The Maple Crest Middle School academic teams dominated the Class 3 Area competition at Tecumseh Middle School by earning three 1st place awards, one 2nd place award and one 3rd place award. The topic for this year’s competition was “An American Generation: 1964-1980.”

   The English Academic team of Joseph Woerner and Thomas Hutchison earned 1st in the area and won a certificate by placing 4th in the State. The English team was coached by Melanie Peoples. The Science Academic team of Taylor Pratt, Katy Volikas, and Brittny Balog also captured 1st in the area and then earned a 9th place certificate in the State. The Science team was coached by Valerie Bogan, who also coached the Mathematics Academic team of Katy Volikas, Michaela Wade, Taylor Sparling, BreShonn Fletcher, and Kija Davis that claimed the other 1st place award in the area competition.

   The Interdisciplinary squad of Kija Davis, Jacqueline Jarocki, Katy Volikas, and Joseph Woerner earned 2nd in the area, while the Social Studies squad of Jacqueline Jarocki, Josh Church, Samantha Baker, Henry Worley, and Joseph Woerner claimed 3rd in the area. Ann Abel coached the Social Studies team.

   Senior Kaylee Johnson won the top award at the annual Business Education Department Awards Program at Kokomo High School. Kaylee, who plans to major in Business at Ball State University, was the recipient of the $700 Business Education Department 2010 Scholarship. Contributions for the scholarship were donated by the Wyman Group, McGonigal, and the KHS business teachers.

   The KHS Business Education Department teachers also presented their 2010 Outstanding Student awards during the program. Outstanding Students included: Matthew Wyss, Accounting; Kaylee Johnson and Fiona Gerber, Business Foundations; Ian Blessinger, Career Planning & Success; Morgan Bailey, Katie Carter, Brittany Edwards, Christian Benjamin, Ting Zhou, Briannah Poe, and Spencer Wesche, all for Computer Applications; Joshua Paul, Business Law; Karyssa Pratt, Desktop Publishing; and Jordan Thompson, Personal Finance.

  Induction ceremonies were conducted at the Kokomo-Center middle schools to welcome new members into the National Junior Honor Society.

  At Bon Air Middle School, the inductees included: 6th grade – Hayleigh Chapman, Richard Chapman, Bethany Geisen, Gage Hayden, Abigail Hammel, Ramsie Hurlock, Anne Jones, Jade Jones, Alyssia Lopez, Kendall Malone, Arely Rios, Bailey Sarver, Sidney Schelbert, Kayla Taylor, Katelyn Townsend, Madison Warner, Sierra Webb; 7th grade – Sarah Kimbell; 8th grade – Chad Gaddis, Mallory Malott, Lauren Wade.

  At Central Middle School, the inductees were: 6th grade – Zachary Carroll, Aiden Abney, Taylor Coram, Rachel Stout, Elise Glover, Briley Roseberry, Jasmine Vincent, Anthony Tran, Sydney Crume, Aubrey Whiteman, Kristina Tracy, Andwrayea Partlow, Tiernon Allen, Enola Garner, Sydnee Pressey, Sarah Cheney; 7th grade – Tanna Highlen, Kerrigan McCormack, Quintin Meyers, Ryan Ridenour; 8th grade – Brianna Lancaster, Chesea Maupin.

  At Lafayette Park Middle School, the new inductees are: 6th grade – Catilin Kindig, Emily Fisher, Chanise Hero, Kristyn Kidwell, Bayley Brutus, Joshua Kuczera, Brittany Unger, Cyndi Simpson, Parker Stroud, Alyssa Wiese; 7th grade – Katherine Harbaugh, Rachel Smith, Katelyn Robins, Lindsay Holz, Paris McCullum, Janzen Purvis, Mattison Floyd, William Johnsen, Nathan Banush; 8th grade – Andres Cockrell, Kaitlyn Keeling, Rachel McKinley.

   The Wildkat Chapter welcomed 17 seniors and 52 juniors as members of the Kokomo High School National Honor Society. The 2010 senior inductees included: Sir Clark, Victoria Colaizzi, Gabriele Davis, Nicholas Franklin, Lawrence Golladay, Dylan Green, Vijayta Joshi, Paul Kennelly, Phillip Kuhns, Christian Lawhead, Kevin Moore, Alex Munson, Lauren Olds, Caleb Querry, Nolan Sanburn, Anthony Taylor, and Steven Zehner.

   Juniors inducted into the Wildkat Chapter were: Breanna Allen, Brice Allen, Mary Kate Balsbaugh, Jordan Bell, Emily Blessinger, Emily Booher, Patrick Borders, Blake Brown, Jennifer Brown, Nicholas Cardwell, James Carter, Jujarada Chiochanchai, Austin Colby, Katelynn Crull, Keaton Dubois, Karma Eberhardt, Rebekah Ensinger, Ellen Ewbank, Lauren Fearnow, Mitchell Frey, Allison Hart, Caitlyn Haworth, Christian Hayes, Michael Hilton, Kelly Hopkins, Christian Humbert, Jodecia Jackson, Audriana Jones, Emily Keller, Kylie Kern, Alexus Laird, Macy Malott, Katherine McDonald, Christopher Meyer, Kathryn Moody, Eileen Oaks, Jessica O’Neill, Harlee Phillips, Kayla Price, Karina Rebollar, Allison Reed, Andrew Reid, Abby Rolland, Jacy Rush, Cara Russell, Ashley Sanders, Ciara Sharp, Ashley Smith, Robert Walker, Hannah Werner, Zachary Whiteman, and LaTecia Williams.

   Serving as officers and making induction speeches for the 2010 Wildkat Chapter were: President Madeline Cassidy (Leadership), Vice President Alexis Ungerer (Service), Secretary Allison Schten (Scholarship), and Treasurer Emily Bays (Character).

Kara Shoemaker, Bon Air	Taylor Coram, Central	Abram Stamper, Lafayette Park	Katy Volikas, Maple Crest

   Kokomo-Center middle school students – Kara Shoemaker (Bon Air 6th grader), Taylor Coram (Central 6th grader), Abram Stamper (Lafayette Park 8th grader), Katy Volikas (Maple Crest 8th grader) – each were awarded $1,000 college scholarships for being selected as 2010 Carson Scholars. Each middle school principal is allowed to nominate only one student, who must have a GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities.

   Shoemaker served on Student Council, raised funds for the Bon Air choir, wrapped Christmas presents at WalMart for foster children, and collected pop tabs for chronically ill children. Bon Air Principal Katie Reckard noted that Shoemaker excels in the classroom as well as in the school community. “Kara is a problem solver and a critical thinker,” Reckard said. “She is always pleasant to be around, and Kara truly deserves this honor.”

   Coram, who hopes to become an architect, served on the Student Honor Council at Central, and is involved in 4-H, gymnastics and soccer. Two of Taylor’s 4-H projects qualified for the state fair. At the Howard County Fair, Taylor collocated cardboard recycling and served as an exhibit building host. In addition, Taylor served as a Page for Senator Buck, collected canned goods for local food shelters and hygiene supplies for a local women’s shelter, mentored in the Buddy Reading program, and fund-raised for the American Diabetes Foundation.

   Stamper, who has operated and managed his own DJ business since he was a fifth-grader, served on the Student Council at Lafayette Park and participated in Lego League. In the community, Abram helped light Christmas luminaries at the Sieberling, served as a reading buddy for elementary students, wrapped Christmas gifts for the Kokomo Rescue Mission, and assisted in the landscaping for Lafayette Park’s “Go Green” project. Abram also is active in the youth group at Grace United Methodist Church, and helps with the sound system during the worship service.

   At Maple Crest, Volikas participates in track, cheerleading, Student Honor Council, wellness committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the mathematics and science academic teams. In the community, Katy is active in Art off the Square, the Kokomo Humane Society, nursing home caroling, Moms for Muffins, Masonic Temple gift wrapping, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.