East's Donahue 1st girl soccer player to sign with Div. 1 school

She will attend Western Michigan University this fall


Lapeer East senior Ariana Donahue became the first-ever girls soccer player from Lapeer Community Schools to get a scholarship from a Division 1 school February 15 when she signed to play for Western Michigan University this fall.

While at East, Donahue’s accomplishments on the soccer field include starting all four years and earning All- Conference, All-District and All-Regional honors the past two seasons while leading the team in scoring.

She also was named to the All-State Second Team in 2010. Having been designated as Team MVP a year ago, Donahue, who plans to major in either psychology or journalism, also managed to lead the Flint Metro League tn 2009-10 with the most goals scored at 28 and notched 63 points as a junior, placing her fifth in the state for scoring after nabbing Honorable Mention All-State accolades as a sophomore.

“This is great. I’ve been playing (soccer) since I was seven, so this was my goal, to get a scholarship from a Division 1 school, so I’m really happy,” said Donahue. “My family has been with me every step of the way, so it’s really nice to have them here today.

“I really liked the campus and the general feel, but the coach (Suzie Grech) was probably the biggest thing for me. I really liked her. She said I would make a big impact (next season). I think she’s going to play me at center/mid, which is the position I’m used to playing, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Besides friends and family, also enjoying the glow of Donahue’s on-field success was Lapeer East varsity girls soccer coach Chad Kenny, who helped guide the Lady Eagles all the way to the 2010 regional finals against Bloomfield Hills Marian.

“We take pride in all of our kids, but seeing Ariana accomplish what she’s been able to accomplish on the grander scale has definitely been a special thing,” said Kenny.

Having also considered Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University and the University of Wisconsin, Donahue’s development was a multi-faceted process that took many forms over time. This includes spending four years with the Michigan Hawks, the fourth-ranked girls soccer club in the nation.

Donahue’s other notable accomplishments include being the first female soccer player from the county to make the state and regional Olympic Development Program team.

She also boasts an impressive academic record, holding a 3.9 GPA and has been a 4-year starter on the Eagles Cross County Team and a four-year scholar athlete. She was named Academic All-State in 2009 and 2010.

Photos by Michael Selecky
Photo captions:
(top) Ariana Donahue signs her letter of intent to attend Western Michigan University flanked by her father, Richard, sister, Brennah, and mother, Susana.

(bottom)Ariana poses with coach Chad Kenny and teammates at Lapeer East.

Art project provides mementoes for orphans

Lapeer East art students are busily putting the finishing touches on their work for the Memory Project, an international program that provides personal portraits for orphans from around the world.

This year, Debbie Helbig’s art students at East are creating portraits for orphaned children in Indonesia and Thailand.

Student artists who work on the Memory Project create portraits (drawings, paintings, graphic design, etc) for children and teens world who have been orphaned, neglected or disadvantaged.

The artists receive photos of kids waiting for portraits and then create the portraits. Memory Project volunteers deliver the portraits to the kids as special gifts. The goal of the project is to inspire caring, global friendship, and a positive sense of self.

The program was begun by University of Wisconsin grad Ben Schumaker after a chance encounter with a young man in Guatemala. The man said that he didn’t have any photographs of himself as a child, no belongings from his early years, no parents to share memories with. His childhood was a blank slate, and he didn’t want any other orphaned kids to share in his fate.

Schumaker thought that if he could get high school art students to paint pictures of the orphans and send them as gifts, the children would have a memento of their youth, a bit of history to hold on to.

The program began with 100 art teachers and their students in 2004 and has since grown to produce a total of 25,000 portraits for children around the world.
Lapeer West art students are just now beginning to work on their Memory Project creations for this year. Artists from both Lapeer high schools have participated in the project for years.

For a look at photos of some of the East artists at work, visit the Lapeer Community Schools Picasa photo albums at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/EastArtStudentsCreateArtForTheMemoryProject#

LCS students perform in honors band concert

More than two dozen high school and middle school music students from Lapeer West, Lapeer East, Zemmer and Rolland-Warner performed in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District III Honors Band Festival on Saturday, January 29, at Brandon High School.


Lapeer West High School students participating in the District III MSBOA High School Honors Band Festival included Kayla Haneline, Stephanie Wilcox, Taylor Harvey, Ashley Nugent, Tim Waelde, Deanna Childress, Aidan Smith. Lapeer East High School students included Dakota Hart, Sarah Powers, Whitney Harvey, Hannah Hastings, Keefer Maresh, Alison Gonda, Lillian Miller, Mason Sorenson, Alex Frederick.

Rolland-Warner Middle School students who participated included Sara Burns, Vanessa Sparks, Mark Lutz, Desmond Doneen and Emily Gillis. Zemmer Middle School participants inlcluded Morgan Combs, Shawn Deverell, Blake Clements, Serra Seib, Emily Dice, Meredith Henderson, Mark Lutz.

The Middle School Honors Band was conducted by Roger Weyersberg, director of the Lions of Michigan All-State Band, Low Brass Instructor at Saginaw Valley State University and the retired director of Music in the Ovid-Elsie area schools.

The High School Honors Band was conducted by Scott Boerma, associate director of bands, director of the University of Michigan Marching Band and professor of Conducting at he University of Michigan. He is also an avid composer. The band performed Glimpses, one of his original compositions, at the performance.

The students were nominated by their director and chosen from hundreds of entries around the Thumb, based on outstanding musicianship and participation in solo & ensemble.

Rolland-Warner Band Director Heather Hundt noted, “Their participation is an honor, and they did a wonderful job representing our school and our district and gave an awesome performance Saturday night.”

To view photos from the concert, please visit the Lapeer Community Schools Picasa photo albums at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/MSBOABandFestival#

East student attends governor’s State of the State

Lapeer East sophomore Ashley VanOoteghem was the guest of State Sen. Phil Pavlov as Gov. Rick Snyder delivered his first State of the State address Wednesday in Lansing.

Ashley accompanied the senator to the House of Representatives in Lansing to watch the address. Each elected official is allowed one guest to join them on the House floor.

Ashley’s essay was the winning entry in a contest hosted by Pavlov, R-St. Clair Township. He asked students to write a 250-500 word essay detailing their vision to reinvent Michigan.

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“I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” said VanOoteghem, daughter of Kim and Jim VanOoteghem. “Government is something I’m very passionate about and I think more people in my age group should be interested in it.”

“I’m excited about the proposals we heard tonight,” said Pavlov, chair of the Senate Education Committee. “It’s an exciting time in Michigan, and we must engage our young people to help make our great state even greater.

Earlier this month, Sen. Pavlov made a special visit to Lapeer East. During the January 7th visit, he met with high school Principal Scott Roper to discuss and seek input on important issues impacting education in our state.

The senator also toured the building and met with some of East’s students. Pavlov had many compliments for the staff and students at Lapeer East.

Photo captions:
Top photo -- Ahsley VanOoteghem talks with Sen. Phil Pavlov on the Senate floor in Lansing.
Middle -- Sen. Pavlov, East Student Council President Danielle Schultz and Principal Scott Roper in a Jan. 7 visit.
Bottom -- Sen. Pavlov. is interviewed by Lapeer East student Olivia Wallace during his visit to the school.

December 2010 East Holiday Concerts

View videos of the December 2010 East High School Choir Concert and the East Band Concert.


East band

Lapeer East 2010 Halloween Band Concert

View the video of the Lapeer East 2010 Halloween Band Concert.

West and East athletes are good sports

Good sportsmanship continues to be a high priority among Flint Metro League schools.

Instances of unacceptable sportsmanship are rare among league members, due in large measure to the proactive work of FML athletic directors and coaches. Positive reinforcement of outstanding sportsmanship continues with the league's long-standing recognition program. Every FML coach is asked to name the league opponent that showed the best sportsmanship during the recently concluded fall season.

Nine varsity teams from Lapeer high schools -- five at Lapeer West and four at Lapeer East -- were selected by opposing coaches for showing the best sportsmanship for the fall season of 2010:

At Lapeer West:
Volleyball (selected by three opponents)
Boys Cross Country (selected by two opponents)
Girls Cross Country (selected by one opponent)
Girls Swim (selected by one opponent)
Boys Tennis (selected by one opponent)

At Lapeer East:
Girls Cross Country (selected by three opponents)
Boys Soccer (selected by two opponents)
Boys Tennis (selected by two opponents)
Girls Swim (selected by one opponent)

For these teams to be considered the “Best of the Best” in sportsmanship by any opponent is noteworthy. Being chosen by more than one opponent is exemplary.

Congratulations are in order for these Lapeer East and Lapeer West athletes and their coaches on a job well done this fall season.

East Boys Tennis Team Earns State All-Academic Honors

The Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association has honored the 2010 Lapeer East Boys Tennis Team with the 2010 All Academic Tennis Team Award.


The award honors student athletes for their many hours of work and dedication in maintaining high academic achievement, as well as recognizing their athletic talents and competitive spirit.

With this accomplishment, they have brought honor to themselves, their school and our community.

Please congratulate East Boys Tennis Coach Oscar Rodriguez and the following athletes:

Henry Peabody
Matt Wagner
Aaron Marietta
Drake Lamphere
Ryan Herderich
Justin Townsend
Tyler McCleery
Brad McCully
Brad Bessette
Alex Apfel
James Apfel
Brandon Kelts

All-State soccer honors for East quartet

Lapeer East AD Sharon Miller will need to expand the school's All State Trophy Case. For the first time ever, the Lapeer East Boys Soccer team advanced to the Final Four. Winning the regional title paid off for he Eagles, who ended the season with the program's highest ranking ever, 6th in the state! http://www.mihisoccer.org/boysrankings.htm.

Individually, Lapeer East also did well. A quartet from the East squad earned All-State Honors.

Those honors were awarded to:

Junior starting midfielder Justin Henderson was second team All-Metro League. He was the lone goal scorer for East in the State Semi-Final game. He earned Honorable Mention All-State.

Junior starting goalie Colin Owen earned second team All-Metro League. He had 12 shutouts this year to raise his career total to 30 shutouts. Owen made 14 saves in the state semi-final game. He earned third team All-State.

Junior starting forward Alex Podolski was named to the first team All-Metro League. He led East in scoring with 19 goals. Alex earned second team All-State.

Senior Starting midfielder Clayton Tomczyk, a 4-year varsity player for East., also earned first team All-Metro League. He was recognized as one of the State's best players, and earned first team All-State. Tomczyk joins elite company as he is the third player in East's history to earn this accomplishment, the highest honor a soccer player can get. Dan Elliott did it in 2007. Niila Arajuuri was the first to do it in 2005.

East Coach Chad Kenny noted, "I am very proud to coach this team. Collectively they are committed to winning with character and class. These four guys are great representatives of our whole program. They were all honored to be selected to the All-State team. They would be the first ones to tell you that soccer is a team sport. These four were recognized at the All-State level, mainly because as a team we did very well. All 17 letter winners on our varsity played an important role in these four being recognized at the highest level."

High School parents to host Lapeer County Prosecutor

Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Byron Konschuh will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Lapeer East and West High School Parent Advisory Councils at 5:30 pm Tuesday, November 9, at the Lapeer East High School Media Center.

Konschuh’s discussion will focus on several topics that affect high schoolers, including bullying and hazing, the use of cell phones, texting and social media such as Facebook and MySpace.

After the prosecutor’s presentation, East and West parents will split into separate building PAC meetings.

Lapeer East High School and Lapeer West High School host combined PAC Meetings throughout the school year. Mr. Roper, Principal at Lapeer East, and Mr. Zeeman, Principal at Lapeer West, look forward to parent involvement at these meetings.

Future meetings are set for January 11th at West; February 8th at East; March 8th at West; April 12th at East; May 10th at West.

Lapeer East student wins 5 Golds in Scotland

Lapeer East Senior Austin Dudley grabbed 5 gold medals in an international martial arts competition in Scotland last week. The 17-year-old also grabbed a silver and bronze medal to earn medals in seven of the eight competitions he entered.

His huge medal collection came in the WKA (World Kickboxing and Karate Association) World Championships at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct 23-29. Austin was one of more than 1,000 athletes from 27 countries competing at the event.

His medal count included golds in Weapons with music, Weapons/no music, Freestyle with music, Traditional Korean Forms and Traditional Hardstyle Forms. He also grabbed a silver in Extreme Freestyle Forms and a bronze in Extreme Weapons. Austin brought home 7 medals for Team USA in the 13-17 junior male division.

He is very dedicated to his sport and trains for several hours daily and says he loves what he does. Austin has been studying martial arts for the last 10 years and recently earned his 3rd degree black belt through Dragon Karate in Lapeer, under Master Dan Cousineau.

Seven students from Dragon Karate participated in the international competition, including Annthony Cotton, 13, a student at Rolland-Waner Middle School. Anthony captured a bronze medal in Extreme Weapons in the Edinburgh competition in which teammate Austin Dudley won the gold.


Austin has competed on the Michigan Sport Karate Circuit and has held state titles in weapons and forms consecutively since 2005. Austin also has competed as a member of the US National Karate Team and has attended three WKA World Championships in which he brought home medals for the U.S.

In 2007 he won a Bronze medal in weapons with music at Karlsruhe, Germany, and in 2008 in Orlando, Fla., was a Gold medalist in Weapons with music, a Silver medalist in Open Forms with music and a Silver medalist in Traditional Korean Forms.

While in Scotland last week he was offered an all-expense paid trip to Germany to conduct a martial arts seminar for the German National Karate Team.

Austin loves teaching martial arts and currently teaches at GLE gymnastics in Oxford, MI. He hopes to have continued success and open his own karate school one day.

Lapeer East Boys advance to state soccer semifinals

THe Lapeer East Boys Soccer team will make its first trip to the state semifinals when it takes on Bloomfield Hills Lahser at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bloomfield Hills Andover High School.

East downed Dearborn Divine Child Friday, 1-0, in the Division 2 Regionals to advance to the state semis.

The Eagles scored the only goal of the Regional final game Friday afternoon at St. Clair’s East China Stadium when Nate Kolvek took a cross from Alex Podolski with three minutes to go in the first half and put it past the Divine Child goalkeeper.

"It was obviously a huge emotional lift going in 1-0. We knew they would really bring it in the second half," East coach Chad Kenny told the Flint Journal after the team victory.

The Eagles are now 18-4-1 on the season and will meet ninth-ranked Bloomfield Hills Lahser (19-4-1).

"We're thrilled to be there," Kenny said after the game. "Our kids have come together and played hard. They wanted to do something the program had never done, and I'll be darned if they didn't do it."

East keeper Colin Owen made 10 saves and notched his 13th shutout of the season for the Eagles.

"It speaks volumes about our league," Kenny said of Friday's win. "We finished second in our league and here we are in the final four in Division 2."

East girls raise funds in cancer fight

For the third year in a row the Lapeer East Volleyball team hosted its “Volley For A Cure” in a home match against Linden on October 19th.


Donned in “Volley For A Cure” T-shirts, the girls won all three of their games with Linden, 25-10, 25-12 and 25-20, and clinched third place in the Metro League.

The fundraiser collected nearly $1,000 to help two families that had daughters play on the Lapeer East volleyball team who have suffered a loss to cancer in the last year.

Jessica Knapp’s mother, Kathy, lost her battle to breast cancer this past June. Evie, Kari, and Lisa Dinsmore’s dad, Steve, lost his battle to stomach cancer this past August.

The team honored both families and the memory of each of their parents at the game.


The girls raised the bulk of their funds through the sale of Volley for a Cure T-shirts. Sponsors of the fundraiser included Dr. Aaron Fisher, DDS, Dr. Albert Smith Jr. and family, Dr. John Yap, Lapeer Medical Associates, Mott Community College, Ray C’s and Speedy Screen Printing.

20 LCS students earn AP Scholar honors

A total of 20 Lapeer Community Schools high school students have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Exams.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

At Lapeer West, Anastasia Tkach earned a 4.0 grade in three classes to qualify as an AP Scholar.

At Lapeer East, Nicholas McHardy qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Four Lapeer East students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Kaleb Elwert, Kyle Griffin, Aaron Moskal and Rebecca Wright.

Fourteen students at Lapeer East qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Clayton Burke, Ashley Daniels, Joel Dewey, Jacob Lebel, Bradley McCully, Taylor McGuffie, John Nestor, Katryna Peacock, Michael Puskar, Matthew Schneider, Kathleen Sheldon, Christopher Simpson, Devin Verhulst and Caitlyn York.

Of this year’s award recipients five are juniors: Anastasia Tkach, Bradley McCully, John Nestor, Michael Puskar and Christopher Simpson. Tkach graduated at the end of her junior year, and the other four students have one more year in which to complete college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

East to host College Fair

Lapeer East High School will host its annual College Fair Wednesday, October 6, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

More than 50 representatives from colleges, universities and technical schools will be present to answer questions regarding academic programs, admissions and financial aid. High school students and parents from the area are invited to attend.

You may call the Lapeer East Counseling Office at 810-667-2421, ext 3124, for Susan Wilmers for further information.

East tennis coach notches 100th boys win

This is a synopsis of a story that appeared in the Sept. 10 Flint Journal

Lapeer East tennis coach Oscar Rodriguez notched his 100th win as a boys coach in a match with Lapeer West on Thursday, Sept. 9.

“It doesn’t feel any different, it’s like having another birthday," Rodriguez said. "It’s just another day.”

Rodriguez has led East's boys program to a 100-86-7 (.536) overall record since 1995.

He is the 22nd Flint-area tennis coach to reach the 100-win plateau coaching boys, the second from Lapeer.

The area record is held is by Rod McEachern, who tallied 338 dual-meet victories at Lapeer West and its precursor, Lapeer High, from 1958-89.

Rodriguez has an overall mark of 252-189-18 (.569), having led the Eagles' girls program to a 152-103-11 (.592) overall record since 1988.

The Flint native is only the eighth area coach to win 100 or more duals coaching boys and girls.

Thursday, East won three of the four singles flights — Nos. 1, 2, and 4 — and No. 4 doubles in three sets to beat the Panthers, 8-0, and improve to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Metro League. West fell to 0-2-1 in the Metro.

Capturing three-set victories for East were Henry Peabody (No. 1), Tony Wagner (No. 2), Aaron Marietta (No. 4) and Brandon Kelts and James Apfel (No. 4 doubles).

"I’m going to be around for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I love the opportunity and 'm having a great team. I'm glad I can say I coach at Lapeer East."

Cheering for Jamie

Just over two weeks ago, the Lapeer East Cross Country coaches, along with several team members and parents gathered at the Lake Orion track on a hot Sunday afternoon.
They were there to do what they have been doing for the past four years – cheering on Jamie Caminiti.

Jamie was there to complete a 1.5-mile time trial, competing for a $10,000 scholarship through the Boomer Esiason Foundation. In spite of the fact that the event had to be moved at the last minute from East to Lake Orion, all of these people made the effort to be there for Jamie.

“We cannot begin to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone – coaches, team members and parents – for all of the support and encouragement that they have given to Jamie in her years at Lapeer East and for being a part of this special day for her,” noted Jamie’s parents, Joel and Sharon Caminiti.


Jamie won the scholarship by running the mile and a half in 9:32. The scholarship will go toward her studies at Cornerstone University, where she is a freshman this fall. The foundation annually awards this scholarship to two senior athletes across the nation with cystic fibrosis (one male, one female) with the best 1.5-mile time.

Lapeer East senior Samantha Kazor taking academic, athletic skills to LCC

Samantha Kazor has been a strong middle hitter for the Lapeer East High School volleyball team, but Dennis Richardson thinks she has great potential as an outside hitter.

Samantha is happy to make the switch because it means she gets to continue playing volleyball and study sonography at Lansing Community College.

Samantha, an East senior, signed a commitment letter on Friday, May 7, 2010 to accept a scholarship to LCC and play for its volleyball team. Coach Richardson said he is thrilled to have her join the team.

“She’s very talented on the volleyball court with her skills of defense, hitting and blocking,” Richardson said. “With her demeanor and character, she’s the whole package. She’s the kind of kid who is going to push up to the top. We’ve been third and fourth the past several years and she’s going to help us move up.”

Dan Purvis, her coach at East, said he is happy for Samantha.

“I’m real excited to see our players move on to the college level,” he said.

East Principal Kelly Paige praised Samantha for her work on the court and in the classroom.

“Sam is the type of athlete I like to talk about because of her grades,” she said. “She’s nearly a straight-A student and my hat goes off to her.”

Samantha, who said she is studying sonography so she can one day perform diagnostic ultrasound tests, said she plans to get an apartment in the Lansing area while attending LCC.

Lapeer East senior Katy Peacock inks commitment with Rochester College

Surrounded by her family and coaches, Lapeer East High School senior Katryna “Katy” Peacock signed her intent to play softball for Rochester College at a ceremony in the East media center Wednesday (February 24) afternoon.

(Photo caption: Photo from left: East coach Ray Reid, Macomb Explosion Coach Mike Downey, pitching coach Robert Dunham, father and coach, Don Peacock, mother, Lori Peacock, Rochester College Coach Justin Lewis and seated, Katy Peacock.)

Katy, a versatile offensive and defensive player, was honored in 2009 as an Academic All-State player and a Flint Metro League all Conference Honorable Mention player.

In addition to her outstanding athletic ability, Katy has scored well in the classroom as well with a 4.0 grade point average and a 31 ACT score, achieving High Honors each of her high school years. She has also served as President of the 2010 National Honor Society at East and is Senior Class Council vice-president.

Rochester College coach Justin Lewis spoke of Katy’s anticipated impact as both a player and a student at the ceremony.

“At Rochester College we are seeking to improve athletics and academics and Katy is the epitome of a student athlete,” Mr. Lewis said. “We are going to get a great player and a great student. It is the best of the best in both.”

East softball coach Ray Reid also praised Peacock for more than her softball ability.

“Her real strength is her work ethic, Coach Reid said. “Katy is very committed to the game and very committed to learn. She has a good glove and a good bat, she is definitely going to be an asset to Rochester College.”

In addition to Coaches Reid and Lewis and her father/coach Don Peacock, Katy’s summer softball program coaches Mike Downey and Robert Dunham were on hand for the ceremony. Katy plays for the Macomb Explosion summer team.

Katy plans to major in medicine.

Lapeer East High School seniors give presentations on social issues

Seniors at Lapeer East High School who completed 15 hours of service in the community and wrote research papers on a social issue, gave their presentations to Lapeer East classes on February 11.