East, West students earn more than 80 awards in state MITES competition

A total of 68 students at Lapeer East and West high schools won statewide awards in the 2011 Michigan Industrial & Technology Education Society (MITES) competition.

The industrial arts entries by the Lapeer Community Schools high school students numbered more than 80 projects ranging from a book case and a belt buckle to a bike rack and a Yo-Yo.

Several students submitted multiple projects and earned multiple awards.

At Lapeer West, the 2011 honorees include: Cole Acton 5th, 7th; Ben Barker 9th, HM; Kris Bauroth HM; Kaitlin Becker HM; Anthony Berti (2)HM; Alannah Butterfield 8th; Sarah Clinton (2)2nd; Devan Corneail 5th, 9th; Cody Crookedacre HM; Dylan Fraser 1st, HM; Joe Gingiloski HM; Cody Green HM; Nick Harris HM; Aaron Heckman HM; Kailey Johnson 10th; Garrett Kitts 6th; Joe Krawdack HM; Paul Millard HM; Adam Pfeiffer HM; Jake Pratt 2nd, HM; Collin Ray HM; Blake Russell (2)HM; Jacob Stone 6th, 10th; Kyle Stoutenburg HM; Jakob Thomas 8th, HM; Casey Thornton 10th, HM; Ryan Tuckfield 7th, HM; Gabe Walters HM; Mark Wells (2)HM; Whitnie West HM; Dustin Zecchin HM.

Lapeer East 2011 MITES winners are: Kaitlyn Kluge 1st ; Tyler Lemeuix 1st; Brenton Jaros 2nd; Sierra Woodcum 3rd; Kayla Dobrowiac 7th; Kyle Waid 6th, 9th; Jasmine Luzi 10th; Eric Ricchi 7th, HM; Cassie Diaz 9th; Caroline Ritchie 9th; Eddie Eskridge 10th; Cassie Pflanzer 10th; Zhehao Wang 7th; Kristin Lawson 4th; Sabrina Pflanzer 6th; Shayne Paulus 10th; Zach Sanford 6th; Josh Strong 7th; Zach Sehn 8th; Zach Johnson 5th; Sara Badran 4th; Joe Passey 8th ; Mike Collie 3rd; Kyle Laudermilk 4th; Tyler Agnew 10th; Brandon Warren 8th; Alex Curlett 7th; John Coliette HM; Bradley Basset HM; Justin Townsend HM; Zehn Hauser HM; Jeff Beatty HM; Matt Green HM; Adam Porter HM; Jason Humble HM; Jacob Wetherford HM; Dan Pierce HM.

Two West teachers' art part of exhibition

Two West High School art teachers have had their artwork accepted to the MEA Art Acquisitions Purchase Exhibition.

Cory Gutenschwager received a Juror’s Choice Award for his “Figured Ash Vase” that was carved out of laminated wood.
Jeff Bolzman had a clay piece selected for the show entitled, “Hummingbird Teapot #2.”

Both pieces are currently on display at the MEA East Lansing headquarters. You can view them online at www.mea.org/awards/art/index.html.

Get fit: Winter Walking begins Nov. 1

The annual Lapeer Community Schools FREE winter walking program begins on Monday, November 1.

Join us at Lapeer West on Monday through Thursday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 pm as we walk for fitness and fun! Our quick registration is easily completed the first night you attend.

ALL walkers will wear a name badge (provided) while walking. Children under age 16 must walk with an attending adult. SORRY, no power walking, running or jogging. Please enter the high school using the door by the band room on the south side of building.

No walking on November 24 & 25, December 22 – January 2, January 17 & 20, February 21or “snow days.” If school closes earlier in the day because of inclement weather, the walking program is cancelled.

The walking program concludes on Thursday evening, March 31st.

The walking program is part of the Lapeer Community Schools Enrichment Program. Please do not call Lapeer West regarding this program. Questions can be directed to the Enrichment office at 810-538-1622.

Lapeer West and East golfers headed to State Finals

Lapeer West girls led the field at the MHSAA Regional Girls Golf Tournament Oct. 7 for the second straight year, followed by Lapeer East who finished second. Both West and East golfers qualified for a State Finals appearance.

The Regional matches were hosted by Lapeer West High School at Lapeer Country Club. West turned in a team total of 373 to finish first in the tournament.

The Panther golfers were led by Senior Kim Brown with an 86 (good for 4th place and a Personal Best), followed by Junior Haley Byard with a 93 (10th place and Personal Best). Lindsay Yateman chipped in with a 96 and Freshman Tori Carlson had a 98. Sophomore Kate Carlson shot a 107.

The Lapeer East team score of 378 earned a second-place finish and earned the team a trip to its first State Finals. The MHSAA Girls Finals Tournament takes place on October 15-16 at Forest Akers West (MSU) in East Lansing.

The Eagles were led by Seniors Keely Turczyn (84 good for 2nd place) and Kelsy Robinson (85 good for 3rd place). Sophomore’s Meghan Gordon (99) and Audrey Fleming (110) each had Personal Best scores. Freshman Sierra Woodcum shot a 115.

Standings in the Oct. 7 Regionals (top to bottom) were: Lapeer West, 373, Lapeer East 378, Swartz Creek 380; Flushing, 387; Flint Kearsley, 400; Midland Dow, 406; Alpena, 412; Clio, 415; Mt. Pleasant, 426; Bay City Western, 433; Bay City Central, 482. The top three teams, all from the Metro League, qualified for the State meet.

Travel advisory for West football fans

Traffic heading into the Friday night (Sept. 24) Lapeer West football game at Swartz Creek will be impeded by the “Bikes to Bricks” motorcycle caravan, which is scheduled to travel down Miller Road through downtown Swartz Creek beginning at 7:00 p.m. (game time).

The caravan is expected to be 3 to 5 miles long. It begins north of I-69 and will be moving at a slow pace. Fans should plan to arrive at the game early to avoid being held up by this event.

Discounts for athletic tickets

Students and parents can cheer their favorite teams to victory and save money as well by purchasing a Lapeer Community Schools athletic Punch Card.

The cards are priced at $25 and can be used to purchase $50 worth of admission to school sporting events. That’s a 50% discount.

Each card provides 50 punches, worth $1 each, when paying for admission at the gate. The punch cards can be used on any school sporting event within the Lapeer Community Schools, including all high school and middle school athletic contests.

Cards are available for purchase at the school offices at Lapeer East High School, Lapeer West High School, Rolland-Warner Middle School, Zemmer Middle School and in the Operations Dept. at the Lapeer Schools Administration and Services Center.

Video: Lapeer West Spring Band Concert - Hightlights

Some highlights from the 2010 Spring Lapeer West Band Concert. Enjoy!

Video: Lapeer West Spring Band Concert and Awards

Enjoy this edited version of the 2010 Lapeer West Spring Band Concert. The full video will be available on Charter Cable at various times during the summer and fall.

Lapeer West B-ball standout Anthony Sisson signs commitment with Henry Ford Community College

Lapeer West High School graduating senior and star basketball guard Anthony Sisson has inked a commitment to play at the next level for Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn next season.

Anthony averaged 13.3 points per game this season with a season high game of 25 points. A key 3-point shooter for the Panthers’ basketball team, Anthony hit 36 of 109 attempts from the 3-point stripe for a 33 percent average.

He tallied 42 steals this past season and was listed among the All Flint Metro League players. Flint Journal had a brief story today.

On Thursday, June 10, he joined his head varsity basketball coach, Andy Roberts, for a signing ceremony in the Lapeer West Media Center.

East, West golf coaches offering a summer 2010 Lapeer Junior Golf League

Varsity golf coaches from Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools, Mr. Steve Stearns and Mr. Mike Ogg, are offering the 2010 Lapeer Junior Golf League for young people, ages 10 through 17, who live or go to school in Lapeer County starting June 18 at the Lapeer Country Club.

The total cost of the league is $50 and includes eligibility to play in six qualifying rounds to enter a season tournament. The tournament will be set up in flights depending on the number of entrants per division. Golfers must play at least three qualifying rounds to be eligible to win the Net divisions of the tournament.

Qualifying rounds will be played at the Lapeer Country Club on Fridays, June 18, June 25, July 9, 16, 23, and 30. The tournament will be played on Friday, August 6, with a rain date of August 13. Tee times will range from 6:30 a.m. to 7;30 a.m. and participants should be at the course 20 minutes ahead of their tee time.

The parent/guardian of each participant is asked to be available to observe at least one qualifying round.

For more information or to obtain an enrollment application contact Mr. Stearns at (810) 664-0288 or Mr. Ogg at (810) 577-7108.

Three Lapeer sports teams advance in the post season

Lapeer East girls' soccer and boys' baseball continue their already successful seasons. Last night the girls' soccer team defeated Warren Regina in a thrilling 1-0 match. The Flint Journal has great photos and a story. The team now faces a tough challenge facing Birmingham Marian Thursday night in the Regional championship game. Photos and story in The County Press.

Lapeer West softball defeated Lapeer East and Grand Blanc last Saturday and advanced to the next level Saturday, June 12, against Flint Kearsley. The County Press has some great coverage as well.

Lapeer East baseball downed Brandon last Saturday to win the District title and advance. The County Press had photos and story in Wednesday's paper.

Top 10 Graduates from Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School announced

Following the links to photos and biographies of the Top 10 from Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School. We're still waiting on photos from Lapeer Community High Schools Top 3. They will be posted next week.

Youth basketball camp scheduled at Lapeer West High School gym on June 14-17

Improved ball handling, shooting and strong defensive fundamentals will be the focus of a Lapeer West Boys’ Basketball Camp in the Lapeer West High School gym from 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. on June 14-17.

Head West varsity basketball coach Andy Roberts, his coaching staff and varsity West players will also help develop teamwork skills and help students learn to play at a higher level.

The camp is aimed at students who will be in grades 6-9 next year, but fifth graders are also welcome.

Cost for the camp is $25 and registration will be at the door.

Swing Out 2010 - Photos

Photos of Swing Out 2010 are now posted on the District's photo gallery. This nearly 80-year tradition continued with graduates from Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community High School marching through town and being greeted by friends and family.

Two Lapeer West students, teacher honored for art at Mich. Youth Arts Festival

Lapeer West High School juniors Rachel Gillotte and Cheryse Burns were honored at a special luncheon at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in Kalamazoo May 13-16.

These two young artists were chosen as two of the top eighteen visual artists in the state of Michigan. The winning artwork will be part of the traveling Governor’s Art Show in 2010-2011.

Winners were presented with sketch books by Cindy Todd, President of the Michigan Art Education Association, and Amy VanderPol, the President- Elect of the Michigan Art Education Association.

Students from all over Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula, sent pieces to this competition. Each teacher submitted five pieces for judging.

“Even more remarkable is the fact that Rachel and Cheryse are juniors and have a full year of art ahead of them in their high school careers,” said West art teacher Nancy Barry.

Also honored at the Festival was their teacher. Mrs. Barry has had more students recognized with this honor than any other teacher in Michigan.

We are proud to have our teacher and students from Lapeer West High School recognized for these top State awards,” said West Principal Tim Zeeman. More photos can be found at the District photo gallery.

Four Lapeer West students donate stainglass creation to the schools' Media Center

Students Kevin Roach, Juli Field, Nick Durst and Adam Darby created this stained glass work and donated it to the media center at Lapeer West High School. The students said it took them a week to make the artwork and credited Mr. Paul Fernandez and Mrs. Julie Fernandez and Mr. Steve Hilgendorf with helping them. The four are graduating in June and wanted to leave something that would mark their time at West.

Industrial arts students at East and West win dozens of awards at Statewide event

Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School industrial arts students won dozens of awards at the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES) competition at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie May 6-8.

The MITES 82nd annual convention recognizes craftsmanship in industrial and career technology in a number of categories, including inventions, drafting, graphic arts, wood projects, pattern-making and molding.

Among the top awards were first place awards to East’s Tyler Lemieux (two projects) and Brenton Jaros; and West student Wyatt Fleisher. Second place awards went to East’s Dylan Barriger, Brenton Jaros, and Kyle Waid; and West students Eric Boskee and Jordon Pierce. Third place awards went to East students Andrew Olson and Zach Sanford; and West students Devan Corneail and Nick Williams.

A total of 45 Lapeer East students from the classes of Mr. Jared Andres and Mr. Timothy Lewis sent one or more projects to the event and 33 West students from the classes of Mr. Cory Gutenschwager and Steve Hilgendorf exhibited one or more projects at the show.

At regional competition, 16 East projects won first place and West had 20 projects that won first place honors. At the State competition, a total of 25 East projects finished in the top 10 and West had 27 projects that finished in the top 10.

Other students who had top 10 projects at the event were:

East: Tyler Agnew (5th), Dylan Barriger (9th), Lucas Bonesteel (4th), Ricky Burley (6th), Mercedes Drinkhorn (10th), Tyler Graham (10th), Andrew Jack (5th), Josh Jacot (4th), Tony Julian (7th), Kaitlyn Kluge (5th), Grant Kropfeld (6th), Eddie Lockwood (5th), Jasmine Luzi (4th), Steven Medellin (5th), Alec Mihm (10th), Kim Mitchell (6th), Will Smith (6th) and Brandon Warren (4th).

West: Zac Allen (9th), Austin Allison (4th), Kyle Bannister (8th), Kyle Boose (three projects - 7th, 8th, 9th), Eric Boskee (10th), Mark Cox (5th), Nate Dillon (9th), Jessica Laidler (4th), Jared Miller (8th), Joe Miller (two projects- 8th, 9th), Jordon Pierce (5th), Collin Ray (two projects – 9th, 9th), Ken Smith (4th), Chandler Stefan (10th), Justin Sundberg (6th), Justin Sutherby (8th), Kaitlyn Becker (4th), and Robert Hicks (9th).

Lapeer East, Lapeer West art students honored for work at Young Artists Today Show

Art students from Lapeer East and Lapeer West participated in the recent Young Artists Today Show at the Flint Public Library and several were honored for their work.

The art exhibit, a collaboration between the Greater Flint Arts Council, Flint Public Library and the Flint Institute of Arts, annually displays the best artwork from students in our area.

Students representing Lapeer West from Mr. Jeff Bolzman’s class were Rhonda Vandercook (3rd place), Adrianna Allen (honorable mention), and Jessica Phelps (honorable mention). Additional students of Mr. Bolzman who exhibited art were Krystal Peto, Cheryse Burns and Lisa Noelle.

Students from Mrs. Nancy Barry’s class at Lapeer West were Elizabeth Smith (honorable mention) and Jaclyn Conlon (honorable mention). Additional students of Mrs. Barry who exhibited at the show were Megan Roberson, Jessica Phelps, Rachel Gillotte and Nicole Mobley.

Also at West, Mrs. Julie Fernandez’s eighth grade students exhibited work at the Young Artists Show. Kaylee Hammerstein received an honorable mention. Other students of Mrs. Fernandez who exhibited were: Abrianna DeBono, Kami Carpenter, and Tyler Egres.

From Lapeer East, Adam Porter, a student of Mrs. Debbie Helbig won an honorable mention award. Other students of Mrs. Helbig exhibiting art at the show were: Shelbi Davis, Sharon McCully, Dominique Sokolowski, Tyler Lemieux and Devin Verhulst.

Also at East, Melanie Dickenson, a student of Mrs. Joann Swomley received an honorable mention. Other students of Mrs. Swomley who had art pieces at the show were: Kaitlyn Beard, Marisa Nichols, Erica Place, Lauren Piontkowski and Autumn Seib.

Art teachers from both schools praised the dedication and discipline of their students for the positive showing at the exhibit.

Two Lapeer West sophomore students chosen for SET SEG camp scholarship this summer

The School Employers Trust and School Employers Group (SET SEG) Educational Foundation recently awarded Lapeer West High School with a scholarship that will provide funding for students to attend the Michigan Association of Student Councils/Michigan Association of Honor Societies (MASC/MAHS) Summer Leadership Camp.

The school received $400 and plans to send sophomores Gina Cavanaugh and Ashley Nugent, to the camp at Albion College July 25-30. The school will receive its award from the Foundation at a special presentation made during the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education meeting at 7 p.m. June 3, at the Administration and Services Center.

The MASC/MAHS Leadership camp teaches students leadership principles that will benefit their schools and communities. Through their work serving on committees and in councils, students gain hands-on experience that will assist them with program planning and evaluation. Leadership Camp sessions address leadership styles, communication, organizational skills, public speaking, team building and project planning and provide an environment for students to interact with peers from school districts throughout Michigan.

Scholarship recipients were selected from a competitive field of applicants. The application process required input from a high school principal and a Student Council or Honor Society adviser.

This is the Foundation’s fourth year of awarding the scholarships. Its parent company, SET SEG, is a nonprofit provider of complete insurance services to Michigan public school districts.

The SET SEG Educational Foundation was established in 2005 and is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization. Its mission is to enable students to pursue enrichment opportunities that advance learning, leadership and civic responsibility.

Lapeer West High School Garden Club uses green thumps to spruce up courtyards, gardens

The Lapeer West High School Garden Club spent a nice afternoon recently cleaning up the courtyards and flower beds from a typical Michigan winter.

Students built and installed birdhouses, as well as sprucing up the gardens. The courtyards and gardens at the school are enjoyed by students and staff.

To see additional photos go to the District photo gallery.

West teacher Mrs. Kathy Hergenreder is the Club's adviser.

(Photo: Members of the LW Garden Club (left to right) Ashley Nugent, Abbey Magolan, Katie Kovalik, and Nikki Kujawa.)