News Release

LARWILL  — The following Whitko Community School students have been named students of the month for April.

Jaylen Gibson

Whitko’s senior student of the month is Jaylen Gibson, who was nominated by teacher Antimony Fox. Fox said: “Jaylen has shown tremendous growth in his writing skills and personal growth since his sophomore year. His personality shows through when writing and talking now. He is a genuinely kind student, always saying hi and bye or starting a small conversation. He keeps busy, between his extracurricular activities, his Capstone working within the nursing department and his academics. He is one of the few students who is consistently proactive about getting his work done when he knows he won’t be in class. Jaylen has been great to have in the class and interact with outside of school, too.”

Lillie Sickafoose

The Whitko junior student of the month is Lillie Sickafoose, who was nominated by teacher John Strayer. Strayer said: “Lillie is respectful, polite, hardworking and willing to help anyone in need. She is not afraid to take on challenges and works hard to complete them. Lillie has a kind heart and brightens up anyone’s day. She is an amazing student and just a great person to be around.”

Ethan Perkins

Ethan Perkins is Whitko’s sophomore student of the month. He was nominated by teacher Mike Hanback, who said: “Ethan is one of those students who really would rather stay invisible, I think. He quietly goes through the day doing what he is supposed to do as a student — working hard and getting the grades he strives for. He doesn’t like to be called out, but he will sit quietly, listen, do his work and then leave the room at the end of the period. His efforts, however, speak for him. He is pretty much a straight-A student with a really good work ethic, which will help him in the future. One other glowing characteristic he has is that he will do anything you ask him to do for you, as he demonstrates as a member of the Junior National Honor Society.”

Elyse Engle

Whitko’s eighth-grade student of the month is Elyse Engle, who was nominated by teacher Charissa Wilson. Wilson said: “Elyse is a great student and an amazing person. She works hard to get her work done and achieve her goal of A-B honor roll. She uses her time in class wisely and asks for help as needed. She is also willing to help others as she is able. Additionally, Elyse is extremely creative in her drawing and writing. I enjoy having Elyse in my class and look forward to seeing all the good that she will do.”

Hope Young

The Whitko seventh-grade student of the month is Hope Young. She was nominated by teacher Teresa Knepple, who said: “Hope is a great student, active in sports and her community and a quiet leader wholeads by example. Junior high is tough. It’s not the curriculum or the teachers; it is the process of morphing into a young adult. All the emotions and thoughts racing through one’s mind, all while  multiplying and dividing fractions, different genres, concepts of Earth science and learning about U.S. history. It is hard to keep things straight. This young lady has been able to balance teenage life (with all its emotions) and her academics. This time of year, drama runs high. Hope has learned how to handle drama. When classmates try to pull her into the drama, her response is to block them and/or walk away. An outstanding response for all of us to remember.”

Lilly Gangwer

Lilly Gangwer is Whitko’s Career Academy student of the month. She was nominated by teacher Amy Nicodemus, who said: “I nominate Lily Gangwer for the April Student of the Month award. Lily is a student in the medical health science courses and has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the school year. She consistently arrives to class well-prepared and eager to learn, making the most of every opportunity to grow. Lily is fully engaged in class, actively participating in activities and discussions. She consistently answers questions thoughtfully, with attention to detail. Lily is always ready to assist her peers, offering help when needed and willingly pairing up with others who may need additional support. Lily is a quiet but effective leader and always shows respect to me and her peers. At the start of the year, she approached me with a question about missing two points on an assignment. She was genuinely concerned about how to improve her grade. When I explained that she had done well but could make a few adjustments to perfect the assignment, Lily shared with me that she had set a personal goal to achieve an A+ in all of her classes this year. She also confided that, in the previous year, she had struggled with school and was on the verge of failing. However, she now understands the importance of her education, particularly since she plans to pursue a career in health care. Lily’s commitment to her goal is evident in her performance — she is currently earning an A+ in all three of my classes. She has embraced the challenge of her HOSA projects with enthusiasm, and her work ethic and drive are truly inspiring. Lily consistently takes ownership of her education, elevating each assignment to the next level. I could not be more proud of Lily. Her hard work, determination and positive attitude not only set her apart as a student but also point to her potential to become an outstanding health care professional in the future.”

Rebecca Burnworth

South Whitley Elementary School’s student of the month is Rebecca Burnworth. She was nominated by Title I teacher Michelle Walker, who said: “Rebecca Burnworth has been chosen as the April student of the month by Title I teachers. Rebecca is a strong student who, even though she tends to be quiet, has a personality and caring attitude that is strong enough to be felt all the way outside of her classroom, and into the Title I classroom. Our decision to choose Rebecca for student of the month was a unanimous decision because of how quickly we could see how outstanding this little girl is every day. We see her check on her classmates, and she even makes it a point to check in on how teachers are doing. Rebecca works very hard academically by challenging herself and never giving up, which allows her to do amazing things in second grade. Most importantly, her personality and the way she cares for the people around her is why we chose her to be student of the month.”

Gwenevere Griffith

The Pierceton Elementary School student of the month is Gwenevere Griffith. She was nominated by fifth-grade teacher Samantha Pauwels, who said: “Gwenevere Griffith is a responsible and helpful student. She is the first student to offer to help other students who are struggling. She is willing to step up and help in any way she can. She is very hardworking in her academics and goes above and beyond in the classroom.”