As the school year came to a close, students at Houston Elementary received awards for their accomplishments throughout the year. The headliners included winners of a national handwriting competition sponsored by Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers.
The winners included second grader Breanna Brown, fourth grader Samantha Jo Garrett and first grader Mark Pounds. Brown and Garrett won the state competition for their grade levels, while Pounds was crowned the state and national champion for his grade level. In addition to her accomplishments this year, Samantha Jo Garrett has also been a state champion for the past two years and was the national champion when she was in third grade.
Brown and Garrett received engraved award pens, a framed certificate and a $50 gift certificate for Zaner-Bloser products. In addition to his gifts for being a state champion, Pounds also received a $500 savings bond, a Nintendo DS, T-shirts for his class, teachers, and family, as well as a $100 gift certificate for the school to use on Zaner-Bloser products.
Other students received awards for excellence in the classroom, perfect attendance and accomplishments in the Accelerated Reader program. Only 13 students were recognized for having perfect attendance for the entire year, while a student for every grade level was recognized for the most improvement in the Accelerated Reader Program.
A.R. award: Summer Floyd, first grade; Ethan Gammon, second; Trevor Motzkus, third; Sarah Kelley, fourth; and William Hutsell, fifth.
Perfect attendance, all year: Jeremy Wink, second grade; Kaitlyn Siegle, third; Kyle Wilson, Anna Dodd, A. J. Hoover, Logan Pokorny, Alexis Shelton, fourth; and Erica Cooperman, Nora Dixon, Kylee Elmore, Katie Robertson, Maggie Shelton and Megan Silveus, fifth.
Perfect attendance, fourth quarter, kindergarten – fifth grade: Dakota Burchett, Abbie Hatton, Jacob Koch, John Wallace, Alyssa Sullins and Dalton Dzurick, kindergarten; Shelby Korte, Alyssa Morgan, Mark Pounds, Levi Rist, Kaleb Silveus, Joshua Stell, Gracey Sullins and Jesse Westbrook, first; Trenton Campbell, Syndey Anderson, Abby Duzurick, Trenton Lybyer, Brianna McReynolds, Cody Smith and Jeremy Wink, second.
Chloe Alkire, Elizabeth Martindale, Logan bell, Connor Clifton, Alexis Shelton, Alyssa Hayes, Abby Ice, Trevor Motzkus, Destiney, Cassidy Robertson, Kaitlyn Siegle and Kassidy Stumbaugh, third; Shelby Cremer, Anna Dodd, Zachary Gregory, Rebecca Hardwick, Kyle Wilson, A.J. Hoover, Bradley Johnson, Sierra Keller, Matthew Knarr, Skylur Malam, Samantha Mings, Ashely Meizler, Nathan Neal, Logan Pokorny, Logan Michael, Elizabeth Scott, Autumn Walker and Bradley Wallace, fourth; and Taylor Bryson, Erica Cooperman, Nora Dixon, Kylee Elmore, Derek Hale, Dylan Hooper, Olivia Woolsey, Trenton Neal, Katie Robertson, Maggie Shelton, Megan Silveus, Elizabeth Harris and Hayley Walker, fifth.
President award, fifth grade: Nora Dixon, Kylee Elmore, Austin Foster, Kyle May, Wesley Monks, Megan Silveus, Olivia Woosley, Ryan Bowlin, Alisha Fletcher, Elizabeth Harris, Hayley Walker, Taylor Bryson, Madison Dixon, Tristan Durham, Gus Hunninghake, Adriana Pena, Katheren Powell, Kolby Walker, Lucas Walker and Elisa Williamson.
Citizenship award: Taylor Jones, Kali Aguire, Savannah Cope and Abigail Cole, kindergarten; Melody Silas, Paydin Cox, Tony Marquitz and Morgan Anderson, first; Carter Vandivort, Makayla Oldham, Grady Todd and Rachel Hebblethwaite, second; Victoria McCloud, Lucas Kelley, Tyler Vandivort and Abby Casper, third; Samantha Garrett, Sarah Kelley, Samantha Mings and Charles Hall, fourth; and Austin Foster, Shania Smith, Taylor Bryson and Erica Cooperman, fifth.
Math club, fifth grade: Haley Walker, Gus Hunninghake, Kylee Elmore, Shania Smith, Elizabeth Harris, Wesley Monks, Eliza Williamson and Karissa Zalucky.
Physical education awards, kindergarden: Bailey Moore, Katch Crawford, Isaiah Silas, Sara Willoughby, Savannah Cooper, Kyle Mills, Taylor Jones and Bailey Williams.
First grade: Tony Marquitz, Charlee Sue Jadwin, Dawson Koch, Melody Silas, Darby Bell, Ethan Hoyle, Caroline Dill and William Wilson.
Second grade: Taylor Chips, Carter Vandivort, Tyler Edwards, Sydney Anderson, Chloe Hunninghake, Grady Todd, Brianna McReynolds and Josh Hurst.
Third grade: Kyelor Curtis, Victoria McCloud, Trevor Motzkus, Jaycee Huff, Dalton Hatton, Abby Casper, Lucas Kelley and Jaydin Ramsey.
Fourth grade: Skylur Malam, Samantha Garrett, Sarah Kelley, Zachary Adey, Tommi Franklin, Tanner Carter, Ethan Kelley and Sierra Keller.
Fifth grade: Leanna Schafer, Dylan Hooper, Ryan Bowlin, Karissa Zalucky, Elisa Williamson and Gus Hunninghake.
News team: Megan Silveus, Kyle Laker, Kaytlyn Huff, Shania Smith, Halie Shultz, Elisa Williamson, Katie Robertson, Olivia Woosley, Adriana Pena, Madison Dixon and Erika Cooperman.