Students Honored for Academic Effort
By Sean Ely

History teacher Seth Baker (left), junior Woody Beardsley, and Superintendent Roger Schrock stand in the large gymnasium after Tuesday's "Anchor Awards" at Mackinac Island Public School. Mr. Beardsley won awards for every sport, as well as honor roll, mathematics, and physics.

Mackinac Island Public School honored its academic and athletic achievers during the "Anchor Awards" Tuesday, May 15. Students from eighth through twelfth grade were recognized before family, friends, teachers, and coaches.

"The parents are really behind our kids, academically and athletically," said Superintendent Roger Schrock. "We have great turnouts at all our events and it really showed tonight."

"It's great and it's fun to be recognized for doing so much in school and playing every sport," said junior Woody Beardsley, who won awards for mathematics, science, honor roll, soccer, basketball, track and field, and golf. "Hopefully, all of this will help me improve my work ethic so I can work hard in college and the rest of high school, finishing up with my senior year next year."

Commitment is a trait that Dr. Schrock believes is passed from the parents to their children. He believes parents on Mackinac are good role models for the children.

"We truly have a great work ethic on the part of our kids," he said. "The people on the Island work really hard, and it shows with the kids. It carries over into the young people."

"It shows that we've accomplished a lot and it shows the efforts everyone put in," said Junior volleyball player Karlena Mosley of the awards ceremony, "but I'm ready to be done. I'm ready for the next sports season to start and for the summer to begin too."

Dr. Schrock said he is proud of the students on Mackinac.

"We have students who get excellent grades and are recognized by their peers, for example, the Northern Lights League and all the other groups around that honor young people for their hard work," he said. "They have a good attitude and they're fun to be with, and they make my work really wonderful."

The school prepares its students for college, he said, and because of this, a large percentage have received college degrees, becoming successful both on and off the Island.

"Most of our kids go on to college," Dr. Schrock said. "They have different interests and different things they aspire to. They become successful people in the community or they move away and have a career somewhere else. They are very successful."

Mr. Beardsley has his dreams mapped out, with the location penciled in at the moment. He hopes to continue the school's tradition of success and pride.

"I'm actually really excited to go into the engineering program at Michigan State, and I'm also looking at Michigan Tech," he said. "But, I just hope I'll do well in sports and school and, hopefully, in life."

Besides Mr. Beardsley's top overall mathematics award, other top honorees in mathematics are Marie Bunker, Tyler McLean, and Kyle Sweet. Miss Bunker was given the computer class award because of her "I can do that" mentality. No matter what the class did, she jumped in with both feet, and gave it her best shot, teacher Susan Bennett said.

Mr. McLean received the improvement award because of the transition he made from a serious struggle to a solid Ain the class. Mrs. Bennett was worried about his comprehension of the material, but he picked it up and has done a fantastic job in every aspect of the class, she noted.

Kyle Sweet received a mathematics academic award form the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition. He took a collegelevel course via interactive television.

In Mrs. Bennett's Algebra II class, three girls even asked for extra homework problems so they can practice above and beyond what was already assigned. The effort award went to Rhodene "Michi" Mullings, Arial Leeper, and Karlena Mosley.

In science, Kyle Sweet and Woody Beardsley walked home with top academic awards in recognition of their comprehension of the material in a tough physics course while doing their own work and tutoring those who struggled. Danielle Wightman, who went from B' and C grades to A's and B's, received the most improved award. Arial Leeper was awarded the sprit of science award because she wasn't afraid to ask questions.

In history, Seth Baker presented four awards, three for courses he teaches and one for effort. The eighth grade history award was given to Morgan Brodeur- Bunker, for always being prepared for class, a ready-to-work attitude, putting everything he has into the material, and continually asking questions.

Robert Chambers received the ninth-tenth grade history award for his curiosity. Although he interrupted the flow of the class, he did it in a way to simply better understand everything Mr. Baker taught to the class, the teacher said.

In Mr. Baker's world geography class, Arial Leeper excelled in global issues.

The effort award went to Shay Mosley because she can always be counted on to complete a project.

Jane Finkel received one writing award, because her stories seemed to have real characters with real problems, and Danielle Wightman received the other writing award because she produced stories of high quality and in high quantity.

Honor roll awards went to those who had a 3.0 grade point average or better on every cardmarking. Kyle Sweet maintained a 4.0 every period and also received an academic excellence award from the Northern Lights League. The other honor roll members were Karlena Mosley, Woody Beardsley, Danielle Wightman, Rhodene "Michi" Mullings, Shy Mosley, Arial Leeper, Fuller Cowell, Darcy Brodeur-Bunker, Tymon Horn, Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, Marie Bunker, Maggie Chambers, Jane Finkel, and Kristi Kamphuis, the valedictorian of the senior class.

In the athletics department, awards were given for basketball, volleyball, golf, track and field, and soccer.

Coach Jim Fisher presented basketball awards to the 10 members of the team. Eighth grader Robert Chaffee received a first season completion award while freshman Thomas Rilenge earned his varsity letter. Paul Fisher, Tymon Horn, Caleb Straight, Tyler McLean, Robert Chambers, Michael Gamble, Riley Chaffee, and Woody Beardsley all received medals after completing another season on the team. Athird team all-area award was presented to Woody Beardsley. Two special mentions were presented to Riley Chaffee and Michael Gamble. Northern Lights League all-team awards were given to Woody Beardsley, Robert Chambers, and Michael Gamble. Tymon Horn also received an honorable mention.

Ken Straight, head soccer coach, presented the team with its awards. Season completion certificates were handed to Morgan Brodeur-Bunker and Jesse Straight, while varsity letters were given to Jane Finkel, Paul Fisher, Tymon Horn, and Shelbie Mosley. Medals were then presented to Robert Chambers, Kate Dupre, Michael Gamble, Tyler McLean, Shayleen Mosley, Rhodene Mullings, Woody Beardsley, Brandon Brown, Chayanon Mokasak, Karlena Mosley, Caleb Straight, and Josh Richards because of their completion of another soccer season.

Volleyball head coach Mary Patay presented the team with their awards after congratulating her team on all of their hard work and determination. The most valuable player honors were given to senior Kristi Kamphuis. Morgan Brodeur-Bunker was best offensive, Rhodene "Michi" Mullings was best hitter, Marie Bunker was best server, Danielle Wightman won the cannon award, Maggie Chambers won most improved overall, Ashley Gough took home the most improved eighth grader award, Karlena Mosley earned best passer, Arial Leeper won best spirit, Jane Finkel was best attitude, Shayleen Mosley was the best defensive player, and Shelbie Mosley won the attitude award.

The Lakers track team head coach Jeff Ferguson presented the team's awards. The most notable accomplishment of the season was Robert Chambers' 400-meter dash record of 58.5 seconds, which smashed the 1996 school record of 59.9 seconds. He had never trained for that specific event before running in it. Woody Beardsley consistently placed second in the discus throughout the season, while Robert Chambers dominated at the 100 meter, 200 meter, and long jump competition all year, medaling at every event. Both qualified for states in their areas of expertise, except the long jump. Rhodene "Michi" Mullings was the mirror image of Robert Chambers on the girls side, said Mr. Ferguson. She medaled constantly in the 100 and 200 meter and long jump competitions. She qualified for states in all three of those. Certificates of completion went to Morgan Brodeur-Bunker and Jesse Straight and Jeff Roguska received his varsity letter. Woody Beardsley, Robert Chambers, Shay Mosley, Rhodene "Michi" Mullings, Jane Finkel, Shelbie Mosley, and Marie Bunker all received medals after completing another season on the team.

The golf team consists of Woody Beardsley, Michael Gamble, Paul Fisher, Thomas Rilenge, Marie Bunker, and Maggie Chambers. Individual awards will be given upon completion of the season, because the four boys will be participating at states June 1, at Bark River . Woody Beardsley, Marie Bunker, and Maggie Chambers will have completed their first golf seasons while the other three boys will earn their medals after finishing another year on the team.