After years of commitment, hard work and homework, 48 area high school seniors will be recognized for their academic achievement and receive $1,500 scholarships at the 26th annual Excellence in Education Week program on Monday, April 29.

“Since this program started in 1994, we’ve been fortunate to work with schools, businesses, foundations and individual citizens in Marquette and Alger counties to recognize students, their families, and their teachers for the culmination of their hard work together,” said Grow & Lead: Community and Youth Development CEO Amy Quinn.

The students receiving the academic scholarships represent the top five percent of graduating seniors. In addition, 25 professional development awards will be presented to Marquette-Alger county educators. The awards are used to further academic training or enhance classroom activities.

Hailey Smith, daughter Trisha and Troy Smith, is the recipient of the John and Ruth Marietti Memorial Scholarship. Smith is a Senior at Ishpeming High School. Hailey plans to attend Northern Michigan University to major in Entrepreneurship and minor in Art and Design. Her long term goal is to open her own business and pursue her love for photography.

At the program, each EEW recipient is joined by the one educator that was most influential in his or her education. Smith chose High School English and Debate teacher Melissa Meldrum as her influential educator. When asked why she thought Ms. Meldrum had made such a strong impression on her, Hailey said “She prepared me for college in that she allows for independence in the classroom. She also introduced me to many ways of writing, which I now use in my everyday life.”

The professional development awards given to educators at the program are another important part of EEW. Educators use the awards for special classroom projects or further education.

Cynthia DePetro is the English, Publishing/Yearbook and Photography teacher at Marquette Alternative High School. She will use the award to purchase supplies to enrich the Photography curriculum. In her application, DePetro notes that “Together, the students and I researched various photo projects that could be produced within the building. This is especially important due to weather related restrictions and severe cold that we face in the Upper Peninsula.” Through this project, students will advance their creative and motor skills, introduce new technical language and media literacy, find a new medium of expression and develop as a more rounded human and photographer.

“The support of our communities, schools and businesses makes this a very special event. It is important to recognize outstanding students and their influential educators,” said Quinn. “It makes you appreciate just how much people really care about the education of our kids in Marquette and Alger counties.”

Since its inception, over $2.3 million has been awarded through EEW academic scholarships and professional development awards to 1245 students and 646 educators.

The awards program is just the beginning of the EEW program. Joining Grow & Lead in recognizing hundreds of outstanding middle and high school students and teachers through industry tours and celebrations over the next few weeks, and later this spring, are Cleveland Cliffs, Eagle Mine, Gwinn-Sawyer Area Chamber of Commerce, LS&I Railroad, Nheena Inc. – Munising Mill, Northern Michigan University, RTI Surgical, Timber Products Company, UP Health System – Bell, UP Health System – Marquette and the Brian J. Watson Excellence in Education Fund.

Gold program sponsors for this year’s event are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Eagle Mine. Silver sponsors are Anderson, Tackman & Company, PLC; Cleveland-Cliffs; Kendricks, Bordeau, Keefe, Seavoy & Larsen, P.C.; The Mining Journal; Northern Michigan University; UP Health System – Marquette and Upper Peninsula Health Plan. Bronze sponsors are Bell Financial; Honor Credit Union; Neenah, Inc. – Munising Mill; PotlatchDeltic.; Range Bank; Timber Products Company and SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company. Copper sponsors are Alger Regional Community Foundation; Casa Calabria; Cheryl Jackson RE/MAX 1st Realty; Community Foundation of Marquette County; Judge & Mrs. Mark Luoma; Peoples State Bank; Upper Peninsula Power Company and VAST.

Grow & Lead grows the capacity of individuals and organizations to lead progress in Upper Peninsula communities. For more information on this or other youth development or nonprofit management topics, please call Grow & Lead at 906-228-8919 or visit www.glcyd.org.