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C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

G R A D U A T E S

B elding | Beth Haven Bapti st Academy | Car son City-Crystal C ent ral M ontcalm | Fellowshi p Baptist Academy | Flat Ri ver Academy Gre enville | Ionia | Lak eview | Montabella | Tri County | Vestaburg

Saturday, May 18, 2019

A Supplement to the

DAILY NEWS

Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Graduation

Index

Read about our 2019 features on local students and their stories of overcoming opstacles and personal growth!

‘You couldn’t ask for a better student’

Belding High School 3-8

Central Montcalm High School staff will miss graduating senior

Beth Haven Baptist Academy 9 Carson City-Crystal High School 10-11 Central Montcalm High School 13-16 Fellowship Baptist Academy 16

find his story on page 12

‘Change is exciting’ Vestaburg High School valedictorian readies for her ‘full ride’ at U of M find her story on page 31

‘It happened, we made it and I’m me’

Flat River Academy 17 Greenville High School 18-30

Lakeview High School senior reflects on past high school, mother diagnosed with breast cancer during sophomore year

Ionia High School 32-39 Lakeview High School 40-42 Montabella High School 44-45 Tri County High School 46-52 Vestaburg High School 53-54 All graduation photos and names were provided and proofed by each individual school.

Any photographs submitted after deadline were not included in this publication.

find her story on page 43

CO NGR AT UL AT E YO UR

2019 Graduate

Honor and celebrate your graduate with a full color tribute ad that will publish Saturday, June 8 in The Daily News.

DEADLINE: Mon., June 3 at 11 a.m.

Bring in or mail the form below along with a color photo with your graduate’s name on the back and payment.

Cyndi Smith Belding High School

Congrats to this lovely lady!

The best to you, Cyndi.

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Mom and Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Roger & Cathy

SAMPLE OF AD

2

• Pre-School • Elementary Save Time, • Junior High Order Online • High School thedailynews.cc/grad • College Ads Starting • Vocational at $24 DAILY NEWS

Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Be l di n g

G Sabrina Acevedo

Irelyn Besmer

Zoe Anderson

Sydney Booker

Kyleah Antcliff

Nichanan Boonmee

Taylor Beard

Jade Borst

raduation events for 2019 begin on May 19 for the 147 seniors graduating from Belding High School.

Kicking off the week is student-led Baccalaureate at 7 p.m. May 19 in the auditorium.

Class Night for the seniors is 7 p.m. May 22 in the auditorium.

Graduation follows on at 7 p.m. May 23 in the gym. The commencement speaker will be Distinguished Alumni Jason Hutton, a 1998 BHS graduate who is currently at Fox 17 in Grand Rapids. Mr. Ostrander has not announced the valedictorian or salutatorian.

Class quote: “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them” – Andy Bernard Class song: “We Are the Champions” – Queen Class flower: Sunflower Class colors: Black and Orange Not Pictured:

Jonathen Benitez, Justin Benitez, Kayla Bundy, Travis Chapin, Alexander Craddock, Gabriel Croel, Halle Derosha, Minh Doan, Thomas Doran, Jason Everett, Philanda Jones, Taylor Martin, Olivia Muniz, Havin Turgut

McKenzie Boyd

Zachary Brown

Christian Bunce

Katherine Bunting

Caleb Burch

Devan Bushre

Emily Bushre

Sara Bushre

Lucy Byrne

Jared Cardosa

Sophia Carlson

Jacqueline Casey

Austin Chiavola

Chadrick Closser

Breanna Conley

Tyra Conley

Vitoria Costa Gonzales

Jordan Csernyik

Alejandra De Jorge Otto

Jason Dean

Tristan Doty-Robinson

Jeffrey Dukes

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Be l di n g

Joshua Dukes

Rheagan Echter

Emily Edwards

Bradon Ensign

Caitlyn Evans

Vaughn Faasen

Bendix Ferch

Bryce Ferman

Lima Inague Daniela Ferreira

Lauren Fisher

Jade Flynn

Andrew Foley

Jonna Froeberg

Alexis Gallop

Jesus Garcia Guautle

Vivian Gay

Ricardo Gbah

Tyler Gibbs

Bre Gillson

Maria Granado

Donovan Greene

Nicholas Green

Raven Guernsey

Michael Guerra

“Every person you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.”

— H Jackson Brown Jr.

Congratulations

CONGRATULATIONS

BELDING

to the Class of 2019

On your graduation day, we offer our congratulations and wish you the best as you embark upon new and exciting endeavors.

Class of

2019

Johnson - Feuerstein Funeral Home

Bruce Feuerstein, a 1980 Graduate of Belding High School

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Belding Area Schools The right size. The right choice.

Be l di n g

Graduation 2019 •  Saturday, May 18, 2019

5

Haley Hansen

Ethan Harper

Ronald Harper

Daniel Haverstick

Kyle Heaton

Nicholas Heintzelman

Jenisa Henry

Raeli Heppe

Samantha Hersch

Anastasia Hintz

Bryon Hochkins

Dylan Hulliberger

Jeremiah Jewell

Chase Jones

Jacob Kamradt

Kaden Kellum

Hailee Kimble

Bryon King

Zachary Lumbart

Ezekiel Richmond

Grace Wright

Jacob Anderson

Belding

Belding

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Greenville

Bryon King II Belding

Kendrick A. Rhines G.R. Northview

Congratulations and Good Luck to all

2019 Graduates!

200 N. Gooding Street Belding | 616-794-1130

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Be l di n g

Alyson Kline

Lyndsi Krieger

A. Laffler

Maria Lalick

Dakota Lanning

Molly Legg

Kaitlyne Lewis

Shelby Lipka

Hallie Lucas

Zachary Lumbert

Casey Lussenden

Paige Martin

Keegan Matulaitis

Dakota McLaren

Dylan McLaren

Joshua McQuillan

Rattiyakorn Meesap

Payton Mendham

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Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

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Jack Michalek

Hunter Milanowski

Orion Moehring

Abaigeal O’Toole

Jakob Oberlin

Nathan Parcher

Alexis Paredes

Samantha Peters

Nuria Polo Gallardo

Samantha Potratz

Jared Prosser

Jeffrey Puehler

Jaqueline Quintino

Saga Rantalainen

Stetson Rice

Ezekiel Richmond

Cherokee Robinson

Jacob Rodel

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE ADDS UP.

Best of Luck

2019 GRADUATES Special congratulations to...

Kiera Snyder Belding High School

114 North Lafayette Street | 616.754.8888 | hungerfordnichols.com 261290

Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Be l di n g

Kayleb Rood

Alec Sabin

Rodrigo Saez

Madyson Scheid

Jule Schueler

Ian Scott

Nathanial Silva

Brennon Smith

Kiera Snyder

Ika Stenman

Levi Syrjala

Paige Thacker

Frank Theodore

Hailey Thomas

Hannah Thomas

Jose Ugarte

Katelynn Walch

Andrew Walcott

DAILY NEWS CONGRATULATES

Margaret Walker

Mackenzie Wallin

Kayleb Rood

Hailey Warren

Belding High School Class of 2019 Graduate

BEST OF LUCK AT GVSU!

“Where words fail, music speaks.” — Hans Christian Andersen

Brandon Wood

Grace Wright

Congratulations 2019 Graduates!

Mikayla Wright

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” — C.S. Lewis Autumn Zerkle

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Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Beth Haven Baptist Academy

J

acob Chavez, a former principal at Beth Haven Academy, will be the featured speaker at the Academy’s 2019 graduation.

Commencement will start at 4 p.m. May 26 at the church.

Five seniors are graduating with valedictorian and salutatorian not yet named.

Class verse: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called, according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 KJV Class quote: “It’s An Adventure Out There” — from the movie “Up” Class song: “Married Life” — from the movie “Up” Class flower: Rose

Michael Barnhill

Hannah Crumrine

Esther Deneau

John Snyder

Elnora Williamson

Congratulations

GRADUATES Now

” e t a u d “Gra

a z z i P r e t to Bet 1133 W. State St. (M-44) Belding (616) 794-0000 261445

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Carson City-Crystal

G Aiden Adkins

Claire Adkinson

Giovanny Alpizar

Melina Barnewitz

raduation for the Carson CityCrystal seniors will be at 4 p.m. on June 2 in the east gymnasium.

Baccalaureate will be at 2 p.m. the same day.

Class quote: “It took 2019 years to make a class this good!”

Class song: “Five More Minutes” — Scotty McCreery Class flower: Sunflower Class colors: Blue and gold Not Pictured: Jacob Hanes, Taylor Hutson, Joseph Morse, Ho Nguyen, Rebecka Pennock, Kailin Rohn

Guiomar Benit-Hontangas

Abagail Billings

Chloe Billings

Caila Coleman

Caleb Collins

Joshua Currier

Elizabeth Cusack

Megan Dailey

Nolan Datema

Carmen Donahue

Triston Edwards

Kaylee Eller

Alejandro Espinoza

Gunnar Eyer

Bretton Fears

Kylee Ferris

Bailey Fitzpatrick

Jonathon Gachter

Joshua Graham

Nathan Green

Kolbi Humphrey

Zoey Hunter

Seth Johns

Hanna Leichtfried

Alyssa McMillan

Brody Mikula

Matthew Miller

Alexander Mitchell

Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Carson City-Crystal

Jackson Murphy

Brandon Murray

Justin Niemi

Emily Osborne

Victoria Patin

Caleb Quinn

Kaylee Reeder

Walker Richardson

Kolbe Rohn

Alanna Ross

Savannah Russo

Christina Schafer

Haylei Schaefer

Tuckor Schafer

Braxton Seida

Daryn Shepler

Daniel Smith

Sarah Springsteen

Caleb Stevens

Kaylea Stone

Drew Stout

Cera Vargas

Linzy Wadle

Kaleb Walker

Xavier Waltz

Louisa Weits

Andrae Wilson

Aaron Wohlfert

Shawntae Wood

Madilyn Zacharda

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

‘You couldn’t ask for a better student’

Central Montcalm High School staff will miss graduating senior

Central Montcalm High School seniors Tanner Smith, left, and Suzette Rojas, right, water some plants in special education teacher Brad Smith’s classroom. Rojas and Smith both admired Smith for his helpfulness and positive attitude. — DN Photo | Meghan Nelson

T

Central Montcalm High School seniors Tanner Smith, left, and Suzette Rojas, right, stand together for a photo. According to Rojas, Smith is the friend to go to for a listening ear. — DN Photo | Meghan Nelson

eachers, staff and students are going to miss Central Montcalm High School senior Tanner Smith when he graduates on Sunday.

Those who know Smith have nothing but positive things to say about the kind of student and friend he is and his good attitude and helpfulness.

“Tanner is a nice young man who is always willing to help out around the classroom. He will always talk to you no matter who you are,” said Elijah Jeffers, a paraprofessional at Central Montcalm High School. “I wish there were more kids his age who would be as nice and polite as he is.”

Suzette Rojas, a senior at Central Montcalm High School, gives Smith a high recommendation as a friend.

“I think his personality is great.

He’s really nice to everyone. I think you feel welcome talking to him,” Rojas said. “You don’t feel like you have to be someone else. He’s a pretty cool dude.”

She also said Smith is the person to talk to if you need someone to listen, to which Smith agreed.

Smith’s friends and teachers will miss him in the halls of Central Montcalm, and special education teacher Brad Hansen even said next school year won’t be the same without Smith.

“You couldn’t ask for a better stu-

dent,” Hansen continued. “You don’t have to ask him twice to do something. He just does his job, and he’s positive and does great things.”

Over the past four years, special education teacher Christine Nanzer has appreciated Smith’s help with weekly lunch fundraisers with school staff.

“He knows what to do to complete most of the jobs that need to be done and can train others on how to complete the job,” Nanzer said. “He also has the initiative to just get jobs done rather than wait for someone to ask him to do a job.”

She also commended Smith’s attention to details, which helps the fundraiser run smoothly as well as help Nanzer remember what needs to get done.

Smith said he’s going to miss making lunch for Central Montcalm staff, but he is also looking forward to plans for after graduation. Right now, he’s focused on continuing to work at Rapid Tool and Machine in Sheridan and saving enough money to buy his own golf cart to take to and from work.

“Tanner’s family has the Sheridan golf cart mafia,” Hansen joked.

“My dad started his own golf cart club in Sheridan. Usually, we all get on the family cart and go to my uncle’s because he has one,” Smith said.

Three of Smith’s uncles own golf

MEGHAN NELSON mnelson@staffordgroup.com carts and one of their friends owns an ATV, all of which are part of the golf cart club.

He also wants to try his luck at farming, using skills he’s learned from Montcalm Area Career Center teacher Amanda Sturm in agricultural science class.

“Tanner is always willing to help get work done,” Sturm said. “This year he was on two different teams where he competed at FFA (Future Farmers of America) events outside of the school.”

Smith said he might come back to the school and work or help since he “kind of likes the teachers.”

No matter what he ends up doing, he will keep smiling and helping others.

“Tanner will be successful in whatever career he chooses, because of his work ethic and ability to get along with others,” Nanzer predicted.

Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Central Montcalm

V

Kayla Anderson

Tyler Baker

Hunter Bannister

Blake Bellinger

Jade Betham

Olivia Betham

Paityn Blaisdell

Lynsey Blonshine

aledictorian Ocean Chavez and Salutatorian Katrina Thomsen will be featured speakers, along with superintendent Amy Meinhardt and principal Marty James at the 2019 Central Montcalm Public School graduation.

Commencement for the 100 graduating seniors is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 19 in the high school gymnasium.

Senior Honors Night was held on May 1 at the Sidney Township Hall.

Class motto: “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.”

Class song: “Five More Minutes” — Scotty McCreery Class flower: Sunflower Class colors: Green and white NOT PICTURED: Jose Rodriguez

Anna Bobrzyk Gonzales

Emilee Bohen

Kaylee Borton

Madeline Braman

Cassandra Buskirk

Chaim Carson

Hyacinth Chavez

Ocean Chavez

Jack Christensen

Calli Clemens

Elizabeth Conklin

Brian Cooper Jr.

Kala Daggett

Dillon Darling-Perez

Andrew Day

Emily Dollaway

Alexis Doolittle

Paris Dora

Amanita Dukes

LeeAnn Durkin

Trinity DuVall

Kesen Everingham

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Central Montcalm

Valana Gabrish

Sydney Gaffney

Avory Goodell

Austin Green

Shayna Green

Kiley Guelzo

Hunter Hansen

Madison Hansen

Breonna Harris

Logan Heater

Taylor Henry

Lauren Herald

Madison Holland

Angela Hone

Cass Hoover

Kryn Humphrey

Andrew Jacoby

Emily Jensen

Congrats 2019 Graduates!

Danielle Johnson

Brina Jones

VISIT US IN SIDNEY OR SHERIDAN

Madison Jones

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WHERE BANKING IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS

Congratulations Class of 2019

Class of 2019 r o i n e C ongrats S

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Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Central Montcalm

Lacey Keeney

Danielle Kent

Jordan Knapper

Branden Kring

Conner Kuhn

Kyle Kuhn

Ryan Lake

Brennon Lane

Jared Ledford

Libby Ledford

Haley Lund

Addison McKay

Melissa Mezquitic

Michael Moore

Luisa Moreira Crisol

Megan Nelson

Brenton Nielsen

Sierra Parrish

Best Wishes & Good Luck Class of 2019 from the Crew at Quality Collision Services

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Central Montcalm

Kaden Peak

Addisen Peterman

Drucilla Phenix

Makayla Phenix

Doreen Pritchard

Hannah Putnam

Lorena Quesada Ilmert

Shelbie Ramirez

Marshall Rauch

Logan Richmond

Selena Ring

Kelsea Ringleka

Suzett Rojas

Luiza Santiago Lima

Gideon Scott

Breanna Shindorf

Kaleb Shong

Tanner Smith

Trenna Smith

Carson Stevens

Katrina Thomsen

Kiara Wernette

Britney Wiltkopp

Fellowship Baptist Academy

M

rs. Deb Meister, English teacher at Fellowship Baptist Academy, will be the keynote speaker at the school’s 2019 graduation, slated for 7 p.m. May 24 at the Fellowship Center, 10204 E. Carson City Road, Carson City.

Six seniors will be graduating with Chadyn Moravy earning valedictorian honors and Emily Evans earning salutatorian.

Class verse: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:18-19 Class motto: “Keep it simple, stupid.” — Dave Ramsey • Class flower: Sunflower

Madison Braman

Anna Campbell

Emily Evans

Payton Miller

Chadlyn Moravy

Graduation 2019 • Saturday, May 18, 2019

Flat River Academy

S

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ix seniors will be graduating from Flat River Academy at 6:30 p.m. May 29 in the school’s gym. A keynote speaker has not yet been determined.

Class colors: Navy, teal, red and white

Samuel Blackgrove

Isaiah Byrd

Wendy Gonzalez

Carlie Martin

Alexander Sample

Anay Trejo

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE ADDS UP.

Best of Luck

2019 GRADUATES Special congratulations to...

Jake Giddings Greenville High School

114 North Lafayette Street | 616.754.8888 | hungerfordnichols.com 260064

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Greenville

T Alyssa J. Abbott

Cameron L. Adams

Caitlin G. Anderson

Jacob C. Anderson

Kylee R. Appleby

Chloe J. Arnold

Drew W. Averill

Harli A. Balahoski

Chloe E. Bartlett

Samuel S. Bartlett

Cayden J. Beardslee

Hannah R. Bergeron

he 270 graduating seniors of Greenville High School will be acknowledged at Honors Assemblies starting at 8:45 a.m. May 22 and 23, followed by Swing-Out at 8:45 a.m. May 24.

Scholarship Day will be May 22 and Jacket Pride Day, featuring activities and academic awards, will be on May 23. Only senior awards will be given out with underclassmen being celebrated May 28 at a “Pass the Torch” assembly.

Three seniors, chosen by committee, will present the welcome, class history and farewell speeches at Swing-Out. Graduation will be at 7 p.m. May 30 at Legacy Field. Tickets are not required.

Class motto: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson Class song: “Seven Nation Army” — The White Stripes Class flower: Lily of the valley Class colors: Purple NOT PICTURED:

Ethan Eikenhout, Ian Frisbie, Ashlee Johnson, Dakota Johnson, Mikayla Hoke, Brandon Lowing, Katelin Mansel, Kiersten Rebhun, Peighton Rumney, Dylan Wright, Kathryn Youmans

Danielle L. Bigelow

Kyleigh A. Bish

Joey C. Black

Kordell G. Black

Bailey C. Blackport

Tristin K. Blair

Carmen L. Blount

Tyler J. Boni

Alyssa Borowka

Adrian T. Bowling

Elijah M. Boyce

Olivia C. Braman

Dillon K. Bramen

Dominic J. Briggs

Cassandra H. Brockschmidt

Travis Brockschmidt

Graduation 2019 •  Saturday, May 18, 2019

19

Greenville

Kaine L. Brown

Wyatt E. Brown

Charlotte Buhl

Ryan M. Burden

Jonathan T. Burger

Eliana A. Burgess

Mason W. Burrill

Natalie Bushong

Natasha Bushong

Diana A. Cantera

Cole M. Caswell

Rebecca M. Caswell

Gabriel C. Chapman

Caleb S. Christensen

Mitchell G. Clevenger

Mollie R. Cline

Crystal L. Cole

Dylan L. Collins

To the class of

2019

S T A R G N CO CLASS OF 2019 OPEN

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Saturday, May 18, 2019 • Graduation 2019

Greenville

Olivia S. Collins

Megan R. Cooper

Tiffany A. Cooper

Katelyn L. Corey

Gavin J. Cossou

Madison R. Cox

Matthew A. Cox

Elena R. Cruz

Ross A. Cusack

Tara A. Dakin

Seth A. Davis

Noah T. Day

Taylor Decker

Elizabeth J. Dennis

Makayla Devos

Evan W. Diehl

Taylor Docter

Makala K. Doran

Sabyn M. Doty

Wyatt G. Douglas

Megan M. Dukes

TO THE

CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2019

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

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Congratulations to the Class of 2019