High School Principal Tony Petersen welcomed all the families and guests attending. “We are here this evening to recognize the outstanding achievements of an exceptional group of young men and women,” said Petersen.
He thanked the seniors and their families. “It is an honor to serve as your principal and I look forward to seeing the impact you make on the world,” said Petersen.
More than 50 scholarships, from corporations, memorial funds and other sources, were announced with many coming from the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation.
The following scholarships and awards were awarded:
University of Michigan Award: Kaden Hamming and Charlotte Nelson
This award is given to one male and one female from the upper one-third (scholastically) of the senior class. The criteria considered when selecting these students are:
- Honesty
- Willingness
- Industry
- Courtesy
- Contribution to School
- Sportsmanship
- Initiative
The Barry County University of Michigan Alumni Club each year presents these students with a dictionary.
Henry J. Dugan Principal’s Award - Whitney Ruger
This award is intended to bring public recognition to a senior student who has earned the respect of his or her school and the community. The recipient is not always an active participant in every school function but someone who demonstrates that they can contribute without hurting others and that they can succeed by helping others to succeed. The following was considered when nominating this student: school citizenship, academic excellence, peer respect, community service, involvement in co-curricular activities, and who quietly contributes to make his or her school a better place and who otherwise might not be publicly recognized for their effort.
Ray Page Service Award - Elizabeth Middleton
This award is intended to bring recognition to a senior student who has contributed extra time and effort to help out when and where needed. The recipient isn’t necessarily a straight A or B student, but someone who always seems to be there when needed. We have many of these students who spend a lot of time helping out and we felt that a special “Service Award” should be given to the individual selected.
Scholastic Excellence Award - Tyne Bufka and Dylan Bailey
This award is intended to bring recognition to a senior student who demonstrates the qualities of an exemplary citizen, role model to younger students, traits of courage, poise, self confidence, and leadership.
SCHOLARSHIPS
TK Class of 1957 Scholarship - Logan Garrett
TK Class of 1966 Scholarship - Grant Middleton
Adam Dipp Scholarship - Emily Fliearman
Dan Dykstra Jr. Scholarship - Noelle Smith
Lorraine Dahlgren Memorial - Joselyn DeBoer
Logan Michael Kimbrue Memorial Scholarship - Ethan Bonnema
Alecia Lorraine Holst Memorial - Brooke Reurink
Tad Thatcher Memorial Scholarship - Whitney Ruger
Brian Appel Scholarship - Justin Goggins
McCullough Family Scholarship - Alivia Raak
Millicent Grace Knox Scholarship - Emilia Rickert
Terri Yoder Scholarship- Jaelyn Thomas
Julie Bender Women’s Athletic Scholarship - Kendra Coe
Emil Tyden Founders Scholarship - Kendra Coe
Rodney and Rena Schad Memorial - Kendra Coe
Samuel McKeown Memorial Scholarship (Business) - Kendra Coe, Hayden Chatman
Samuel McKeown Memorial Scholarship (Medical) - Hailey Dudik, Madalynne Barrera-Wilder
Ray Page Scholar Athletic Memorial Scholarship - Drake Snyder
GFWC - Gun Lake Women’s Club Scholarship - Samuel Trudell, Katie Comeau, Justin Goggins
Adele and Arnold Parker Scholarship - Emilia Rickert
Dr. Wayne and Marie Finkbeiner Scholarship - Madalynne Barrera Wilder
Thomas Hamilton Memorial Scholarship - Charlotte Nelson
Robert Eveans Memorial Scholarship - Emilia Rickert
Thornapple Kellogg Alumni Association Scholarship - Lucas Van Meter
Beth Helrigel Wester Memorial - Bailey Eden
Lynn Helrigel Summers Scholarship - Bailey Eden
Jody Helrigel Pratt Education Scholarship - Emilia Rickert
Lois Ann Nagel-Seppanen Scholarship - Kaden Hamming
Gerald and Ceta Williams Scholarship - Charlotte Nelson
Ethel Denton Groos Scholarship - Ashleigh Norman
Village Players of Middleville Scholarship - Laine Hinton
Jon and Kay Simpson Scholarship - Holly Carpenter
RKW Working Students Scholarship - Kendra Coe
Gerald and Lois Page Scholarship - Logan Garrett
Don and Catherine Williamson Scholarship - Laine Hinton
Lydia Cole Memorial Scholarship - Holly Carpenter
Katherine and Edward Wieringa Scholarship - Whitey Ruger
Middleville Women’s Club Scholarship - Cash Rabley
Eugene and Edna Hendrickson Scholarship - Venus Appel, Leyla Cruz
Rotary Scholarships - Bailey Eden, Laine Hinton, Kaden Hamming, Whitney Ruger, Drake Snyder
Woody Wyngarden Scholarship - Hailey Dudik
TKESP Support Professionals Scholarship - Noelle Smith
Union Bank Scholarship - Bailey Eden
KCC Scholarship - Clare Webster
TAEF Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force Scholarship - Nathan Koester
TAEF Ball Family Scholarships - Shelby Robinette and Cade Hicswa
First Presbyterian Church of Hastings Scholarship - Elizabeth Middleton
TKEA Scholarships - Holly Carpenter, Hailey Dudik, Abraham Figuereo-Reyes, Cash Rabley, Shelby Robinette, Emilia Rickert, Lucy VanDuine, Whitney Ruger
Kent County Education Association Scholarship - Emilia Rickert
Verseti Blood Donation Awards - Lucy VanDuine, Emilia Rickert, Brooke Reurink, Brittney Roodvoets, Hannah Middleton, Kenzie Linderman, Sara Johnson, Hailey Dudik, Jessie Drenten
Athletic Awards
OK Conference Scholar Athlete -
(4 athletic season competitor, 1 Varsity sport senior year, 3.5 GPA):
Dylan Bailey
Daniel Beckering
Tyne Bufka
Kendra Coe
Landon Conroy
Joselyn DeBoer
Jessie Drenten
Hailey Dudik
Blake Dykstra
Marian Gielincki
Justin Goggins
Kaden Hamming
Kyan Haywood
Laine Hinton
Isaac Kimbel
Benjamin Koster
Emilie Landry
Kenzie Linderman
Sophia Marcukaitis
Grant Middleton
Mollie Moore
Grady Palazzolo
Katherine Powers
Alivia Raak
Emilia Rickert
Sydney Robertson
Shelby Robinett
Brenen Simon
Logan Snelling
Kenna VanElst
Kyle VanHaitsma
Cailin Wodrich
Tri Sport Athlete (Must participate in 3 sports senior year):
Tom Bewersdorf
Madita Boppel
Giovana Daher
Nina Durikova
Lou Savary
Aurora Sisto
Tri Sport Athlete and OK Conference Scholar Athlete:
Hayden Chatman
Katie Comeau
Senior Athlete (must have 6 or more Varsity Letters) and OK Conference Scholar Athlete:
Holly Carpenter
Tyler Gavette
Ava Jahnke
Elizabeth Middleton
TJ Myers
Charlotte Nelson
Emma Schut
Jaxan Sias
Drake Snyder
Lucas Van Meter
Holly Velting
Senior Athlete and Tri-Sport Athlete:
Mali Holland, Brittney Roodvoets, Kenady Smith
Senior Athlete, OK Conference Scholar Athlete and Tri-Sport Athlete:
Ethan Bonnema
Athletic Boosters Scholarships
Kaden Hamming, Kendra Coe, Drake Snyder, Jessie Drenten
Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Academic Achievement Award (For displaying outstanding academic and athletic achievement while participating in interscholastic athletics)
Hayden Chatman
Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Regional Award (Award given for both academic and athletic excellence.)
Kaden Hamming
OK Conference Athlete Of The Year
Ethan Bonnema, Kenedy Smith
Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Regional Award (Award given for both academic and athletic excellence.)
Kaden Hamming
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE AWARDS
Odyssey of the Mind and Natural Talent Scholarship - Shelby Robinett
Davenport University Excellence Scholarship - Daniel Beckering
Davenport University Excellence Scholarship and Cross Country/Track Scholarship - Lucas Van Meter
Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship - Andrew Beckering
Ferris State University Founders Scholarship - Dylan Bailey
Michigan Tech University Leading Scholar Distinguished Finalist Award, Excellence Award, Silver Level Presidential Scholars Award, Alumni Legacy Award, Chemical engineering Department Scholarship - Marian Gielincki
Michigan Tech University Presidential Scholars Award and Excellence Award - Kira Holzhausen
Michigan Tech University National Merit Scholarship and Leading Scholar Distinguished Finalists Award - Elizabeth Middleton
Northern Michigan University Presidential, Leadership and Wildcat Merit Scholarships - Mollie Moore
Aquinas College Merit, St. Anselm and Campus Visit Scholarships - Ashleigh Norman
Lawrence Tech University Elite and College of Architecture and Design Scholarships - Ainsley Parsons.
Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship - Sydney Robertson
TKHS Department Awards
Art Department Award: Laine Hinton
Business/Computer Science Department Award: Tyne Bufka and Kaden Hamming
English Department Awards:
Drama Award: Emilia Rickert, Jonas Grummet
English Award: Dylan Bailey, Tyne Bufka, Nathan Koester, Charlotte Nelson, Emiliar Rickert, Whitney Ruger
Foreign Language Department Awards: Dylan Lawrence, Claire Norris, Elizabeth Shrontz
Math Department Award: Tyne Bufka, Charlotte Nelson, Emilia Rickert
Science Department Award: Travis Barton, Holly Carpenter, Jessie Drenten, Kaden Hamming, Katherine Powers, Shelby Robinett, Samuel Trudell
Social Studies Department Award: Bailey Eden
Technology Education Department Award: Dylan Bailey, Kendra Coe, Adam Gunnink, Matthew Jore, Nathan Koester, Seth Mahler, Elizabeth Middleton, Ashton Nichols, Ainsley Parsons, Garrett Post, Max Rogers, Samuel Trudell, Lucy Van Duine, Lucas Van Meter
Digital Media Department Award: Samuel Trudell
Student Council Awards: Cameryn Ames, Holly Carpenter, Hailey Dudik, Kaitlyn Hodges, Shelby Robinett, Whitney Ruger, Emma Schut, David Temple, Lucy Van Duine
National Honors Society Awards: Ethan Bonnema, Bayleigh Bruce, Tyne Bufka, Holly Carpenter, Hayden Chatman, Kendra Coe, Katelyn Comeau, Landon Conroy, Joselyn DeBoer, Jessie Drenten, Hailey Dudik, Bailey Eden, Abraham Figuereo-Reyes, Emily Fliearman, Tyler Gavette, Marian Gielincki, Justin Goggins, Mallory Hagemann, Kaden Hamming, Kyan Haywood, Cade Hicswa, Laine Hinton, Sara Johnson, Austin Jones, Isaac Kimbel, Nathan Koester, Benjamin Koster, Emilie Landry, Dylan Lawrence, Kenzie Linderman, Sophia Marcukaitis, Elizabeth Middleton, Grant Middleton, Hannah Middleton, Mollie Moore, Ava Myers, Charlotte Nelson, Ainsley Parsons, Madeline Pauline, Lilly Pease, Katherine Powers, Alivia Raak, Brooke Reurink, Emilia Rickert, Sydney Robertson, Shelby Robinett, Whitney Ruger, Emma Schut, Brianna Sharp, Madison Shattuck, Elizabeth Shrontz, Jaxan Sias, Noelle Smith, Logan Snelling, Drake Snyder, Samuel Trudell, Lucy Van Duine, Kenna Van Elst, Lucas Van Meter, Kyle VanHaitsma
Holly Velting, Cailin Wodrich.
Foreign Exchange Student Recognition
- Tom Bewersdorf - Germany
- Madita Boppel - Germany
- Martine Christensen - Denmark
- Giovana Daher - Brazil
- Raphael De Fresse De Monval - France
- Nina Durikova - Slovakia
- Berta Garcia-Quilez Garcia - Spain
- Mariella Hagen - Germany
- Tom Lorach - France
- Martina Medina Panades - Spain
- Lou-Elise Savary - Luxembourg
- Aurora Sisto - Italy
- Simone Vargiolu - Italy
Honor Students
Seniors who have a G.P.A. of 3.98 and above are designated as Highest Honor Seniors and have received a gold cord, seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.7 to 3.97 have received a silver cord (High Honors), and seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.5 to 3.69 have received a bronze cord (Honor). Students are listed in alphabetical order
Highest Honors Seniors-G.P.A. of 3.98 and Higher
Dylan Bailey
Madita Boppel
Tyne Bufka
Holly Carpenter
Hayden Chatman
Kendra Coe
Landon Conroy
Joselyn DeBoer
Jessie Drenten
Hailey Dudik
Seth Fabiano
Mariella Hagen
Kaden Hamming
Kyan Haywood
Cade Hicswa
Laine Hinton
Kira Holzhausen
Isaac Kimbel
Nathan Koester
Benjamin Koster
Grant Middleton
Elizabeth Middleton
Charlotte Nelson
Ainsley Parsons
Katherine Powers
Emilia Rickert
Shelby Robinett
Whitney Ruger
Aurora Sisto
Drake Snyder
David Temple
Lucy Van Duine
Lucas Van Meter
High Honors Seniors-G.P.A. of 3.7 to 3.97
Noah Anderson
Travis Barton
Tyler Bentley
Ethan Bonnema
Bayleigh Bruce
Katelyn Comeau
Nina Durikova
Bailey Eden
Emily Fliearman
Tyler Gavette
Marian Gielincki
Mallory Hagemann
Ava Jahnke
Keagan Jarvie
Sara Johnson
Austin Jones
Madelyn La Belle
Tom Lorach
Hannah Middleton
Mollie Moore
Sydney Myers
Megan Norman
Grady Palazzolo
Lilly Pease
Allen Petrak
Colton Rabley
Brooke Reurink
Sydney Robertson
Lou-Elise Savary
Alexandra Segoviano
Brianna Sharp
Madison Shattuck
Elizabeth Shrontz
Jaxan Sias
Logan Snelling
Samuel Trudell
Kyle VanHaitsma
Holly Velting
Cailin Wodrich
Honor Seniors-G.P.A of 3.5 to 3.69
Daniel Beckering
Martine Christensen
Sahara Coston
Abraham Figuereo Reyes
Logan Garrett
Justin Goggins
Emilie Landry
Dylan Lawrence
Kenzie Linderman
Seth Mahler
Sophia Marcukaitis
Astrid Mendoza
Ava Myers
Noah Newland
Ashleigh Norman
Taylor Olds
Madeline Pauline
Owen Petrak
Alivia Raak
Amelia Schultz
Emma Schut
Brenen Simon
Kenna Van Elst
2023 Top Ten (alphabetical)
Each year Thornapple Kellogg Schools recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of our top ten students. In recognition of their efforts, they will each receive a sash and a “top ten” plaque. Students are listed in alphabetical order. The top ten of the class of 2023 is:
Tyne Bufka
Holly Carpenter
Joselyn DeBoer
Jessie Drenten
Kaden Hamming
Kyan Haywood
Cade Hicswa
Nathan Koester
Charlotte Nelson
Emilia Rickert
Shelby Robinett
*Eleven total - Two-way tie for 7th spot, three-way tie for 9th spot.