Page 2 — Thursday, April 21, 2022 — The Hastings Banner
Delton Kellogg announces its top 10 seniors
Delton Kellogg High School has released
the names of the 10 students with the highest
grade point average in the class of 2022.
Three young men and seven young women
comprise the top 10. While many of them
have shared common interests in high school
activities, such as sports, band, theater and
service clubs, their future plans are varied.
Students have set their sights on careers in
health, music, astrophysics, archival studies,
actuarial science, education and more.
This year’s top 10 include:
Halena Gail Phillips
GPA – 4.
Halena’s parents are Dan and Michelle
Phillips.
She has been a captain, most valuable play-
er, All-Country and All-Conference first team
during her four years in cross country. For
track and field, she has been a captain, MVP,
All-Conference and All-Country. Halena has
been involved with the indoor track for three
years and the equestrian team for four years.
Co-president of the National Honor Soci-
ety and a member of the Rotary Interact Club,
she also has been an active player in Quiz
Bowl team.
Her plan for the future includes attending
either Michigan Technological University or
Western Michigan University to major in
mechanical engineering.Kelsey Ann Campbell
GPA – 4.Kelsey’s parents are Bruce and Sandra
Campbell.
School activities include sideline and com-
petitive cheer. In competitive cheer, she was
awarded first team All-Conference, All-Dis-
trict, second team All-Regional, and the team
was awarded Academic All-State. She is also
a member of the equestrian team.
Academic achievements include being a
member of the National Honor Society as
well as numerous academic awards.
Kelsey plans to major in actuarial science
and data analytics at Central Michigan Uni-
versity or Michigan State University.Lydia Kay Chandler
GPA – 3.Her parents are Derek and Rachel Chandler.
Lydia’s school activities in high school
included volleyball, track, National Honor
Society, band, Miss Delton Court, yearbook
staff and DK Follies. She was awarded Aca-
demic All-State in volleyball.
Lydia plans to attend Cornerstone Univer-
sity in the fall, and she is undecided on her
major at this time.Kayla Marie Ferris
GPA – 3.Kayla’s parents are Kevin and Angela
Ferris.
She has participated in DK Follies and band
all four years of high school. She is the main
editor of the yearbook for 2021-22. She has
received highest honors all four years and is a
member of the National Honor Society. She
also is a member of the Miss Delton Court and
the secretary of the school’s Interact Club.
Kayla’s plan for after high school include
attending Kellogg Community College and
then transferring to another college to earn a
degree in elementary education.Natalie Ann Marie Haight
GPA – 3.Natalie’s parents are Stacy and Jeff Haight.
Natalie played volleyball her freshman and
sophomore year. She was a member of the
Miss Delton Court. Academically, she is a
member of the National Honor Society and
has made the highest honor roll. She was
dual-enrolled her junior and senior years at
Kellogg Community College where she
earned 22 college credits.
She plans to attend Kellogg Community
College’s radiology program to become a
radiologic technician.Morgan Elizabeth Stidham
GPA – 3.Morgan’s parent is Blaine Stidham.
In high school, Morgan has participated in
the band, Delton Kellogg Theater Arts Com-
pany, and the DK Follies, specifically drum-
line and kickline. Academically, she has been
involved in the National Honor Society, has
received recognition numerous times for
honor roll and has completed 28 college cred-
it hours at Kellogg Community College.
After high school, she plans to continue
emergency medical care studies at KCC and
then pursue a nursing degree, as well as
studying psychology or performance.Caitlin Noelle McManus
GPA – 3.Caitlin’s parents are Jim and Jodie McMa-
nus.
Caitlin has been involved in student
council for four years, serving as executive
board president her senior year. In the
National Honor Society, she was co-presi-
dent. She has been involved in the Green
Team, was drum major in the band, emcee
for DK Follies her senior year, homecom-
ing queen, and performed with the band at
the 80th anniversary Pearl Harbor Wreath
Ceremony.
Caitlin received varsity letters for basket-
ball, volleyball, soccer and track and also was
the varsity basketball captain.She is planning to attend KCC to become a
registered nurse.Alekzander Clinton Waller
GPA – 3.Alek’s parents are Clinton and Shasta
Waller.
He is involved in marching band,
DKTAC and the DK Follies. He also has
been vice president of the National Honor
Society, executive treasurer of the student
council, member of the Green Team, and
sergeant of arms for the Youth Advisory
Council.
He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in
piano performance at a college that will be
determined later.Braeden Gene Waller
GPA – 3.Braedon’s parents are Clinton and Shasta
Waller.
He is a member of the National Honor
Society, Youth Advisory Council, and a
Delton Kellogg Education Foundation YAC
representative. He has been involved in the
marching band, DKTAC (lights and sound),
DK Follies, Green Team and participated in
track and field.
Braedon is planning to attend the Universi-
ty of Michigan to major in astrophysics.Owen Michael Harig
GPA – 3.Owen’s parents are Christina and Michael
Harig.
Owen is the historian of the National
Honor Society and a member of the Rotary
Interact Club. A team member of the DK
Quiz Bowl, he has been on the honor roll all
four years. He was dual-enrolled at KCC,
earning 12 credits, and completed seven AP
classes at DKHS.
He plans on a career as an archivist, but is
undecided on what school to attend, with
U-M, CMU and Wayne State University
among his choices.The Father Knows
Every spring my father would take us all hunting for morel mushrooms.
We would prepare by putting on “off” mosquito repellent because we
were going to spend the day deep in the forest. My father would give
us each two plastic bags to put the mushrooms in, hoping we could fill
them all. There was a specific spot where my father liked to hunt in, it
had acres and acres of woods. It was easy to get lost if you didn’t know
what you were doing. You also needed to know what you were looking
for, because many mushrooms were poisonous and very hard to see.
When we entered the woods, we would fan out, but not so far that
our father could not see us. As we went deeper and deeper into the
woods we came to the point where we couldn’t hear any sounds of
civilization. I loved it when some of the birds were not afraid of us,
like the little black caped chickadee. I still to this day love the sound
of the chickadee. The forest was very quiet, but you could really see
God in nature. Sometimes I would just stand still and listen to the
wind blowing through the leaves of the trees. The terrain was never
just flat, we would walk over hills and go into valleys the deeper we
got into the woods. It seemed like my father was always the first one
to find a morel mushroom. He would yell out, “I found one!” and we
would all run over, he waited to pick it until we all saw what it looked
like in the ground. Then we would kneel and look around because he
taught us where there is one, there are many more to find that would
be close by. As we continued to look for mushrooms there were times
where we were not paying attention to where we were in the woods and
found ourselves walking in circles. Getting lost or loosing sight of my
father was easy but all I had to do was yell, “Where are you guys” and
they would yell back. So, we were never ever really lost. The sound of
my father’s voice would always guide me back to where I needed to be.
When it came time to leave my dad would say to me “Do you know the
direction where we parked our car?” That was a wrong question to ask
me because I am directionally challenged, and I would almost always
point in the wrong direction. Then my father would tell me that our
car was in this direction. He knew exactly where we were at all times,
and he was aware of the time and when we needed to be back. We were
never in the woods after dark.
Hunting for morel mushrooms was one of our favorite things to do
along with eating them. My mom knew how to fix them, and I loved the
smell of them cooking as the aroma filled the house. To this day I still
love hunting for morel mushrooms when I have the chance.Seven observations from the story about our Heavenly Father:- He knows how to find what you’re looking for. Matthew 7:
- He wants to spend time with you, and He is with you. Revelation
3:20, Matthew 28: - Be quick to ask the Father for directions before you find yourself
walking in circles. Proverbs 3:5- - He knows what direction to go when you’re lost. We are never
lost to Him. Luke 15: - Going through valleys are a natural part of the journey. Psalms
23:1- - Stillness and quietness are good. Psalms 46:
- He always keeps his eye on you, you’re never out of His sight.
Matthew 10: - Call on His name and listen for His voice and He will guide you
back to where you need to be. John 10:27-
I pray that this devotional has been a blessing to you. You’re not alone
in what you’re going through. Be encouraged today.Donations
Spiritual Care Consultants (SCC) is a non-profit
Christian organization based in Hastings and serving
Barry County and beyond. Because SCC is funded by
grants and generous donors, services are free to all adults
and children who are dealing with a variety of issues,
ranging from depression to anger and anything else that
is making life difficult for them such as grief, worry and
being bullied.Donations to SCC may be made by sending a check to
Spiritual Care Consultants,
1375 W. Green St., Suite #1, Hastings, Mich. 49058
or by donating online at
https://www.spiritualcareconsultants.com/pages/make-a-donationWe THANK YOU for your generosity
and support!
Sponsored
by
Halena Gail PhillipsKelsey Ann CampbellLydia Kay ChandlerKayla Marie FerrisNatalie Ann Marie HaightAlekzander Clinton WallerBraeden Gene WallerOwen Michael HarigMorgan Elizabeth StidhamCaitlin Noelle McManus