Students, staff recognized at the April 12 board meeting

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Category: District

Each month during the school year, the Pattonville Board of Education honors students, staff and volunteers who have gained recognition outside of the district. Students and staff from Pattonville High School were recognized in April.

Pattonville High School

Panelist at conference

Senior Zion Bradsher was selected to serve as a panelist at the annual St. Louis School Business-Partnership spring conference. The panel presentation focused on what youth are looking for from business. 

Zion Bradsher was a panelist for a business conference.

 

Co-Youth Poet Laureate

Senior Lauren Barton was named a Co-Youth Poet Laureate of St. Louis. She will recite her work at various events this year and has the opportunity to publish select works. In the fall, she and her co-laureate will lead the Youth Poetry Summit. The St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate program is a joint effort between Urban Word NYC and non-profit Urbstetiks. The program aims to identify young writers and leaders across St. Louis who are committed to civic and community engagement, poetry and performance, human relations, diversity and education. 

 

Full scholarship

Senior Chloe Kerwin was selected to receive the 2022 Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship at Maryville University. This freshman competitive scholarship is awarded to incoming Black students from the St. Louis metropolitan area who have demonstrated the potential for academic achievement. It provides full tuition and room and board expenses and is valued at more than $140,000. 

 

UMSL Succeed Program

Senior Anthony King was accepted into the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Succeed Program, a post-secondary program that helps students develop the skills necessary to become participants in their community through inclusion in university life. Program participants can earn a Chancellor’s Certificate by completing the two-year residential or commuter program. 

Anthony King was chosen for a post-secondary program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

 

Youth Orchestra library intern

Junior Aaron Wolz, who is enrolled in the Early College Options program, is a violist in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and works as the first Youth Orchestra library intern. In this role, Wolz prepares the sheet music for each of the musicians in the Youth Orchestra. His day typically begins by checking what his supervisor has ready for him to prepare, copy, bind and mark. 

 

Boys State

Pattonville juniors Christopher Braggs and Ryan Cutrell, who attends Pattonville’s Early College Program,  were accepted to Boys State. During the eight-day program, students across the state gather to create their own state using democratic systems and engage in political activities such as running for office and drafting and debating bills. 

Ryan Cutrell was one of two from Pattonville High School chosen for Missouri Boys State.

 

Perfect game

Freshman Donald Simpkins bowled a perfect game in February during high school league play at West County Lanes. He has thrown four 300 games over his career. Simpkins is coached by high school industrial technology teacher Darrell Langston and Chris Wheeler. 

Freshman Donald Simpkins, left, is shown with his coach, Chris Wheeler.

 

Mock Trial state qualifiers

The Pattonville Mock Trial team was one of 18 teams who qualified to compete in the state competition at the end of March. This year’s case involved an alleged breach of a Hollywood talent agent’s employment contract. Teams prepared to present as both the plaintiff and defense sides, and alternated sides each round of the competition. The team advanced to state after competing at regionals and districts. Members of the team include Katie Bass, El Roi Belete, Christopher Braggs, Christopher Dixon, Aiden Farkas, Addison Gutschenritter, Ben Holland, Maichi Nguyen and Hannadey Yezza. High school English teacher Jennifer Raymond coached the team.

Addison Gutschenritter was one of several students who qualified for state in Mock Trial.

 

Young Artists Exhibit

Pattonville students had artwork selected for the 2022 Young Artists and Their Teachers Exhibit at Lindenwood University. The artwork was on display through March at Lindenwood. Artwork from two students earned awards. Senior Analiese Smith received third place for her painting, and sophomore Lizzy Zacheis placed third for her ceramics piece. Other students whose artwork was selected for display were Riley Nesheim for 2D design; Leliyan Hughes and Valent Orta for ceramics; Charley Bennight, Sofia Boughton and Cordelia Matulewic for drawing; Anna Kasprzyk and Ace Mansdoerfer for mixed-media drawing; Anthony Cruz, Maggie Haselbauer, Leliyan Hughes and Lauren Keller for painting; and Tahjmia Jimerson for sculpture. They are taught by Danielle Adams, Scott Fader, Beth Kathriner and Marcia Mueller. 

From left, Anna Kasprzyk, Ace Mandoerfer and Anthony Cruz had artwork chosen for display at Lindenwood University.

 

Girls basketball conference honors

The girls basketball team was named conference champions. Two players were named all-district first team. They are Jasmine Gray, who was also named Conference Player of the Year, and Taylor Montgomery, who was also named all-conference second team. Zoe Newland was named all-conference first team. Brooke Boyce and Hannah Fenton were named all-conference honorable mention. J'nylah Curtis was selected to receive the Sportsmanship award. Other members of the championship team are Zoe Cox, Kodie Gordon, Charlie Heiligenstein and Cami Stacker. The team was coached by Donald Boyce, who was named Coach of the Year, with the assistance of Corey Lewis. 

Coach Donald Boyce, left, is shown with members of the Pattonville girls varsity basketball team. Shown are, from left, Brooke Boyce, Zoe Cox, Kodie Gordon, J'nylah Curtis and Hannah Fenton.

 

Boys basketball honors

On the boys basketball team, senior Kellen Thames was selected as a nominee for McDonald's All-American Games and was named all-state, all-metro second team and the district and conference Player of the Year. Senior Ronnell Johnson Jr. was selected all-district and all-conference second team. Players named all-conference honorable mention are Umar Barrie, who also received the Sportsmanship Award, Austin Prater and Zion Hampton. The team is coached by Kelly Thames with the assistance of Kent Booth, Antonio Bryant, Travis Harris and Dominic Varner. 

Coach Kelly Thames, right, is shown with members of the boys varsity basketball team. They include, from left, Kellen Thames, Ronnell Johnson, Jr., Zion Hampton, Umar Barrie, Austin Prater and Zion Bradsher.

 

Girls wrestling conference honors

The Pattonville girls wrestling team was named conference champions. Wrestlers named all-conference first team included Jasmine Gordon, Jordane Hale, Sam Heine, Natalie Henning, Winter Lusk, Gabrielle McCain and Kalie Vogel. Wrestlers named all-conference second team are Israela Agnram, Makayla Gordon and Kennedy Miller. Allison Basta received the Sportsmanship Award. Other members of the team included Makiah Ashby, Bridgette Burnett, Faith Claeys, Jasmine Harris, Dariya Hawkins, Jaida Holland, Leliyan Hughes, Keeley Jolliff, Analeah Robertson and Ciara Spearmon. The team was coached by Paige Mueller, who was named Coach of the Year, with the assistance of Danelle Emerick. 

Members of the varsity girls wrestling team include, from left, front row, Jasmine Gordon, Analeah Robertson, Jordane Hale and Makayla Gordon; and back row, Israela Agnram, Gabrielle McCain, Kennedy Miller, Natalie Henning and Kalie Vogel.

 

Boys wrestling honors

On the boys wrestling team, freshman David Dunn was named all-conference second team. Sophomore Paul Palermo received the Sportsmanship Award. The team is coached by Brent Mueller with the assistance of Jon Michael Brown and Jake Kim. 

Pattonville freshman David Dunn was named all-conference second team in boys wrestling.

 

Missouri Teacher Excellence Award

Pattonville High School driver education teacher Tom Iffrig was named the 2022 Missouri Teacher Excellence Award nominee by the Missouri Driver Safety Education Association (MODSEA) during its annual state conference. He will attend the national American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ASTSEA) conference in Vancouver, Washington, in July with a chance to be named a national Teacher Excellence Award winner. The award honors outstanding driver and traffic safety educators. 


Shown are some of this year's Teacher of the Year honorees in Pattonville. Photo below, Kyle Schaper, a PE teacher at Parkwood Elementary School, was named certified staff Rookie of the Year.

 

Teacher of the Year honorees, nominees

The following educators were named the Teacher of the Year for their school:

Kyle Schaper, a PE teacher at Parkwood Elementary School, was named the district’s certified staff Rookie of the Year. Also nominated for Teacher of the Year were:


Shown are some of this year's Support Staff of the Year honorees in Pattonville. 

Support Staff of the Year

The following staff members were named the Support Staff Employee of the Year for their building:

Tomi Benney, a secretary at Pattonville High School, was named the district’s support staff Rookie of the Year. Other employees who were nominated for Support Staff of the Year were: 

Board meeting
Recognitions
2022