GHS Students of the Month Include Trailblazers in Chess, 'Open Studio' Art

Matt Sweet, Grade 9

Nominated by Kim Torman

Matt deserves to be recognized as Student of the Month because of the dedication and motivation he applies to every task set before him. In the short time I’ve known Matt he has consistently given me his best work, all the while with a smile on his face. He consistently participates in discussions by offering 
meaningful and insightful points of view on the literature being discussed. Matt has a positive and uplifting impact on the rest of the class, which makes teaching him a true delight. 

Isabel Fromm, Grade 9

Nominated by Peter Raak

I would like to nominate Isabel for my student of the month for a variety of reasons. First of all, Isabel is doing very well in Biology, which is a challenging class for many students and a big adjustment from middle school. One of the reasons why she is doing so well is the fact that she is very conscientious
with her studies. It is evident that school is important to Isabel, and she puts in the effort necessary to be successful. Isabel also has a calming influence on the class, and she participates regularly in class discussions. For these reasons, I wanted to recognize Isabel’s academic efforts and successes. 

Sydney Garth, Grade 12

Nominated by Al Ochsner

I would like to nominate Sydney Garth as my Student of the Month. This is not an easy task, as there is always an amazing selection of talented High School students to choose from. But Sydney does stand out and is at the top of my list. Every day, she is eager to not just finish the assignments, but to provide 
something wonderful and unexpected. I try to inspire students to take risks, push the levels of what they know and think outside the box. Consistently, this is exactly what she does. She intelligently interacts with her peers, and keeps a positive attitude with humor and insight. Sydney wanted to create an opportunity for art students and non-art students to come in and work after 
school. Although already spread thin, extracurricularly speaking, we developed a method to make this happen. Without the pressure of grades, but keeping with GHS guidelines, the small group of art motivated students, known as “Open Studio” began. It is growing, and if it continues to next year, it will 
be one of Sydney Garth’s legacies at GHS. She is a self-motivated, talented artist with leadership skills and would excel in an art or art related career. 
I spoke to her about her college major goals, and I predict a very bright future for this young adult. She is the type of student we teachers hope ends up in our class. 
 

Elise Anderson, Grade 12

Nominated by Sophia Michalek

For my Student of the Month I chose Elise Anderson. I have had the honor and joy of being Elise’s P.E. teachers for the last few semesters. Elise brings this unbelievable positive energy to class every day which makes my job that much more enjoyable. She is hard working, enthusiastic and creative in my class. She has gone above and beyond what my expectations for my students are. She is very easy to work with and gets along with all of the students in class. Elise will truly be missed next year and my class will not be the same without her. Good luck in all you do, Elise!

Russel Saleh, Grade 12

Nominated by Mary Keyzer

It is my pleasure to nominate Russel Saleh as the Social Studies Student of the Month. Russel is an exchange student this year from Bahrain. If you ever meet Russel, you will see that she is absolutely terrific. She is bright and works hard to take on the academic rigor of the Psychology I curriculum. She is respectful and willing to be part of every discussion no matter what the subject is. She is outgoing and is truly making her experiences her at GHS worth every moment. I would say without a doubt, that she is a model student on every facet and I am very honored to have her in my class.

Steffen Graham, Grade 12

Nominated by Brian Schmidt

I have nominated Steffen Graham for Student of the Month because of his outstanding leadership of our newly formed Chess Club. In addition to being an excellent chess player, Mr. Graham has shown himself to be a true sportsman and a natural leader. Every time I see Mr. Graham win a game of chess I also see him encouraging his opponents and offering thoughtful suggestions as to how they can improve their game. In defeat (which is not often) Mr. Graham always congratulates his opponent on a well played game and uses the opportunity to reflect on and refine his own strategies. We are just a few months into the school year but our newly formed Chess Club already has a strong core membership, is regularly attracting new members, and is set to compete in its first IHSA tournament. I recognize that the success of this club has much to do with Mr. Graham’s leadership and that is why I feel 
he deserves recognition as a GHS Student of the Month.

Justin Nebel, Grade 11

Nominated by Jamie Dunlap

I am so very proud to name Justin Nebel as our Student of the Month in Business. I have only known Justin since August, but in that short of time I can say without hesitation, I have never met a student who is so intent on making sure he understands everything before he leaves each day. Justin is one of the most polite and respectful students, ALWAYS pays attention, and as everyone is running for the door at the end of class, Justin will take his time to make sure he is organized and will sometimes stop and make sure he knows what might be due, or ask for clarification on an assignment. And when he turns in work, he regularly goes above and beyond my expectations! Justin has been such a joy to have in class and what a great role model he is for others! 
Congratulations Justin!

Molly McGavin, Grade 9

Nominated by Anna Zahn

Molly McGavin is my student of the month because she has demonstrated a great work ethic in my class. As many students experience in these first few months of high school, Algebra I can feel a lot different than previous math courses and Molly has done a great job refining the skills needed to be successful in this class. I have seen an increase in Molly’s confidence and her willingness to participate in class. She is willing to put in work time outside of school with me and in the tutor lab to make sure she understands the material and makes the time to ask any questions that she has. I am seeing that all this hard work has had a positive effect on Molly’s grade in Algebra I and I hope that she is proud of the work she is doing. Molly is a great example to her peers and always comes to class with a positive attitude and smile on her 
face.

Anna Kilmer, Grade 12

Nominated by Rene Swidenbank

It is a pleasure to nominate Anna Kilmer for Student of the Month. I have had the pleasure of having Anna in German class for the past four years. She is presently a senior in German V AP. Anna has demonstrated her intellectual curiosity and a great passion for language learning like no other student 
at GHS. She is currently enrolled in French class in addition to German and is studying Korean independently. She has worked hard to improve her German language skills and I have witnessed a profound change in the level of her commitment since she first began with me. She has sought out multiple opportunities to continue her language education abroad and I am in awe of her drive and determination to realize this goal. In addition, I have been impressed by the initiative she has taken over the past two years to step out of her comfort zone and become a leader in her class, in German Club and in German National Honor society. This year she is a member of the executive board, which plans all German club activities. As a result of her hard work in the classroom, she was inducted into the National German Honor Society in the fall of last year. As president of this year’s German National Honor Society, Anna is responsible for tutoring lower level German students and for the planning and coordination of German week activities promoting the language and culture of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. She truly exemplifies the characteristics of an honor society member by taking every opportunity to promote the language and culture of German speaking countries.

Adam Huber, Grade 9

Nominated by Jen Lechelt

Adam Huber is a worthy Student of the Month just for his personality and ready smile. It is a pleasure to work with Adam on a daily basis. He is genuine, thoughtful and has a great work ethic. He is a conscientious and hard-working student in every capacity. Making the transition to high school can be challenging. Adam has made a consistent effort to meet that challenge. He has an innate ability to work well with others and is kind to others! Every day I look forward to Adam’s great smile and his willingness to work to his potential.


SOURCE: School District 304