My-1043, Buck 92.3/AM830 WMMI, Bills Custom Fab, Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel, Jons Country Burgers, ICCU and My-Michigan Podcasts.com along with the Gratiot Isabella Technical Education Center present the return of our Student of the Month!
Whenever students go above & beyond in and out of the classroom throughout the school year, teachers & administrators take notice and they nominate those to become Students of the month. Below, you vote on them (as often as you wish). At the end of each month, the student who receives the most votes will be awarded the prize package from our sponsors and local business supporters.
SEPTEMBER 2023 NOMINEES:
Isabella Valenzuela-Watson-Mt. Pleasant High School *(Nominating Teacher: Andrea Langley- Graphic Design)
I highly recommend Izzy because she has shown great potential and a passion for creativity. She has shown willingness to learn and her dedication to excellence in design have stood out amongst her peers. It has been my pleasure to have taught Izzy in three of my classes. Each time she earned an A in my class, which is well above the class average. In her sophomore year, she took on many client jobs on top of her course load. Her tireless work ethic was showcased through her knowledge of both design and machine operation by the end of the school year. Izzy helps run The Foster Closet of Isabella County, a non-profit organization to help kids in foster care get what they need for free for the past 5 years. She is on the varsity bowling team and the JV tennis team. In her free time, she likes to volunteer, participate in clubs, and work a part time job. She enjoys helping her peers and working with others. Izzy is part of the Interact Club and the CTE club. Her favorite part of graphic arts is the creativity, vinyl, and being able to have a class that has a family bond. Over the summer she helped with the GI-TEC summer camp.
Libby Olson- Mt. Pleasant High School Nominating Teacher: Jen Chandler- Health Careers
I first met Libby Olson when she was a junior in our GI-TEC Health Science Class. While Libby is consistently a strong student academically, it is her personal qualities that will help her excel as a professional healthcare provider. responsible, honest, compassionate, determined and optimistic are just a few of the words that describe Libby. In our Health Science classroom community, Libby was always the first to reach out to another student and offer friendship and compassion in an effort to build a stronger classroom community for all. Libby’s leadership style is to act as a team player, lead by example, model good behavior and to practice inclusivity with all. She was literally ‘the glue’ that bonded our junior Health Science class and GI-TEC Health Science Club during the 2022-23 academic year. “I’ve learned a lot this past year about how important it can be to mentor someone else who may need that support.” After a rigorous application process in the spring of her junior year, Libby was one of only five students admitted to the GI-TEC Phlebotomy Class for her senior year. She is currently working towards her National Phlebotomy Certification. In addition to her commitment to her academics, Libby loves to work! She currently works at the Pohlcat Golf Course, where she has been employed for two years. Libby also prioritizes spending free time with her friends and family. According to Libby, “Since taking my first GI-TEC Health Sciences class last year, I have learned so much, not only about things like anatomy, physiology and phlebotomy, but about how important it is to be committed to your goals, how important it is to be a team-player and how to constantly work towards bettering myself so I can be the BEST healthcare professional I can be for my patients and co-workers.” After earning her national certification in phlebotomy, Libby plans to pursue a degree in nursing at MidMichigan College.
Riley Nottingham- Mt. Pleasant High School Nominating Teacher: Denise Arnold- CNA Program
Riley is a Mt. Pleasant senior and a second year Health Science Careers student. This year she will complete the nursing assistant program. Her future plans are to attend college to obtain a degree in Physical Therapy. Working with Riley is always a joy —- you always find her with a smile on her face. She is often the class cheerleader helping and encouraging her peers. She is often the person who will step up to demonstrate a skill when no one else will. Riley will be taking on a leadership role in the Health Science Club and you can also see her working with other leadership groups such as school senate. When not in the classroom you can find Riley kicking around the soccer ball for the varsity team. She is a very trustworthy and responsible student and I am excited to see where the future takes her.