Getting back what you give

CADILLAC - Some Cadillac High School students were rewarded for being involved in their community.

Four graduating seniors, Jamie Cates, Tiffany Dykstra, Matt Forsgren and Alex Karpicke, were the recipients of the Earl Huckle Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded every spring to high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, volunteered in service to the community and plan to continue their education at a college or university.

Cadillac Kiwanis Club President Rich Giddens said the scholarship honors Huckle as well as help to highlight the contributions of area students within their communities.

“Each student received a $1,000 scholarship. We started with just a single $500 scholarship and now we have $4,000 for the scholarship,” Giddens said. “The money is from sale of hotdogs and other concessions at the home football games. We run the concessions stand.”

Each of the students has been active in the high school as well as the community and had to fill out an application showing what they have done. The four students chosen this year were selected by the members of the Kiwanis Scholarship Selection Committee.

Cates participated in track and was part of the Science Olympiad Club. She also completed the Girl Scout Gold Award and was a member of the Interact Club. She volunteered with Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

Dykstra was a four-year member of the Cadillac Debate Club and served on both class and student councils. She also served on the Cadillac Area Community Foundation's Kellogg for Youth Committee.

Forsgren won a United States Achievement Academy Award and was accepted into Who's Who Among American High School Students. He also has done volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and Wexford County Animal Shelter.

Karpicke is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students. He is active in the First Baptist Church working with its youth group and providing music at worship services. He is involved with the YMCA Teen Center and has twice gone to Flint to work at a church in an inner-city neighborhood.

Giddens said the money is a cash scholarship and its use is up to the students' discretion.

“It is an actually cash scholarship for college. It is given to the students to use for books, necessities for their dorm rooms and some use it for tuition,” he said.

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€ Jamie Cates - Cates participated in track and field competitions and used her knowledge of science to excel in the Science Olympiad Club. She recently completed the Girl Scout Gold Award and was a member of the Interact Club. She volunteered with Big Brothers-Big Sisters. Jamie is planning on becoming a physician assistant and will attend Alma College.

€ Tiffany Dykstra - Having served on both class and student councils, Dykstra was a four-year member of the Cadillac Debate Club. She excelled in debate competitions and has been recruited by the debate team of Central Michigan University where she will begin a study of journalism this fall. In addition to school activities, Dykstra served on the Cadillac Area Community Foundation's Kellogg for Youth Committee

€ Matt Forsgren - As a member of the National Honor Society and the Viking baseball team, Forsgren won a United States Achievement Academy Award and was accepted into Who's Who Among American High School Students. He has done volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and Wexford County Animal Shelter. Forsgren plans to attend Western Michigan University.

€ Alex Karpicke - Karpicke is a member of the Cadillac Honors Jazz Ensemble, National Honor Society and is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students. He is active in the First Baptist Church, working with its youth group and providing music at worship services. He is involved with the YMCA Teen Center and has twice gone to Flint to work at a church in an inner-city neighborhood. Karpicke will attend Grand Valley State University where he plans to become an English teacher.

rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)