High School Principal Tony Petersen welcomed all the families and guests attending. “We are here this evening to recognize the outstanding achievements of an exceptional group of young men and women,” said Petersen.

He thanked the seniors and their families. “It is an honor to serve as your principal and I look forward to seeing the impact you make on the world,” said Petersen.

More than 50 scholarships, from corporations, memorial funds and other sources, were announced with many coming from the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation. 

The following scholarships and awards were awarded:

University of Michigan Award: Kaden Hamming and Charlotte Nelson

This award is given to one male and one female from the upper one-third (scholastically) of the senior class. The criteria considered when selecting these students are:

•   Honesty
•   Willingness
•   Industry
•   Courtesy
•   Contribution to School
•   Sportsmanship
•   Initiative

The Barry County University of Michigan Alumni Club each year presents these students with a dictionary.

Henry J. Dugan Principal’s Award  - Whitney Ruger

This award is intended to bring public recognition to a senior student who has earned the respect of his or her school and the community.  The recipient is not always an active participant in every school function but someone who demonstrates that they can contribute without hurting others and that they can succeed by helping others to succeed. The following was considered when nominating this student:  school citizenship, academic excellence, peer respect, community service, involvement in co-curricular activities, and who quietly contributes to make his or her school a better place and who otherwise might not be publicly recognized for their effort.

 

Ray Page Service Award - Elizabeth Middleton 

This award is intended to bring recognition to a senior student who has contributed extra time and effort to help out when and where needed. The recipient isn’t necessarily a straight A or B student, but someone who always seems to be there when needed. We have many of these students who spend a lot of time helping out and we felt that a special “Service Award” should be given to the individual selected.

 

Scholastic Excellence Award - Tyne Bufka and Dylan Bailey

This award is intended to bring recognition to a senior student who demonstrates the qualities of an exemplary citizen, role model to younger students, traits of courage, poise, self confidence, and leadership.

SCHOLARSHIPS

TK Class of 1957 Scholarship - Logan Garrett 

TK Class of 1966 Scholarship - Grant Middleton 

Adam Dipp Scholarship  - Emily Fliearman

Dan Dykstra Jr. Scholarship - Noelle Smith

Lorraine Dahlgren Memorial - Joselyn DeBoer

Logan Michael Kimbrue Memorial Scholarship - Ethan Bonnema 

Alecia Lorraine Holst Memorial - Brooke Reurink

Tad Thatcher Memorial Scholarship - Whitney Ruger

Brian Appel Scholarship - Justin Goggins

McCullough Family Scholarship - Alivia Raak

Millicent Grace Knox Scholarship - Emilia Rickert

Terri Yoder Scholarship- Jaelyn Thomas

Julie Bender Women’s Athletic Scholarship - Kendra Coe 

Emil Tyden Founders Scholarship - Kendra Coe 

Rodney and Rena Schad Memorial - Kendra Coe 

Samuel McKeown Memorial Scholarship (Business) - Kendra Coe, Hayden Chatman

Samuel McKeown Memorial Scholarship (Medical) - Hailey Dudik, Madalynne Barrera-Wilder

Ray Page Scholar Athletic Memorial Scholarship  - Drake Snyder

GFWC - Gun Lake Women’s Club Scholarship - Samuel Trudell, Katie Comeau, Justin Goggins

Adele and Arnold Parker Scholarship - Emilia Rickert

Dr. Wayne and Marie Finkbeiner Scholarship - Madalynne Barrera Wilder

Thomas Hamilton Memorial Scholarship - Charlotte Nelson

Robert Eveans Memorial Scholarship - Emilia Rickert

Thornapple Kellogg Alumni Association Scholarship - Lucas Van Meter

Beth Helrigel Wester Memorial - Bailey Eden

Lynn Helrigel Summers Scholarship - Bailey Eden 

Jody Helrigel Pratt Education Scholarship - Emilia Rickert

Lois Ann Nagel-Seppanen Scholarship - Kaden Hamming

Gerald and Ceta Williams Scholarship - Charlotte Nelson 

Ethel Denton Groos Scholarship - Ashleigh Norman

Village Players of Middleville Scholarship - Laine Hinton

Jon and Kay Simpson Scholarship  - Holly Carpenter

RKW Working Students Scholarship - Kendra Coe

Gerald and Lois Page Scholarship  -  Logan Garrett 

Don and Catherine Williamson Scholarship - Laine Hinton

Lydia Cole Memorial Scholarship - Holly Carpenter

Katherine and Edward Wieringa Scholarship  - Whitey Ruger

Middleville Women’s Club Scholarship - Cash Rabley

Eugene and Edna Hendrickson Scholarship - Venus Appel, Leyla Cruz

Rotary Scholarships - Bailey Eden, Laine Hinton, Kaden Hamming, Whitney Ruger, Drake Snyder

Woody Wyngarden Scholarship - Hailey Dudik

TKESP Support Professionals Scholarship - Noelle Smith 

Union Bank Scholarship - Bailey Eden 

KCC Scholarship - Clare Webster 

TAEF Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force Scholarship - Nathan Koester 

TAEF Ball Family Scholarships - Shelby Robinette and Cade Hicswa

First Presbyterian Church of Hastings Scholarship - Elizabeth Middleton

TKEA Scholarships - Holly Carpenter, Hailey Dudik, Abraham Figuereo-Reyes, Cash Rabley, Shelby Robinette, Emilia Rickert, Lucy VanDuine, Whitney Ruger 

Kent County Education Association Scholarship - Emilia Rickert

Verseti Blood Donation Awards - Lucy VanDuine, Emilia Rickert, Brooke Reurink, Brittney Roodvoets, Hannah Middleton, Kenzie Linderman, Sara Johnson, Hailey Dudik, Jessie Drenten

Athletic Awards  

OK Conference Scholar Athlete  - 

(4 athletic season competitor, 1 Varsity sport senior year, 3.5 GPA):

Dylan Bailey

Daniel Beckering

Tyne Bufka

Kendra Coe

Landon Conroy

Joselyn DeBoer

Jessie Drenten

Hailey Dudik

Blake Dykstra

Marian Gielincki

Justin Goggins 

Kaden Hamming

Kyan Haywood

Laine Hinton 

Isaac Kimbel

Benjamin Koster

Emilie Landry

Kenzie Linderman

Sophia Marcukaitis

Grant Middleton

Mollie Moore

Grady Palazzolo

Katherine Powers

Alivia Raak

Emilia Rickert 

Sydney Robertson

Shelby Robinett

Brenen Simon

Logan Snelling

Kenna VanElst

Kyle VanHaitsma

Cailin Wodrich

Tri Sport Athlete (Must participate in 3 sports senior year):

Tom Bewersdorf

Madita Boppel

Giovana Daher

Nina Durikova

Lou Savary

Aurora Sisto 

Tri Sport Athlete and OK Conference Scholar Athlete:

Hayden Chatman

Katie Comeau

 

Senior Athlete (must have 6 or more Varsity Letters) and OK Conference Scholar Athlete:

Holly Carpenter

Tyler Gavette

Ava Jahnke

Elizabeth Middleton

TJ Myers

Charlotte Nelson

Emma Schut

Jaxan Sias

Drake Snyder

Lucas Van Meter

Holly Velting

Senior Athlete and Tri-Sport Athlete:

Mali Holland, Brittney Roodvoets, Kenady Smith

Senior Athlete, OK Conference Scholar Athlete and Tri-Sport Athlete:

Ethan Bonnema

Athletic Boosters Scholarships

Kaden Hamming, Kendra Coe, Drake Snyder, Jessie Drenten

Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Academic Achievement Award (For displaying outstanding academic and athletic achievement while participating in interscholastic athletics)

Hayden Chatman

Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Regional Award  (Award given for both academic and athletic excellence.) 

Kaden Hamming

OK Conference Athlete Of The Year

Ethan Bonnema, Kenedy Smith

Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Regional Award (Award given for both academic and athletic excellence.) 

      

Kaden Hamming

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE AWARDS

Odyssey of the Mind and Natural Talent Scholarship - Shelby Robinett

Davenport University Excellence Scholarship - Daniel Beckering

Davenport University Excellence Scholarship and Cross Country/Track Scholarship - Lucas Van Meter

Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship - Andrew Beckering

Ferris State University Founders Scholarship - Dylan Bailey

Michigan Tech University Leading Scholar Distinguished Finalist Award, Excellence Award, Silver Level Presidential Scholars Award, Alumni Legacy Award, Chemical engineering Department Scholarship - Marian Gielincki

Michigan Tech University Presidential Scholars Award and Excellence Award - Kira Holzhausen

Michigan Tech University National Merit Scholarship and Leading Scholar Distinguished Finalists Award - Elizabeth Middleton

Northern Michigan University Presidential, Leadership and Wildcat Merit Scholarships - Mollie Moore

Aquinas College Merit, St. Anselm and Campus Visit Scholarships - Ashleigh Norman

Lawrence Tech University Elite and College of Architecture and Design Scholarships - Ainsley Parsons.

Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship - Sydney Robertson

TKHS Department Awards 

Art Department Award: Laine Hinton

Business/Computer Science Department Award: Tyne Bufka and Kaden Hamming

 

English Department Awards: 

Drama Award: Emilia Rickert, Jonas Grummet

English Award: Dylan Bailey, Tyne Bufka, Nathan Koester, Charlotte Nelson, Emiliar Rickert, Whitney Ruger

Foreign Language Department Awards: Dylan Lawrence, Claire Norris, Elizabeth Shrontz

Math Department Award: Tyne Bufka, Charlotte Nelson, Emilia Rickert

 

Science Department Award:  Travis Barton, Holly Carpenter, Jessie Drenten, Kaden Hamming, Katherine Powers, Shelby Robinett, Samuel Trudell

Social Studies Department Award: Bailey Eden

 

Technology Education Department Award: Dylan Bailey, Kendra Coe, Adam Gunnink, Matthew Jore, Nathan Koester, Seth Mahler, Elizabeth Middleton, Ashton Nichols, Ainsley Parsons, Garrett Post, Max Rogers, Samuel Trudell, Lucy Van Duine, Lucas Van Meter

Digital Media Department Award: Samuel Trudell

Student Council Awards: Cameryn Ames, Holly Carpenter, Hailey Dudik, Kaitlyn Hodges, Shelby Robinett, Whitney Ruger, Emma Schut, David Temple, Lucy Van Duine

National Honors Society Awards: Ethan Bonnema, Bayleigh Bruce, Tyne Bufka, Holly Carpenter, Hayden Chatman, Kendra Coe, Katelyn Comeau, Landon Conroy, Joselyn DeBoer, Jessie Drenten, Hailey Dudik, Bailey Eden, Abraham Figuereo-Reyes, Emily Fliearman, Tyler Gavette, Marian Gielincki, Justin Goggins, Mallory Hagemann, Kaden Hamming, Kyan Haywood, Cade Hicswa, Laine Hinton, Sara Johnson, Austin Jones, Isaac Kimbel, Nathan Koester, Benjamin Koster, Emilie Landry, Dylan Lawrence, Kenzie Linderman, Sophia Marcukaitis, Elizabeth Middleton, Grant Middleton, Hannah Middleton, Mollie Moore, Ava Myers, Charlotte Nelson, Ainsley Parsons, Madeline Pauline, Lilly Pease, Katherine Powers, Alivia Raak, Brooke Reurink, Emilia Rickert, Sydney Robertson, Shelby Robinett, Whitney Ruger, Emma Schut, Brianna Sharp, Madison Shattuck, Elizabeth Shrontz, Jaxan Sias, Noelle Smith, Logan Snelling, Drake Snyder, Samuel Trudell, Lucy Van Duine, Kenna Van Elst, Lucas Van Meter, Kyle VanHaitsma

Holly Velting, Cailin Wodrich.

Foreign Exchange Student Recognition

1. Tom Bewersdorf  - Germany
2. Madita Boppel - Germany
3. Martine Christensen -  Denmark
4. Giovana Daher - Brazil
5. Raphael De Fresse De Monval - France
6. Nina Durikova - Slovakia
7. Berta Garcia-Quilez Garcia - Spain
8. Mariella Hagen - Germany
9. Tom Lorach - France
10. Martina Medina Panades - Spain
11. Lou-Elise Savary - Luxembourg
12. Aurora Sisto - Italy
13. Simone Vargiolu - Italy

Honor Students 

Seniors who have a G.P.A. of 3.98 and above are designated as Highest Honor Seniors and have   received a gold cord, seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.7 to 3.97 have received a silver cord (High Honors), and seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.5 to 3.69 have received a bronze cord (Honor).  Students are listed in alphabetical order

 

Highest Honors Seniors-G.P.A. of 3.98 and Higher

Dylan Bailey

Madita Boppel

Tyne Bufka

Holly Carpenter

Hayden Chatman

Kendra Coe

Landon Conroy

Joselyn DeBoer

Jessie Drenten

Hailey Dudik

Seth Fabiano

Mariella Hagen

Kaden Hamming

Kyan Haywood

Cade Hicswa

Laine Hinton

Kira Holzhausen

Isaac Kimbel

Nathan Koester

Benjamin Koster

Grant Middleton

Elizabeth Middleton

Charlotte Nelson

Ainsley Parsons

Katherine Powers

Emilia Rickert

Shelby Robinett

Whitney Ruger

Aurora Sisto

Drake Snyder

David Temple

Lucy Van Duine

Lucas Van Meter

High Honors Seniors-G.P.A. of 3.7 to 3.97

Noah Anderson

Travis Barton

Tyler Bentley

Ethan Bonnema

Bayleigh Bruce

Katelyn Comeau

Nina Durikova

Bailey Eden

Emily Fliearman

Tyler Gavette

Marian Gielincki

Mallory Hagemann

Ava Jahnke

Keagan Jarvie

Sara Johnson

Austin Jones

Madelyn La Belle

Tom Lorach

Hannah Middleton

Mollie Moore

Sydney Myers

Megan Norman

Grady Palazzolo

Lilly Pease

Allen Petrak

Colton Rabley

Brooke Reurink

Sydney Robertson

Lou-Elise Savary

Alexandra Segoviano

Brianna Sharp

Madison Shattuck

Elizabeth Shrontz

Jaxan Sias

Logan Snelling

Samuel Trudell

Kyle VanHaitsma

Holly Velting

Cailin Wodrich

Honor Seniors-G.P.A of 3.5 to 3.69

Daniel Beckering

Martine Christensen

Sahara Coston

Abraham Figuereo Reyes

Logan Garrett

Justin Goggins

Emilie Landry

Dylan Lawrence

Kenzie Linderman

Seth Mahler

Sophia Marcukaitis

Astrid Mendoza

Ava Myers

Noah Newland

Ashleigh Norman

Taylor Olds

Madeline Pauline

Owen Petrak

Alivia Raak

Amelia Schultz

Emma Schut

Brenen Simon

Kenna Van Elst

2023 Top Ten (alphabetical)

Each year Thornapple Kellogg Schools recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of our top ten students. In recognition of their efforts, they will each receive a sash and a “top ten” plaque. Students are listed in alphabetical order. The top ten of the class of 2023 is:

Tyne Bufka

Holly Carpenter

Joselyn DeBoer

Jessie Drenten

Kaden Hamming

Kyan Haywood

Cade Hicswa

Nathan Koester

Charlotte Nelson

Emilia Rickert

Shelby Robinett

*Eleven total - Two-way tie for 7th spot, three-way tie for 9th spot.