved with Student Council and is active in Red Ribbon week and LRP. Jason is currently taking Kirkwood classes along with his regular academic classes.

Jason is aspires to become a plastic surgeon to help those with severe disfigurements. Jason and his family put on an annual Halloween Haunted House for the children of the community. This allows the children to be safe and have some fun. Jason puts in many hours and lots of work to set up, participate and tear down within twenty-four hours.

Jason Meyer is an all around INS Superior Student.”

AUDIO: About Jason Meyer

Connor Lange is a senior at Lenox Community Schools. He was nominated by Principal Ken Myers, who says:

“Connor carries a 3.62 GPA and is a major player in football, basketball, and baseball. The 2008 football team won the State Championship and he played a key role. Also the 2009 Baseball team finished runners-up and he again played a key role. He is the starting center on the basketball team. His GPA has him leading his class and he is a member of the National Honor Society.”

AUDIO: About Conner Lange

Caine Westergard is a senior at Akron-Westfield high school.  She was nominated by Julie Beitelspacher Assistant Vice-President of Primebank, who says:

“Caine is an 8 year member of Plymouth County 4-H. She is a member of the Plymouth County 4-H Council, the Northwest Iowa Area 4-H Council, and the Iowa State 4-H Council.  She has volunteered at the Iowa State Fair, attended Iowa 4-H Legislative Day, and is a State Fair Buy-a-Brick” donor.  She has attended the Iowa State 4-H annual conference four times in her high school career.  She has exhibited champion projects and given educational presentations at the Iowa State Fair.

In the community she is an American Red Cross Life guard and swim instructor, American Heart Association volunteer and “Sweetheart” advocate, is an Akron Care Center Animal Visitation volunteer and volunteered with RAGBRAI. She is active with the Plymouth County Barn Quilts Project. Caine is the Children’s Bell Choir Assistant at her church. In June she was elected as Governor at the 64th session of the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girl’s State at ISU in Ames.

In school Caine is involved in student council, band & choir, cheerleading, volleyball, golf, individual and large group speech plays, Lakeside Lab Project, Akron Community Service Day, Akron-Westfield Leadership Night and the Akron-Westfield Senior Citizen’s Fun Night.

In July Caine was chosen as the Plymouth County Fair Queen. She then went on to compete at the Iowa State Fair and on August 15th was chosen as the 2009 Iowa State Fair Queen competing with 103 other candidates.

Caine has a great personality and “shines” in everything she takes part in.  She is an All-American girl who lives on a farm in northwest Iowa.  She works hard and sets goals and achieves them with success. I got to know Caine through my volunteer work with 4-H in our county. I have watched her grow over these last 8 years and am proud to say she is from Plymouth County!”

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