Page 8 — Thursday, March 23, 2023 — The Hastings Banner
Hastings seniors recognized in
Academic Top Honors ceremony
Hunter McLaren
Staff Writer
Hastings recognized 13 of its class of 2023
seniors for their achievements at the Academic
Top Honors ceremony.
Hastings High School Principal Teresa Heide
called the seniors up to be recognized on stage
during the school board meeting Monday in the
Hastings Performing Arts Center. Seniors were
recognized for top honors if they had a cumula-
tive grade point average above 4.0 for more
than seven semesters while attending Hastings
High School.
“Though we are honoring them based on
academic achievement, it should not go unmen-
tioned that these students are also at the top of
their class as young men and women of charac-
ter,” Heide said. “They epitomize our core
values of being Saxon strong: supportive, trust-
worthy, respectful, open minded, noble and
gritty.”
Students and their parents were congratulat-
ed by Heide and board members after being
recognized for their achievements and sharing
their post-grad plans.
Isobelle Bergeron, Grace Curtis, Valery
Eaton, Anna Haywood, Jocelyn Hernan-
dez-Hernandez, Gabrielle Hormann, Jack
Kensington, Julia McLean, Molly Patton,
Emily Simmons, Isabelle Storm, Kearan Tolles
and Caleb Waller were honored this year.
Isobelle Bergeron , daughter of Mike and
Janie Bergeron, will be attending St. Mary’s
College in Notre Dame, Indiana after gradua-
tion as a direct admit to their nursing program.
She was involved in the Hastings Band for six
years, serving as a section leader for the front
ensemble for two years. Her other extracurricu-
lar involvements include National Honor Soci-
ety, musical and fall plays, Students Against
Destructive Decisions, Teens Against Tobacco
Use, Link Crew and Quiz Bowl. She is most
proud of her academic successes, her time in
the band and playing the synthesizer for march-
ing band her senior year.
Grace Curtis , daughter of John and Angie
Curtis, plans to attend Central Michigan Uni-
versity on a full ride scholarship after receiving
the Centralis Award. She plans to study psy-
chology in hopes of being a clinical psycholo-
gist someday. Grace has participated in varsity
sideline and competitive cheer, tennis, student
council, Link Crew, Science Olympiad, Interact
Club and Key Club. She has also been dancing
at Step N’ Time Dance Studio for 10 years. She
has achieved academic all-conference all four
years for both sideline and competitive cheer,
receiving the Competitive Cheer Academic All
State Individual Award her junior year. She is
most proud of challenging herself with
advanced classes while being involved in many
activities.
Valery Eaton , daughter of Dennis and Karen
Eaton, plans on going to college to study neu-
rology. She was involved in the marching band
for four years, where she was the section leader
for three. She is involved in the Gender and
Sexuality Alliance, Students Against Destruc-
tive Decisions, Key Club, drama, musical, steel
band and varsity singers. She is working toward
her AP Capstone degree and volunteers with
local nonprofit One Less. She is most proud of
her ability to manage her schoolwork and
extracurriculars throughout high school.
Anna Haywood , daughter of Matthew and
Jennifer Haywood, plans to attend Kendall
College of Arts and Design to study digital art
and design. She has participated in band for
seven years, varsity singers for two and the
high school musicals. She is involved with the
student council executive board, National
Honor Society, math team, as well as varsity
swim and tennis teams. She has been an assis-
tant coach for the Hammerheads Swim Team
since the eighth grade and also plays piano and
sings at her church. She is most proud of her
involvement in the music programs at Hastings
High School.
Jocelyn Hernandez-Hernandez , daughter of
Remigio and Laura Hernandez, plans to attend
University of Michigan, Grand Valley State Uni-
versity or Western Michigan University to study
industrial engineering with a minor in digital
marketing. She hopes to work in her field of
study for a few years while investing money into
opening her own clothing boutique. She partici-
pated in student council, link leader, acted as a
director for a dance group for Hispanic girls in
the summer, and is a member of Voces, a Latino
organization. She also participates in her
church’s youth group and received her book-
keeping certificate after passing the NACPB
exam her junior year. She is most proud of being
part of a supportive and encouraging school
environment at Hastings High School.
Gabrielle Horrmann , daughter of Robert
and Marti Horrmann, plans to attend Michigan
Tech to study mechanical engineering and busi-
ness. She hopes to work in sustainability tech-
nology. She’s involved in Key Club, Teens
Against Tobacco Use, the Gender and Sexuali-
ty Alliance, National Honor Society, Students
Against Destructive Decisions, musical, fall
play, Science Olympiad, steel band, link leader,
track and zero hour choir. She is most proud of
being able to meet new people and try new
things during her time at Hastings.
Jack Kensington , son of Jon and Trisha
Kensignton, plans to attend Western Michigan
University to study mechanical engineering. He
has been a three-sport athlete for all four years
at Hastings, participating in football, swim-
ming and golf. He was awarded academic
all-conference for all of his sports each year
and awarded academic all-state for football his
senior year. He’s been a link leader and men-
tored HYAA football programs in the summer.
He’s most proud of being a part of the 2022
varsity football team that went undefeated in
conference and got Hastings its first district
championship and helping to get the Hastings-
TK-DK swim and dive team their first ever
conference meet win this year.
Julia McLean , daughter of Brian and JacquieMcLean, plans to attend University of Michigan
to study environmental studies and Spanish. She
hopes to study abroad. She has been involved in
tennis, golf, National Honor Society, student
council, drama, musical, fall play, Science
Olympiad, Michigan Youth in Government, and
Barry County Youth Advisory Council. She is
most proud of her ability to maintain a balance
between her academics, extracurriculars and
hanging out with her friends.
Molly Patton , daughter of Daniel and Melis-
sa Patton, plans to attend a four-year university
to study mathematics. She was a four-year
member of the varsity soccer team, where she
earned Defensive Player of the Year twice and
all-conference honorable mention. She also
played travel soccer with the Plainwell Force
team, as well as participating in student coun-
cil, National Honors Society, math team, Stu-
dents Against Destructive Decisions, basket-
ball, Youth Advisory Council, link leader and
spring musical. She is most proud of challeng-
ing herself with college-level courses while
maintaining relationships and participating in
extracurricular activities.
Emily Simmons , daughter of Brian and Bri
Simmons, plans to attend Grace Christian Uni-
versity to study elementary education. She was
involved in band, musicals, fall play, yearbook
club and took several honors and AP classes.
She also received the Scholar Athlete award for
her participation in varsity softball and tennis.
She is most proud of being able to balance
sports, hard classes, extracurriculars and serv-
ing the Lord through it all.
Isabelle Storm , daughter of Luke and Stacia
Storm, will be leaving for Army National
Guard basic training for six-and-a-half months
after graduation. There, she will also train to be
a medic in the Army, and she hopes to work in
law enforcement when she returns. She’s been
involved as a link leader, on the homecoming
committee, basketball and softball. She is
proud of the fact that she has grown to slow life
down and take each moment as it comes; to not
stress about what comes next, but to tackle each
day’s problems with each day’s strength and to
be thankful for every moment and person that
is there at the end of the day.
Kearan Tolles , son of Bradley and Jacquelyn
Tolles, plans to become a pilot through Western
Michigan’s Flight Aviation program and study
business. He was a captain on both the varsity
track and soccer teams, played basketball and is
the 2023 class president. He’s also been involved
in National Honor Society, Key Club, link crew
and homecoming court. He is most proud of
becoming the person his younger self would
have aspired to be and having found people that
he knows will always be in his corner.
Caleb Waller , son of Marc and Erin Waller,
plans to attend a four-year university to study
mechanical engineering. He held the offices of
vice president of the student council, vice chair
of the Interact Club, captain of the varsity soc-
cer team and captain of the robotics team. His
most proud achievement is being able to main-
tain a 4.0 GPA while also receiving several
athletic MVP and all-region awards.196996
Hope Township Board Meeting Schedulefor 2023-2024 Fiscal Year
Monday, April 10, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, May 8, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, June 12, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, July 10, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, August 14, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, September 11, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, October 9, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, November 13, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, December 11, 2023 6:30 pm
Monday, January 8, 2024 6:30 pm
Monday, February 12, 2024 6:30 pm
Monday, March 18, 2024...Budget Hearing 6:30 pmAll meetings held at the Hope Township Hall, 5463 S M-43 Hwy, Hastings MI 49058.
Office phone: 269-948-2464. Meeting minutes available at the Township office.This notice is posted in compliance with PA267 of 1976 as amended (Open
Meetings Act), MCLA 41.72a (2) (3) and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
(ADA). The Hope Township Board will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary
aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of
printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities
at the meeting upon 7 days notice to the Hope Township Board. Individuals with
disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Hope Township
Board by writing or calling the following:Deborah Jackson
Hope Township Clerk
269-948-Hastings Top Honors students from left to right: Anna Haywood, Molly Patton,
Isabelle Storm, Grace Curtis, Gabrielle Horrmann, Jocelyn Hernandez-Hernandez,
Jack Kensington, Emily Simmons, Valery Eaton, Kearan Tolles, Isobelle Bergeron,
Caleb Waller, Julia McLean. (Photos by Hunter McLaren)
Hastings Mayor David Tossava was spotted sporting leprechaun attire at the front
of the parade. (Photos by Hunter McLaren)The Barry County Animal Shelter brought along several furry friends, including
some pups that were up for adoption.City councilman John Resseguie drove his John Deere-themed Chevrolet truck in
the parade.Annual St.
Patrick’s Day
parade leaves
Hastings
seeing green
Hunter McLaren
Staff Writer
St. Patrick’s Day revelers turned the streets
green last week Friday at the annual Hastings
parade.
Hosted by WBCH Radio, various commu-
nity groups marched down Jefferson Street in
downtown Hastings decked out in all green- not even the frigid, rainy weather could turn
them away.
Revelers had a chance to see police and
fire vehicles up close, along with a few other
floats and surprises all while being able to
score some candy.
Hall’s Septic showed revelers a rain-
bow they might not have expected to
see on the holiday, sans the pot of gold
at the end.