Rachel Proffitt is a senior at Solon High School. She was nominated by teacher Joel Foreman:

AUDIO: About Rachel Proffit

Rachel is one of the most outstanding students with which I have had the pleasure of working. She is involved in our concert band, jazz band, auditioned choir, jazz choir, and chamber choir. Rachel also performs at State Solo/Ensemble Contest each year and State Large Group Contest in the Spring.

Groups in which she has been enrolled have received multiple superior ratings and consistently score at the top of their respective class. Rachel has also played principal roles in our musical every fall, been a member of our Varsity Volleyball team and is the drum major of our marching band.

Moreover, Rachel continually goes above and beyond the responsibilities of an ensemble member to ensure both her success and the success of others. She if frequently offering extra time to help with organizational needs, is the first person to arrive at rehearsal to help directors with setup, and always the last to leave.

Rachel brings a positive spirit to every group and every rehearsal and maintains a ready and willing attitude no matter what the circumstance. She is a privilege to have in class and I give her my strongest recommendation. If a student like Rachel comes along once every 15 years, I’d consider myself and our program lucky!

Mariana Ramirez is a senior at Schaller-Crestland. She was nominated by teacher Kelly Wiener:

AUDIO: About Mariana Ramirez

“Mariana is a true Scahller-Crestland success story. She is an inspiration to all of our students as she shows daily what hard work and determination can accomplish. Mariana arrived in the United States as a 5th grader. She started her education at Schaller-Crestland as a 6th grader with limited English and a burning desire to learn. As a senior, Mariana is planning to attend Buena Vista University and major in pre-dentistry and minor is psychology.

She has received the Presidential Academic Achievement Award, Governor’s Volunteer Award and Character Counts Honorable mention recipient for all of her volunteer work which includes: After School Program at S-C, Big Brothers and Big Sisters Mentor, Student Advisory Committee Member, and National Honor Society Member. This fall Mariana organized a group of Hispanic students and their families to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by creating a display in the library, creating a PowerPoint for students and staff and organizing an assembly that provided Hispanic food, music and activities for the Schaller-Crestland student body. Mariana competes in individual speech, quiz bowl, TAG and golf.

In her community, Mariana was selected as a 2008 Schaller Popcorn Queen and represented Schaller in various community and area activities. She is a member of Lutheran Youth of Christ at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller and serves as Vice President of the organization. She helps with the summer Vacation Bible School at church, adopt a highway clean-up, helped create care packages for victims of natural disaster and worked at various church fundraisers.

Mariana has had many obstacles to overcome and yet she accepts all honors and awards with grace. She is the most appreciative person I have ever met. As a teacher, it is a joy to have a student who sets such a high bar for all of us through her actions and her work ethic. Mariana is not just a superior student, she is a superior person and I nominate her for your fine award and honor.”

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!”

AUDIO:

Callie Clow is a high school student at Lineville-Clio. She was nominated by teacher Pat Marolf.

“Callie, a student of mine in middle school, was looking for a work study position for her senior year.  It was suggested she work in the elementary library which is across from my classroom.  As we have only a part-time librarian, it fell to me to supervise her on a daily basis.  She spends one period every day in the library doing all the basic library chores; she cards books, keeps the shelves in order, and reads to the younger students on occasion.  Callie does all of this with a smile on her face and a willingness to do whatever is asked of her.

Callie is a very good student but will probably not be one recognized for her superior scholastic ability, as her class has many with excellent academic records.

Callie is polite and courteous, dependable and reliable, and is just a very nice young lady.  I would love to see her receive recognition for her work in keeping our elementary library functioning as it should.”

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Tate Dusanek is a student at Midland High School. He was nominated by his mother Tara Hay-Dusanek.

“Tate is an all-around superior young man!  I am, of course, a little biased, being his mother and all!  However, along with his school work as a Junior at Midland High School, Tate is a four-sport athlete, keeps above a 3.0 GPA (while taking college-level courses as a Junior), holds a part-time job at Casey’s, is a member and usher at our church, a volunteer counselor at Camp Wyoming in the summer, has been elected to attend American Legion Boy’s State this year, and has been a member of school groups such as S.T.A.N.D. (Students Against Negative Decisions) and LRP (Leadership Resiliency Program).  He just finished participating in the State Speech contest in the Improv category.  He does all this while being a great big brother to his two little sisters, who do their best to annoy him incessantly.  He also plays a mean guitar on the video game Guitar Hero.  He IS one of my heroes, and his Dad and I are both proud that he is our son.”

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Chelsey Anderson is a senior at Laurens-Marathon School.She was nominated by teacher Nancy Kunickis:

“Chelsey is a very dedicated student and her hard work over the years has earned her very good results.  The successes that she has received at Laurens-Marathon are a reflection of her abilities and hard work. Chelsey is very dedicated, mature and highly committed to her education and extracurricular activities. Chelsey is a member of the National Honor Society. She also participates in band, vocal, show choir,and…sports….Chelsey is very outgoing and always willing to help someone out.  She is honest, considerate, supportive, and has the ability to see and understand things from another person’s perspective. Chelsey displays great enthusiasm and initiative; she has excellent communication skills and a very outgoing personality.  As a member of the speech team, Chelsey has taken her role as a leader, very seriously. Chelsey takes the lead to inspire the speech team to continue to do the best that they can, and as a result of her leadership qualities, the groups went on to State competition receiving Division I ratings, and the team then received the highest of honors by being a part of two All State Teams this year.

Chelsey leads by example, and that is evident in how she lives her life.  She is active in her church,community, school, and extracurricular activities. Chelsey even did a mission trip to another country through her church. As an educator I have watched Chelsey grow, seen her talents and abilities not only in the classroom, but outside its walls grow as well.  I urge you to consider Chelsey Anderson for this recognition.  Chelsey is quite simply, a remarkable young woman.”

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