Region's top students earn academic recognition
Sandpoint Elks Lodge No. 1376 has announced students of the month for area high schools in Bonner and Boundary counties.
To be selected as an Elk’s student of the month, students must meet guidelines for character, citizenship, service, scholarship and leadership.
The Elks actively seek to reward youth through many different programs including scholarship awards, Hoop Shoot tournaments, dictionary donations to third graders, drug awareness programs and many other activities and programs.
Sandpoint Elks Lodge award thousands of dollars in scholarships and local students also received an additional money in state and national Elk scholarships. The Elks are the third largest awarder of scholarships in the county and several students have received large scholarships from the state and national level of Elks.
Among those honored were:
- Hailley Shropshire, Lake Pend Oreille High School
Lake Pend Oreille High School is proud to honor graduating senior Hailley Shrop-shire for Elks Student of the Month accolades. Hailley, who has a 4.0 GPA and is graduating early, has never received a grade lower than an A while attending Lake Pend Oreille High School.
Her determination to succeed is evidenced by pursuing an independent study course in geometry in which she taught herself. Shropshire’s favorite subjects are math (Susan Lyman), science (Brenda Woodward, and English (Kim Woodbridge) because these teachers “rock” as she affectionately states.
Shropshire is praised by LPOHS staff as not only is an exceptional student, but an industrious and conscientious person who succeeds at any activity she immerses herself in. She participated in volleyball and cheerleading at her previous school and is involved with fundraising at LPO, selling tickets for the wood raffle, volunteering at Super 1 for the Super Bowl sampler, and all school projects.
In her “spare time,” she holds down a near 20-hour work week, never complaining about how tired she is. Her goals are to pursue a career in dental hygiene being spurred on by an awesome dental hygienist who helped her overcome her fears.
- Jill Erin Alexander, Bonners Ferry High School
Jill Erin Alexander is a person of many talents. In addition to taking three years of Spanish, including my North Idaho College Dual Credit Spanish 102 and 201 classes, and being one of BFHS Spanish teacher Linda Hall’s most proficient Spanish students, Alexander excels in all subjects, whether it be art, drama, music, math, science or English.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and Honor Choir, is a member of the school’s soccer and track teams, and has performed in numerous drama performances in the community theater. Academically, Alexander carries a 4.0 GPA and is ranked 1 of 108 in the class of 2017. Her vast knowledge is evident in her score of 34 out of 35 on the ACT placement test.
This past spring, Alexander participated in the Distinguished Young Women scholarship program, an activity which required an immense amount of time, yet she was able to handle the demanding pressures of juggling schoolwork with extracurricular activities. She was selected as the top academic student and named second runner-up. She is of strong moral character, active in her church, and is in charge of the sound system during church services. In what little free time she has, Jill enjoys running, reading, writing, singing, and artwork. Jill is one of those rare students who is the “whole package,” Hall said.
- Abigail Elisabeth Kassa, Sandpoint High School
The daughter of Lisa Kassa and Matt Kassa, Abigail Elisabeth Kassa was selected as a student of the month for February for Sandpoint High School
She is ranked second in her class with a 4.387 grade point average. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and was a member of the SHS soccer team for her first three years. She enjoys skiing and various outdoor activities.
She has earned the Outstanding Individual Scholastic Award (2014 and 2015), Distinguished Team Scholastic Award (2015), Idaho Top Scholar (2016), and was named co-salutatorian.
- Gabriel Burns, Sandpoint High School
The daughter of Virginia Graham, Gabriel Burns earned student of the month honors for February at Sandpoint High School.
She is involved in numerous school activities. In addition to serving as president of the SHS Human Rights Club and Interact Club, she is secretary of French Club, and a member of Math Club, GEM Club, and National Honors Society.
She is ranked ninth in her class and has a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.3 and an unweighted GPA of 4.0.
She will be attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and intends to pursue a degree in political science.
- Winona Young — Clark Fork High School
The daughter of Lee Young and Mary Widman, Winona “Nona” Young daughter of Lee Young and Mary Widman was named student of the month at Clark Fork High School for March.
A senior at Clark Fork High School with a 3.76 GPA, Nona Young is salutatorian of her class. She has participated in volleyball and track for four years, and basketball for three and was co-captain for both volleyball and track.
She has also taken 12 credits of college classes through North Idaho College. She hopes to attend NIC and major in hospitality management, and one day work on a cruise ship. To achieve this goal, She has been job-shadowing at Pend Oreille Shores Resort to get the feel of the hospitality industry. She also travels to Illinois every summer to visit her mom, as well as work in the hospitality industry there, too. She credits her family and community for helping her with attaining her goals.