STAR PUPILS: February’s Students of the Month,
Tuolumne County schools have announced Students of the Month for February:
Scarlett Lutge, third grade, Belleview Elementary — Scarlett, the daughter of Marquis and Julia Lutge, of Sonora, “is a friendly student who comes to school each day ready to learn,” said teacher Diane Noya. “She is accepting of others and shows respect for her classmates, regardless of any differences. She is an outstanding student who works hard on any assignment presented to her and, as a result, she has excelled in every subject. She is a great reader and an exceptional writer, who on occasion has created elaborate stories using the week’s spelling words. Something that I, as a teacher, admire and appreciate in Scarlett is the fact that she is always willing to share her knowledge to help support other students’ learning.”
Nellina Butler, fifth grade, Chinese Camp Science Academy — “One of the kindest students I’ve known, Nellie demonstrates compassion toward others on a daily basis,” said teacher Sheri Betz. “Her sensitivity makes her a true advocate as she is quick to offer a compliment or defend another’s character. I love how she checks in with me online, sending me texts filled with happy thoughts and cordial greetings. Not only is she an advocate for others, she also knows the vital skill of asking for help when she needs extra support. I enjoy spending one-on-one time with Nellie as she is attentive to my instruction. She is also quite witty and personable, making the tutoring sessions highly enjoyable. Nellie is a true plugger with her amazing work ethic. I am proud of her efforts. Her sweet spirit makes me smile.” Nellina is the daughter of Annette and Jason Butler, of Jamestown.
Darrien Lopez, fifth grade, Columbia Elementary — Darrien, the son of Maria and Dan-joe Lopez, of Sonora, “is an exceptional student and person,” said his teacher. “He is a kind, considerate and helpful classmate. He always puts forth his best effort and is always willing to lend a hand to a classmate. He goes above and beyond what is expected and has innovative and creative solutions to problems and situations. He is a brilliant writer. Darrien is one that I expect to hear great things about in the future.”
Jonah Fowler, eighth grade, Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy — “Jonah has been an exceptional student at Connections Academy for the past two years,” said school staff. “Jonah is a hard-working young man who has a wonderful sense of humor and is becoming quite a good actor. He is spunky, engaging and highly intrigued by the world around him. Curious, kind, always ready to laugh. He’s very thoughtful and responsible. He is ready to help his classmates and teachers whenever needed. Jonah Fowler is a quiet strength in the math classroom. He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. Jonah is what confidence means. He is also one of the top spellers in the county and took third place in the county spelling bee in February and was first place last year.” Jonah is the son of James and Beverly Fowler, of Sonora.
Izak Barnett, 12th grade, Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy — Izak, the son of Henry and Beth Barnett, of Sonora, “has been a fantastic student at Connections for the past six years,” said school staff. “He has been involved in several plays over the years, including a starring role in ‘Spamalot’ last year. Izak has immersed himself in the visual and performing arts in high school; from singing in Jazz @8 to taking art and filmmaking. Izak is a great positive presence on campus and always has a big smile and great sense of humor. He has a great work ethic and has maintained an impressive 3.62 cumulative GPA over the course of high school. His film teacher appreciates his ‘helpful attitude in class and unique style of his assignments.’ Izak is interested in becoming a guidance counselor and we are excited to see him excel beyond high school.”
Bailey Cognetti, fifth grade, Curtis Creek Elementary — Bailey, the daughter of Jessica Ainslie and Kenneth Cognetti, of Sonora, “is an amazing young lady,” said teachers Michelle Morlan and Carrie Blake. “She is a very conscientious student and loves to learn new things. She has a very upbeat personality and always remains positive, extremely kind, and respectful to her teachers and her peers. Bailey is a great role model and a true pleasure to have in the classroom.”
Victoria Woodman, 11th grade, Dario Cassina High — Victoria, the daughter of Robert and Brandy Woodman, of Sonora, “is a determined young woman,” said school counselor Eric Knapp. “She has displayed a work ethic that I have never seen. She earns all of her credits available per block, every block, while maintaining a job and having good attendance. I am very proud of Victoria.”
Emma Castillo, 12th grade, Don Pedro High — Emma, the daughter of Nicole and Shaun Laing, of La Grange, “is one of the most motivated and hard working students that I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Principal Nickie Lamm. “Emma has many talents. She is a leader, a scholar, an athlete, and a great friend. She has been the president of our FFA chapter, an ASB officer, participated in clubs and Mock Trial. Emma is known to her teachers and classmates as a diligent student. Even through distance learning, she has remained engaged and continues to produce quality work. She has even gone above and beyond her traditional high school classes and concurrently enrolls in community college classes through Modesto Junior College. Currently she has earned 26.5 units and will be graduating high school halfway to an associates degree. Emma is also an athlete, earning many sports awards during her high school career. She plays multiple sports including cross country, volleyball, track and field, and golf. Our golf coach says she is one of the best golfers that she has ever had.”
Lucas Romano, third grade, Gold Rush Charter — “Lucas shines as a student, not only because he always gives his best effort but also because he is a servant leader,” said teacher Krista Hembree. “Lucas is quick to lend an eager hand to those who need help in class or extend an arm to a peer who is hurt at recess. He is an all-around athlete, and his sportsmanlike conduct reflects in how he includes and encourages others. He is a joy to have at GRCS.” Lucas is the son of Jason and Jennifer Romano, of Sonora.
Kayden Walther, fifth grade, Jamestown Elementary — Kayden, the son of Alisha Lynch, of Sonora, “is the kind of student who is excited about learning,” said teacher Mikki Williams. “He also loves to share what he has learned. Kayden’s flexibility allowed him to be comfortable learning even when we were on distance learning.”
Caleb Stone, seventh grade, Lake Don Pedro Elementary — Caleb, the son of Peter and Tracy Stone, of Coulterville, “works very hard with his studies and is very respectful,” said teacher Francesca Keane. “He gets along well with his peers and is a joy to have in class.”
Davi Broyer, eighth grade, Mother Lode Christian — “Davi is one of the kindest and most thoughtful students I have ever seen,” said teacher Laura Brinegar. “She brings joy to everyone around her. I appreciate her ability to see beauty in all situations. Davi is an excellent student and a beautiful example of a young person who loves Jesus.” Davi is the daughter of Richard and Dawn Broyer, of Sonora.
Tyler Utterback, 12th grade, Sonora High — “Tyler Utterback is a stellar student who exemplifies what it means to be accountable in her responsibilities, respectful toward her teachers and peers, and engaged in her academic growth. Tyler participates in Advanced Placement courses, Leadership, and Middle College, and excels in each arena, and in addition, she makes those environments better through her constantly productive contributions. Essentially, Tyler is invested in the process of growth, not only for herself but for all of those around her,” Will Sarkisian said of Tyler. Another one of her teachers, Pete Smith, AP Gov/econ teacher, said “Tyler comes to class each day with a ready smile that can be seen through her eyes and heard through her gentle laugh. She engages with each lesson making sure she understands the presented concepts fully and completely. She respectfully works with others in class, and I find it a privilege to work with her.” Tyler is the daughter of Nathan and Christine Utterback, of Sonora.
Jayce Vaca, kindergarten, Soulsbyville Elementary — “Jayce is a kind and compassionate student and friend,” said teacher Jennifer Lewicki. “He tries his best in all that we do, and he never ceases to amaze me with the learning growth he shows me and his peers. He set a goal of ‘where my eyes go, my brain follows’ so he is always a ready learner, and he has been meeting that goal. His peers love him and know him as our resident dinosaur expert, as Jayce loves all things dinosaurs.” Jayce is the son of Justin and Kristin Vaca, of Sonora.
Andrew Cheveres, eighth grade, Summerville Elementary — Andrew, the son of Andrew and Kelly Cheveres, of Tuolumne, “excels as a student, adding positively to the class through both his participation and work ethic,” said school staff. “He produces high quality assignments that show depth of thought. Andrew enjoys sports, participating in them when available. Last year, he was an active part of the basketball team and will be again when given the option. Andrew is friendly with all of his classmates and makes Summerville Elementary School a better place through his thoughtful and outgoing interactions with others.”
Liam Toner, 12th grade, Summerville High — Liam, the son of Jim Toner and Dolora Dossi, of Sonora, “is currently earning As in every class including two advanced or honors classes,” said school staff. “This shows that Liam is a dedicated student who knows how to work hard and accomplish his goals. Liam is also an outstanding goalie for our soccer team. When asked about Liam, his teachers said, ‘Liam is always available to help. What a great choice!’ ‘Liam’s good nature and charm always lighten the mood in any math class. Liam finds humor while being completely baffled and confused in AP statistics probability problem. It’s this relaxed nature and character that allows Liam’s math flow to flourish so that we all learn a little bit from him.’ ‘… it is my belief that Liam is the number one student at our high school in many categories that lead to academic and career success.’ ”
Shafer Rexwinkle, fifth grade, Tenaya Elementary — “I appreciate Shafer Rexwinkle because she is a very self-motivated student,” said teacher Joanne Beaudreau. “If she doesn’t understand a concept, she will not hesitate to ask for clarification. It is common for Shafer to enter my classroom with a positive attitude. She’s ready to get busy with finishing work for the day at the best of her ability.” Shafer is the daughter of Scott and Barbara Rexwinkle, of Groveland.
Madison Maciel, 11th grade, Theodore Bird High School — “Madison is an excellent choice for Student of the Month because of her strong work ethic and positive attitude,” said teacher Sandra Myers. “She is always early or on time for her appointments with all of her assigned work completed. She is good at balancing work and school and has been employed at Day-o since August 2020, working between 20- 25 hours per week. In her spare time, Madison enjoys dancing, hiking and target shooting with a rifle. After graduating from high school, she plans on attending Columbia College and is considering a career as a dental hygienist. Madison is a pleasure to have as a student. She is an outgoing, respectful and motivated young lady with a bright future ahead of her.” Madison is the daughter of Melissa Noel, of Sonora, and Tony Maciel, of Jamestown.
Lexi Richter, 12th grade, Tioga High (not pictured) — Lexi “is an exemplary student in every way,” said school staff. “As ASB president this year, she has assumed responsibility for the student body, a job for which she is very well qualified — she is always responsible and reliable and has the trust, respect and confidence of staff and students alike. She is an outstanding student in AP English; she has unique insights into the literature read in class and writes about them well. … Lexi is also an amazing athlete, participating in volleyball, basketball and golf. In these unprecedented times for high school sports, she is making the most of her senior year and jumped on the opportunity to play golf.” Lexi lives with her aunt, Johanna Richter, in Groveland.
Korayma Sagastume-velazquez, 11th grade, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office — “Korayma is a hard worker and always tries her best,” said teacher Bonnie Cozad. “She has done a great job transitioning to distance learning. She is a wonderful friend and has a lot of empathy for others. Korayma is a great helper and is very detail oriented.” Korayma is the daughter of Bertha Velazquez and Juan Sagastume, of Jamestown.
Chloe Root, third grade, Twain Harte Elementary — “Chloe is a wonderful student who is intrinsically motivated and has a deep thirst for knowledge,” said teachers Kimberlie Ballard and Kelly Mcgraw. “She always wants to know more. Her assignments are always complete and of high quality. Chloe leads by example and demonstrates good character such as being trustworthy and respectful. In addition, she is always looking out for the well-being of others.” Chloe is the daughter of Roger and Elisa Root, of Sonora.