Blake Livernois and Kelsey Bitner are the new student writers for The Trenton Trib for the 2017-18 school year.

     (Editor’s Note: Please welcome the Trenton Trib’s correspondents from Trenton High School for the coming school year, Kelsey Bitner and Blake Livernois. Kelsey and Blake will team up monthly for the remainder of the school year to help keep the community informed about all the important activities at the school. The Trenton Trib greatly appreciates their willingness to take on this responsbility, and also to THS journalism and yearbook instructor Susanna Palazzola for helping us with the selection process. Please meet our student writers below.)

     Kelsey Bitner: “I am currently a senior at Trenton High School and have gone to Trenton schools my whole life. At THS I am a part of Interact Club and Yearbook. I also have a part time job caring for horses at a family-owned barn, and during my freshmen and sophomore year, I was a junior coach for the Grosse Ile freshmen cheerleading team. In my free time I like to hang out with my friends, read books, rollerblade and ride bikes.

     “I love being outdoors and finding fun things to do to keep me busy. Although I am undecided  on where I want to attend college, I know that I want to go into business, politics, or some sort of journalism. I love debating things and writing about everyday life, and am grateful for the opportunity to write for the Trenton Trib. Even though my high school career is slowly coming to an end, I’m looking forward to my senior year and making a lot of fun memories.”

     Blake Livernois: “As a senior, I am looking forward to savoring my last memories at Trenton High School. I am involved in many extracurricular activities, including swimming, rowing, Student Council, Spanish Club, Interact Club, Yearbook and NHS.

     “I am undecided on where I will attend school next year, but I hope to continue that involvement wherever I go. My future plan is to enter the field of oncology. I currently am a coach for Trenton Swim Club and lifeguard at the Kennedy Pool in the summers. My hobbies are reading, running and hanging out with my friends and family. I am thankful for the chance to write in the Trenton Trib this year and spread knowledge of Trenton High School.”

The golf squad celebrates its third straight Downriver League championship.

By Samantha Elliott

     It may have been considered a rebuilding year for the Trenton girls’ golf team, but looking at the scores and finishes, no one would have known. It was another successful fall for the Trenton girls’ golf team.

     The young Trenton team dominated their way through Downriver League play, narrowly edging out some league competition and pushed their way to a third straight Downriver League title.

     The Trojans three-peated on Oct. 2 as Downriver League champions with 372 points on the day. Carlson and Allen Park finished tied for second with 387 points each.

     Sophomore Zoe Hornaurer was league champion with 89 points in the day and with her scores from the entire season added together, she finished No. 1 in the league. Juniors Olivia Wakeham, Caroline Howey and Aubrey Wallmure and sophomore Sophia Verduce all finished on the All Downriver League team.

     At the regional meet in Pine View in Ypsilanti, Trenton led all Downriver League teams with their fifth-place team finish of 412 points. South Lyon finished first with 329, South Lyon East was second with 361, Grosse Pointe North finished third with 371 and New Boston Huron came in fourth with 391 points.

     Howey led the way for the Trojans with a score of 98 and a 15th place finish; the third-place individual qualifier.

     Verduce and Wakeham tied for 22nd with their 104, Vellmure was 28th with a 106 and Hornaurer was 31st with her 107. At the state meet, Howey shot a 100 on Friday and a 104 on Saturday at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek.

     Coach Steve Burk was thrilled with the accomplishments of his team on what he called an outstanding season.

     “It was considered a rebuilding year for the team and they made great strides from the beginning of the season to the end,” he said.

     Winning the Downriver League Championship was huge for the young team.

     “It was a goal they had at the beginning of the season and to accomplish that this year with a very young team was a big accomplishment for them,” Burk said. “I’m very proud of them (and) for Caroline to go to states, that is an incredible accomplishment for her and a great life memory.”

     The best part for Burk and his Trojans is that with no seniors on the team, they are all back on the course next season.

     “I’m looking forward to next season and watching them improve and have a great season next year,” Burk said. “To see them come a long way in a short season was very rewarding to me and I look forward to even greater things next year.”

Grosse Ile High School last month announced that 54 students have been awarded All League honors for the fall season.

     “These students demonstrate skills and abilities through performance in league contests,” states a news release from the school’s Athletic Department. “In addition, they are both leaders to the team and demonstrate the attributes of good sportsmanship. 

     The following students received their All-League honor at the Grosse Ile High School Fall Athletic Awards Nov. 20 in the high school auditorium:

     First Team-All League: Boys Cross Country: James Gedris and Matthew Graver;

Girls Cross Country: Alisa Erickson; Football: John Blanzy and Luke Harwood; Girls Golf: Ava Napolitan, Julia Whitty, and Lily Whitty; Boys Soccer: Nicholas Aston, David Cardinal, Jacob Sawicki and Benedek Tanyi; Girls Swimming: Jamie Benson and Alyssa Lauth; Boys Tennis: David Ameriguian, Ryan Cuddy, Lorenzo Delgado, Alex Melhorn, Noah Ng, Thomas Rodgers, Thomas Shumate, and Jack Wendell; Volleyball: Kaitlyn Clum and Elizabeth Daily.

     Second Team-All League: Boys Cross Country: Chad Donahue and Noah Lopez; Girls Cross Country: Hannah Fulmer, Marisa Swick, Meghan Dieball, Diana Nunez; Football: Matthew Dishon and Jack McGrath; Girls Golf: Abbie Tuomisto; Boys Soccer: Christian Drzyzga, Matthew Frost, and Alec McKheen; Girls Swimming: Jamie Benson, Kathleen Christnagel, Sara Cook, Anna Finazzo, Alyssa Lauth, and Zoe Neilson; Boys Tennis: Michael Carney, Andrew Johnson, Lucas Kopp and Jonathon Sheets; Volleyball: Kyra Stafford.

     Honorable Mention: Football: Harrison Cowan, Riley Lowler, Kenneth Marx, and Chase Yops; Boys Soccer: Brendan Eblin and Logan Watson; Volleyball: Nicole Parvin.

     Grosse Ile Township Schools is proud of these student-athletes for their dedication to both academics and athletics.

The Grosse Ile High School varsity sailing team traveled to Traverse City Yacht Club in mid-October to compete in the Michigan State Sailing Championships.

     The day started out with light air which built to 15-20 knots. The team did really well in the light air, jumping up to first place. Grosse Ile slipped to second place toward the end of the day when the wind picked up. Molly Matthews and Meghan Dieball placed third in the A Division. Ian Reimel, Michael Kalata, and Kyla Bugarin ended up second in the B Division, giving the team a second place finish at the Michigan State Championships.

     “We congratulate the varsity sailing team for their success and for putting in the hard work it takes to succeed at such a high level. It was a great fall season for all Grosse Ile High School athletes, and we look forward to equally exciting winter and spring seasons,” said James Okler, athletic director for Grosse Ile Township Schools.

BY SAMANTHA ELLIOTT

     It was quite the successful state swim meet for the local girls’ swim teams on Nov. 17 and 18. Trenton and Grosse Ile were both well-represented at the D3 state finals at Eastern Michigan University. The Trojans finished 15th as a team with 56 points, while the Red Devils took 18th with 34 points. Trenton’s day was highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the 200 medley relay by their strong, senior relay.

     Blake Livernois, Katelyn Matusik, Claudia Raubolt and Lauren Truitt capped their six-year relay career together with a finish of 1:51.01. The time broke a Trenton varsity record in the 200 medley that had been set in 1990.    They all went on to join other relays to have success over the weekend.

Matusik and Truitt teamed up with Ellie Rodenbeck and Emma McClelland to finish 11th in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:42.31 and Raubolt, Livernois and Truitt swam with McClelland in the 400 free relay and finished 15th with a swim of 3:48.26.

     Individually, it was more success for the Trojans. Livernois led the way with individual finishes with her 10th place finish in the 100 back with a swim of 1:01.36.

     The team was well-represented in the 100 breast with four swimmers. Matusik led the way with a 17th place finish (1:11.35), Rodenbeck was 26th (1:12.55), Kelly Truitt was 32nd (1:13.25) and McClelland was 34th (1:13.36).

     McClelland also finished 25th in the 200 IM (2:20.11) and teammate Raubolt was 32nd (2:24.15).

     Other individual finishes came from Matusik who was 25th in the 100 fly (1:04.60), Lauren Truitt who took 19th in the 100 free (55.02) and Alexa Francis who swam to 21st in the 500 free (5:27.90). In the diving pool, Rossi Gayner finished 14th with 302.90 points.

     The Grosse Ile girls finished 18th as a team with 34 points. Jamie Benson led the way with her ninth-place individual finish in the 50 free with a time of 24.87. In the same event, Anna Finazzo was 22nd with a swim of 25.79. Benson also finished 14th in the 100 fly in 1:09.99. She teamed up with Andrea Blanzy, Alyssa Laugh and Finazzo to take 13th in the 200 medley relay (1:53.39) and later teamed with Blanzy, Finazzo and Kathleen Christnagel to finish 14th in the 200 free relay (1:42.60).

     Individually, Laugh was 11th in the 100 breast in 1:10.94 and teammate Zoe Neilson was 29th in the same event with a finish of 1:12.84.

     In the diving well, Sarah Cook led the way with her 15th place finish with 302.45 points and Allie Grover was 36th with 256.10 points.

Caroline Gorno

Senior, Basketball

As evidenced throughout her career with the Trenton High School girls basketball team and the track team, Caroline Gorno has been able to set the tone for those around her with her hard work and commitment to improving herself. With a 3.33 grade-point average in the classroom and numerous academic achievements that include being vice president of the German Club and the German National Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, Be the Change Club and Student Council, her involvement in the school has been present at just about every turn. On the basketball court, she was named Most Improved Player during her sophomore year and earned a place as an All-League player last season. Her coach, Will Jones, noted that her self-improvement is second to none, “Caroline has a tremendous critical eye of her own self; she gives honest evaluations of her own performance and won’t settle for anything but her absolute best. Her teammates see that and try to match it and it really helps the team.” For her efforts on the court, she was awarded with the Trojan Award, an honor given to the player who gives the most effort in games and in practice. She has not yet decided where she will be continuing her studies, but she plans on majoring in political science and has considered the idea of pursuing a law degree following the completion of her undergraduate studies. Her parents, Katie Mans and Ken Gorno, are excited to see how her hard work continues to propel her in college. — Brian Rzeppa

 Kendall Schram

Bowling Senior

 While many shy away from areas of responsibilities and leadership, senior bowling team Captain Kendall Schram has been able to step into any role both in athletics and in the classroom and have a positive impact on others. In addition to her placement as the team’s captain this year, Schram was the CEO of the business department’s VEI program that won salesmanship and marketing awards at their most recent competition and it was that experience that guided her eventual collegiate pursuits. With a 3.6 grade-point average and All-Academic Downriver League placements for the bowling team each of the past two years on top of her leadership qualities, Schram stood out to colleges around the country but eventually landed on the University of Tennessee. While she won’t continue her athletic pursuits with the Volunteers, she plans on majoring in accounting with the ultimate goal of running a business later in her professional career. With a positive experience in her freshman year accounting class and her ultimate interest in seeing how all facets of businesses work, Schram believes that the accounting focus will help prepare her best for the different challenges that she may face in the business world. Her mother, Jamie Collins, and her father, Mark Schram, look forward to seeing the heights that their daughter can lead both herself and others in the future. — Brian Rzeppa

 A two-time Most Valuable Cheerleader for Trenton High School, senior Sydney Baker has proven herself to be more than capable both as an athlete and as a student. Sporting a 3.65 grade-point average, Baker has been one of the key pieces in the Trojans re-emergence as one of the top cheerleading teams in the area and has been able to have a positive impact on her teammates throughout the years. In addition to her taking home Most Valuable Cheerleader twice, Baker was also able to nab the Ms. Trenton Cheer Award. In addition to her efforts as an athlete, Baker is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. While she does not plan to continue her career at the college level, she does intend to continue giving back to the program that she has performed so well for. Throughout the summer she will be working as a tumbling coach and next year she plans on returning to the Trenton program to assist in coaching the Junior Varsity team. She will continue her academics at Madonna University, where she will be majoring in nursing. She was drawn to the career path by a drive to help others, as well as an overall interest in science. Her parents, Dan and Dawn, are eager to see all that their daughter can achieve throughout college and in her eventual professional career. — Brian Rzeppa

Ashley Burke

Senior Soccer

 Almost immediately after entering the halls of Trenton High School, senior soccer player Ashley Burke was able to make her mark on Trojans athletics. She made the varsity soccer team during her freshman season and has grown into a leader both on and off of the field. With a 3.7 grade-point average as she nears the end of her time at Trenton, Burke has been able to stand out with her contributions to the community as well. As a member of the National Honor Society and the Interact Club, Burke has made a habit of helping others and she hopes to continue that as she proceeds to the next level of her educational career. She plans to attend Michigan State University in the fall and will be going into its pre-med or pre-veterinary program, as she has her sights set on following a career path that would allow her to continue helping others and having an impact on society as a whole. “My mom is a nurse and I just think I’d like something with that level of responsibility and that I can know I’ve made a great impact on someone’s life,” Burke said. Her parents, Dan and Kathy, have played a vital role in her academic and athletic pursuits to this point and are looking forward to seeing all that she can accomplish as a Spartan. — Brian Rzeppa

RODNEY WAKEHAM

     In the aftermath of the most recent school tragedy, I have spent time listening to staff, parents, and students. I feel the emotion in their voice and see it in their written words.            People look to understand the actions that precipitated an individual to lash out at a foundation that has been instrumental in maintaining core American values. Attention turns from a distant threat to our children and our community. I say “our” because in addition to being part of Trenton Public Schools, I am a parent of a current student and a district resident.

     Our safety procedures and protocols were developed with the help, input, and support of the Trenton Police Department and city emergency manager. These professionals are present and walk through each building during an emergency drill.   Every door is checked to see if it is locked, lights are off, and any occupants are as much as possible out of sight from the hallways.  Rooms, staff or students have been addressed if a correction is needed in the safety procedures.

     After each drill, needed revisions have been made to improve our protocols across the district. With a new director of emergency services, a new police chief, and the incorporation of a trained school resource officer, school administration anticipates emergency practices will be further scrutinized or additional safeguards could be implemented. Below is a more complete list of actions that are part of our safety procedures:

• Limited access points per building
• Visitor Registry and Badges
• District Identification Badges
• 911E Phone System
• Video Surveillance
• School Resource Officer (SRO) Program
• City of Trenton’s Hyper-Reach notification system

     Child safety is crucial to a positive learning environment.  It is a top priority for Trenton Public Schools. Through community feedback during the bond proposal forums in November and December, funds are allocated towards improving safety across the district. Items included are interior doors, additional cameras, and improving office security. When any changes are recommended and implemented we will share available details.
     Rodney Wakeham is superintendent of Trenton Public Schools.

Evan Mercure

Senior, Baseball

 A three-sport standout throughout his time with the Trojans, senior Evan Mercure has been able to excel both in the classroom and on whichever field of athletic competition is in season. As a student, Mercure has managed to put together a 3.68 grade-point average and become a member of the National Honor Society and Be The Change Club despite his busy athletic schedule. In the fall, Mercure plays wide receiver for the Trojans and was the team’s leading in receiving yardage. In the winter, Mercure suited up for the varsity basketball team and in the spring he is one of the standouts on a baseball team that played in districts last year. Coming up on his final season playing for Trenton, the All-District infielder Mercure hit an impressive .324 with a .444 on-base percentage and drove in 16 runs. For his efforts on the baseball field, Mercure will be attending Schoolcraft College and continuing his career there. Along with his athletic pursuits at Schoolcraft, Mercure will be looking to pursue a career in the medical field. His parents, Mary Evans and Dan Mercure, are excited to see their son play for one last season at Trenton as well as what lies in store for him. — Brian Rzeppa

BY MELANIE YOUNG

     Trenton Public Schools has been reaching out to residents to get the word out about the district’s bond proposal that will appear on the ballot on May 8. 

     It began last fall with community forums to get the community’s input on the proposed bond. The district had architects and engineers complete a facilities assessment and develop the list of projects included. Superintendent Rodney Wakeham said the district took its thoughts and ideas about the proposal and incorporated them into the final drafted plan that will appear on the ballot.

     In early February, the Board of Education voted unanimously to place the $57.1 million bond issuance on the ballot. The vote follows a required review and approval of all proposed bond projects by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

     The 3.99 mill bond proposal will cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $50,000 approximately $199 in additional taxes a year, as each mill is $1 per $1000 of taxable value. A home with a taxable value of $60,000 would pay approximately $239 more a year.

     According to the school district’s website, the bond will help assure Trenton’s schools are safe, secure and up to date, provide current technology and the infrastructure to support it, remodel, renovate and upgrade the learning environment by replacing boilers, improving classrooms, upgrading mechanical and electrical systems, improving gyms, kitchens, athletic facilities and parking lots.

     “This is important to Trenton Public Schools,” Wakeham said. “The district, over time, has been fiscally responsible to the community and stakeholders. We are looking to move the district forward into the future.”

     Wakeham said that, since the forums, many have expressed concerns about building security, so there will be a comprehensive evaluation of the safety and security at all buildings as part of the bond.

     School Board president Mike Hawkins said residents seem hopeful. “I think voters are excited to see some change moving forward,” he said. He spoke of how the previous bond issue dealt more with internal issues that were not visible to the eye. “This bond will give us the aesthetics; give us some curb appeal to compete with other local school districts. We need to have facilities neighboring districts have and this bond will allow us to compete with them.”

     School district administrators have been meeting with school PTO groups and teachers to get the word out about the election. The district also funded and produced flyers and informational brochures that were sent out to residents in March.

     The district is also taking a unique approach to market the issue to parents and others who will visit the district’s buildings. According to a district memo, on March 20, the schools began placing orange 4-inch squares on anything that is affected by the May 8 proposal.

     “The idea is to help people visualize what will happen if voters approve the May 8 bond proposal,” Wakeham explained in the memo. “Too often residents of a community can’t ‘see’ how a bond proposal will affect students and the community. The orange squares will help them.”

     The squares were to be in place for the March 22 parent teacher conferences at the middle and elementary schools. They were also placed at Trenton High School in advance of their conferences scheduled for April 26. Also, on March 20, easels were placed in all school lobbies, listing all of the bond proposal projects for that school.

     This is the first time in 10 years that the district has sought bond to fund improvements.

     Voters in 2008 were asked to approve a 30-year, $37 million bond. Upon its passage homeowners were levied a millage of 2.65 mills or $2.65 per $1,000 of taxable value. The funds from the previous bond were earmarked for upgrades to the technology infrastructure, installation of security monitoring systems, replacement of exterior doors, and windows, replacement of flooring, fire alarms, telephone systems, classroom furniture and lighting at all district schools.

     The bond issue was approved by a vote of 2,811-1,487. All proposed projects were completed, except those proposed for the now-shuttered Taylor School. According to the district, the funds proposed for Taylor were absorbed and used for other projects. 

     One resident, Kristy Thomas, has children that attend school in a different district but she still supports the issue.

     “I plan on voting yes for the bond. It’s for the kids and it’s what’s best for the community.”

     Under Michigan law, bond funds cannot be used for teacher or administrator salaries, routine maintenance or other school district operating expenses. For more information about the bond proposal, visit www.trentonschools.com, or call the Trenton school district offices at (734) 676-8600.

Rodney Wakeham 

Every school day our teachers, support staff, volunteers and administrators strive to provide a climate that is inviting to the learning process but also safe and secure. Adding to or changing the physical features of our buildings and modifying safety protocols are progressive steps in becoming more secure.  

The district is looking closely at measures (office security, added technology and door hardware) that will directly impact the safety of our buildings. Some of these can be addressed now and others are part of the proposed bond on May 8, 2018. 

Another aspect of creating a nurturing climate is related to the daily actions of the individuals in our buildings. This is where I am asking for your help. Please have a conversation with your child that he/she needs to be aware of his/her words and the impact they can have on themselves and others. Any words that are used that can be interpreted as a threat are going to be taken seriously; they will not be dismissed as idle talk. This is unfortunate but necessary. 

Students making statements that are identified as a threat or making statements with the intent to cause a disruption of school will be dealt with through the student code of conduct and also shared with the Trenton Police Department through the School Resource Officer. 

Trenton Public Schools is encouraged by our students’ willingness to share with a teacher or principal (see something — say something) situations that are potentially a threat to our district. Students sharing information quickly after hearing it allows the district and law enforcement to quickly get to the source, while waiting for information to surface on social media forces the wading through of layers of rumors to get to the truth.  

Many incidents that are investigated are determined not to be viable threats, but we will thoroughly investigate any information provided to the district. If you receive information related to the safety of Trenton Public Schools, please contact a district administrator or the district SRO, Officer Jake Davis. SRO Davis can be reached through his email: davisj@trenton-schools.com or his direct line, (734) 365-0575.  

Thank you for partnering with Trenton Public Schools to make all of our buildings, “A Great School for Each and Every Child.” 

Rodney Wakeham is superintendent of Trenton Public Schools. 

The new facility will include a plaque dedicated to former football coaches Jack Castignola, Don Kolcheff and Jim Whiteside. (Photos courtesy of Bob Czarnecki)

BY BRIAN RZEPPA

     Despite consistently maintaining excellence throughout their many teams, the Trenton High School athletic program had fallen a bit behind its contemporaries in terms of their athletic facilities.

     Through the efforts of community fundraising and the generosity of the school district however, the weight room at Trenton had undergone large improvements over the course of this year and those all throughout the school should be able to reap its benefits.

     A Reverse Raffle fundraiser organized by Athletic Director James Trush and his staff in the athletic department kick started the project last year, with one THS grad being responsible for a large portion of the success of the event.

     Bill Allen, a 1975 graduate of Trenton, saw a YouTube video posted by Trush that showcased the sore shape that the weight room was in and he knew that he needed to get involved — to the tune of a $10,000 donation.

     “When I did it, it was really more in honor of Don Kolcheff, Jack Castingola and Jim Whiteside, who all coached me; and it was a tribute to the impact Mr. Kolcheff had on me. The school was good to me and Coach Jack helped me get a scholarship, so it was really a testament to them,” Allen said.

     A member of the football team throughout his years at Trenton, Allen remembered the weight room as a far cry from what it looks like after the developments that were recently completed. Though it had lacked, Allen still benefited from the experience and it has guided his life since.

     “The weight room back there was a disaster,” Allen said. “Coming from the parking lot, there was a big garage door for the riding mowers and in there was one universal machine with no windows, no ventilation and no air conditioning and you’d try to cram 25-30 guys in there and it was disgusting.

     “I came in as a 130-pound freshman and I made the JV team and Don Kolcheff was one of the varsity coaches. He barks to me, ‘You want to play varsity football next year? Well you need to start lifting weights after school.’ He was very influential in making that impact in my life. I played at Central Michigan despite not being a gifted athlete and a big part of that was the weight lifting that I learned at Trenton.”

     Though improvements had been made since Allen’s graduation in 1975, Trush realized that it was a pressing need that grew with each passing year. After he decided to host the Reverse Raffle and created the video, he was overjoyed to hear from Allen.

     “We put the video on YouTube and Bill saw it and reached out to see how he could help,” Trush said. “I suggested buying tickets or being a sponsor, but he said he just wanted to give $10,000. We made him a title sponsor of the event and we’re making a plaque to dedicated to Don Kolcheff, Jack Castignola and Jim Whiteside from Bill Allen. This will impact every student and Bill’s donation put us in the right direction in a big way.”

     With updated machines and a more efficient layout, the weight room’s improvements make it almost unrecognizable to what had been there just months prior. Though he didn’t request specific usage for his donation, Allen was very pleased with how it has turned out.

     “Bob Czarnecki, who I played with, has kept me updated with the progress and I’ve been really happy with what I’ve seen.” Allen said. “When I saw pictures of the old weight room I thought it was better than what we had (laughs), but I realize that things get outdated and you have to keep up. It was such an important part of my success and I wanted that to continue for future generations.”

     The overhaul of the weight room should go a long way in improving the athletic experience at Trenton, but Trush believes it is just the first step in further establishing the Trojans excellence amongst the area.

     “There’s now more stations, so 16-24 people can use the racks as opposed to 8-16 before. A lot of machinery was obsolete or broken, so now things are easier to use and it is overall much safer. We’re hoping to be able to move everything into where the pool currently is located, but the best part is how excited all of the kids are. All athletes, all students and all staff will be able to benefit from this.”

Brandon Brushaber

Senior, Baseball

 Throughout his time roaming the halls of Trenton High School, senior outfielder Brandon Brushaber has been able to make an impact on his classmates and his teammates. A 3.0 student in the classroom, Brushaber has been a vital part of Todd Szalka’s Trenton baseball program both on and off of the field. On the field Brushaber has a batting average over the .300 threshold and on-base percentage above .400, while off of the field he was named a captain due to his efforts in the locker room and in the dugout. Beyond his talent on the diamond, Brushaber was also a key cog in the Trenton Tennis program over his time with them. He finished third in the State in No. 3 doubles during his junior year and won multiple tournaments, while this year he made the state quarterfinals for No. 2 doubles. With options aplenty, Brushaber has chosen to pursue his dream of playing college baseball by committing to Schoolcraft College. Though he doesn’t yet know what he will be majoring in, Brushaber is excited to work hard to carve out a role with the Ocelots while still staying close to home. His parents, Dennis and Nikki, are looking forward to seeing how well he can grow as both a student and an athlete at the next level. — Brian Rzeppa

Wojtala helps lead team

Trenton’s 2018 top 10: Annie Wilson (front, left), Hannah Miller, Adelaide Barcalow and Karli Gaffrey; Jonny Becker (second row, left), Mykel Dolinski and Amber Cheplick; Wilson McClelland (third row, left) and Connor Dolence; Michael Zahran (top). (Matt McClelland photo)

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

     Recently I was at a breakfast for the Top 10 students in the Downriver League. I ran across an old classmate and we started talking about the “good ol’ days” — things like walking to school in the snow, uphill, both ways. My classmate had a tremendous passion for cars. Camaros and corvettes were, and still are, his vehicles of choice. As we were talking at the banquet, we talked about his son’s strong passion for academics.

     So I thought I would take a few minutes and speak with Trenton’s 2018 Top 10 students — asking them questions such as, “What are your future plans? How well do you think Trenton High School prepared you for your next endeavor? What do you have a passion for? What helped you do so well at Trenton High School?”

     I started talking with Jonathon Becker, who plans to attend University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to study material science. He felt one of the things that helped him be successful at THS was baseball. Baseball helped him connect with upperclassmen, then later operate as a leader on the baseball team during his senior year. He mentioned how a rigorous course like AP physics will help him in college.

     Adelaide Barcalow had similar thoughts and mentioned how being a part of the Marching Band helped her because she knew people in August prior to school starting. This helped her entering THS as she already had a group of people to help her transition from the middle school to the high school. She is also going to University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for engineering. As for what helped her prepare for the challenges of Ann Arbor, Adelaide summed it up this way, “AP physics is what made me start drinking coffee.” She will miss her friends at THS.

     Amber Cheplick will be attending University of Michigan-Dearborn. She felt that support such as softball pushed her to do better in school with her time management skills. Her advice to THS students is to never procrastinate. Softball allowed her to be closer to younger players as a senior and that clubs push you to do more and do better in school.

     Karli Gaffrey is going to the University of Clemson. The chemistry program, the environment, and the weather are what drew her to Clemson as well as the strong graduate programs it offers. Dual enrollment through THS helped prepare her for the next level. Kari felt the many clubs she participated in and dual enrollment helped prepare her for Clemson.

     Wilson McClelland is headed to the Naval Academy to become a pilot. The application process to attend school in Annapolis, sports such as soccer, basketball and track and dual enrollment all helped him as he prepares for the Navy. He is looking forward to being a member of the United States Navy.

     Connor Dolence will be heading to Oakland to study both bio and mechanical engineering. Rowing and AP biology helped prepare him for Oakland. Connor mentioned how rowing is a very time consuming, but rewarding sport. Rowing and AP courses helped prepare Connor for Oakland University and with time management.

     Mykel Dolinski will be attending the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to study biomedical engineering. Programs such as ACCESS, being in the Marching Band, tennis, AP physics and dual enrollment all prepared her for U of M. Being so involved allowed her to network. She will miss THS, and feels fully prepared for U of M.

     Hannah Miller is heading to Eastern Michigan to study Health Sciences. Swimming and diving, band, cross country and AP courses all helped her with her confidence. She mentioned how being on a team and her teammates helped her confidence. She said she will miss the personal strategies of her teachers.

     Annie Wilson will be attending Taylor University in Indiana, where both her dad and brother attended, to study elementary education. AP courses, cross country and staying active helped her with time management and her study habits. She will miss her teachers at THS and would like someday to return to Trenton.

     Michael Zahran is heading to the University of Toledo to study engineering. His work as a tutor and other volunteer efforts helped prepare him, along with AP Chemistry. Challenge yourself, enjoy your time and do not stress too much at THS is his advice to THS students. He certainly feels prepared for the next level of his education.

     Over the years, I have and will continue to mention to THS students that they need to do two things while in high school: Give your best and get involved. The students mentioned here certainly excelled in both.

     Dr. Michael Doyle is principal of Trenton High School.

BY SAMANTHA ELLIOTT

     Another school year has come and almost gone for the Trenton National Honor Society and it was another successful run for the Trojan group.

     Recently, the NHS members partnered with the Interact Club to hold a cereal drive for the DMC Children’s Hospital in Detroit.

     The cereal collected is sent home with kids who receive free food at school so they are able to have breakfast over the summer.

     Together, the clubs collected over 400 boxes.

It was just one of many volunteer opportunities the Trojans NHS group took part in this school year.

Back in February, the group made 75 fleece-tie blankets for Southshore Beaumont Hospital’s “Spread the Love” program; an event they have volunteered with before.

     In March, NHS collected backpacks and toiletries and donated the supplies to Wyandotte hospital for a project that provides for the homeless that come to the emergency room.

     In May, the National Honor Society had their send-off ice cream social to say goodbye to their graduating officers and welcome their incoming ones.

Graduating seniors included: President, Jon Becker; Vice President, Karli Gaffrey; Secretary, Ally Clark; Treasurer, Sarah Cullen; Historian, Ethan Powell and Representative, Connor Dolence.

     The junior officers taking over the positions are: President, Madison Kell; Vice President, Alexis Kettler; Secretary, Chloe Senica; Treasurer, Luke VanAuken; Historian, Emily Madden and Representatives, Kathryn Bialoblocki and Katrina Catabian.

     National Honor’s Society advisor Lori Holcomb, who has been running the program for 13 years, is already looking forward to next year’s group and continuing the tradition.

     “I know the students on my new e-board very well, so I think this will be a very good year,” she said. “They are all motivated and love doing service and trying new things.”

     It is why Holcomb continues to lead the program.

     “I enjoy working with all kinds of different groups,” she said. “This is an especially nice opportunity to do a lot of community service type work and try to instill that in students.”

Clarity Patton, a race car driver, enjoys teaching racing science workshops to educate girls about opportunities in automotive engineering. (Photo courtesy of Downriver AAUW)

     More than 125 girls from Downriver middle schools, including several from Arthurs Middle School in Trenton and Grosse Ile Middle School, attended the recent STEM Savvy conference sponsored by the American Association of University Women’s Wyandotte-Downriver Affiliate, held at Wayne County Community College District’s Taylor campus.

     The purpose of the annual program is to expose young girls to a variety of interesting careers available in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The theme of the day was Dream Big, and the girls were encouraged to pursue their passion for science, and to persevere through the challenges of a STEM curriculum to achieve their goals.

     The day began with the keynote speaker, Laurel Champion, the COO for the American Center for Mobility on the Willow Run grounds in Ypsilanti. She spoke of the progress her non-profit company is making in the development of self-driving vehicles. She explained the variety of STEM jobs available in this sphere today, and those anticipated for the future, encouraging the students to seriously consider STEM careers.

     After the keynote speaker, the girls dispersed to attend a selection of hands-on workshops directed by young women who are employed in various STEM fields in our area. Kelsey Waugh, a Riverview Community High School graduate, has a dual bachelor’s degree in materials engineering and biomedical engineering, and works as a plastics manufacturing engineer at GM. She discussed the process of transforming a portion of melted plastic into a functional automobile part.

     Clarity Patton holds a bachelor’s degree and is a race car driver. She began competing at Flat Rock Speedway by racing in the fastest series the track offered. She enjoys teaching racing science workshops to educate girls about the rewarding opportunities in automotive and engineering fields.

     Dr. Rachel Henegar is a pharmacist at West Grange and Checker Specialty pharmacies, having graduated from Trenton High School and U of M Ann Arbor. Her workshop revealed that she does much more than counting pills and putting them in bottles, and emphasized the importance of interaction with health professionals and patients.

     Jennie Braatz is a park ranger naturalist, employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and stationed at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Her passion is connecting people to nature, and she stressed to her audience that there are many wonderful careers for girls who love being outdoors, where nature serves as the office place.

     Another workshop entailed chemistry in the field of ceramics. It was conducted by Heather Imlay, a glaze chemist at Motawi Tileworks, based in Ann Arbor. Her degrees are in civil engineering and surveying and painting. She revealed how science and the arts are often interrelated, and explained that creativity is an integral part of all STEM professions.

               A Robomania workshop was instructed by Yi-Chia.Schmaeman. She enjoyed a career as a design and development engineer for Ford Motor Co., and now serves as the Grosse Ile High School robotics coach. She was assisted by Keena Pandya and Callie Pilkington, two of the robotics team members, in promotion of the value of developing and building “the intelligent workhorses of the future,” as girls worked to construct their own tabletop robots. 

     While the students were learning about potential careers at the workshops, Amy Farkas, STEM/Technology Educator at Seitz Middle School in Riverview, facilitated a valuable resource-sharing session titled “Maker Spaces: Any Size, Any Where” for the teachers and advisors that accompanied their respective groups to the event. 

     The closing speaker of the day, Dr. Marlo Rencher, earned degrees at Michigan State, U of M and Wayne State. She has originated four different tech companies, and serves as VP of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Diversity at Cleary University. She issued a challenge to impact the future by using expertise in STEM fields to solve practical problems, and highlighted the strengths of women and girls that will assist them in doing so.

     “The AAUW STEM program was a huge success,” stated Sara Bochenek, Instructional Support Coordinator at West Middle School in Taylor. “The experiences our students left with were invaluable in opening their eyes to future careers. This event and the message to continue their education will positively impact our girls for a lifetime. We are grateful to have been invited and look forward to next year’s conference.”

     The AAUW recognizes that workforce projections for 2024 indicate that the top 10 fastest-growing occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree will need significant science or math training, and that STEM jobs are expected to grow by 18.7 percent from 2010 to 2020.

     But the supply of new workers in these fields is struggling to match demand, and women remain severely underrepresented. If they and other underrepresented groups joined the STEM workforce in proportion to their numbers in the overall labor force, the STEM worker shortage would disappear.

Reducing barriers in STEM is a step toward increasing America’s global competitiveness. If we truly intend to meet the needs of the 21st century economy, we all must work to break down barriers, increase girls’ interest in STEM, and encourage more women to pursue STEM careers.

     To find out more about the mission of AAUW and about how to increase women’s and girls’ involvement in STEM, go to www.aauw.org/what-we-do/public-policy/aauw-issues/stem-education/, or contact the Wyandotte-Downriver Affiliate’s President Madeleine Jones at (734) 626-2136 or mizmadlin@yahoo.com.   

The members of Girl Scout Junior Troop 71521 celebrate a big accomplishment —a Bronze Award.

     Girl Scout Junior Troop No. 71521 recently earned its Bronze Award. This is the highest award the fifth-grade troop can earn.

     The basic requirements to earn a Bronze Award are to complete a Girl Scout Journey (multiple badges), create an adventure/form a team, explore community (what does the community need?), choose a Bronze Award project, make a plan, put the plan into motion, spread the word, thanking everyone who helped with the project and share the story.

     The troop and its leader, Laurie Delagarza, decided to contact Shelter to Home in Wyandotte because the grandmother of one of the scouts got a cat from there and had a great experience with them. Shelter to Home was in need of some fire-rescue items/equipment (since they purchased the Victorian-style home). So, the troop worked to raise more than $400 by doing individual bottle/can drives and donations to help purchase the items — two fire rescue window ladders, one fire escape hammer, one fire-rescue blanket and six fire-rescue animal bags (Evacpet).

     The troop also had a meeting and learned about fire safety and the rescue items and talked about why the items were needed and how important fire safety is. They visited the Shelter to Home facility, watched a video there about what they do and why they do it and enjoyed getting to know the cats that are awaiting a good home. By doing this, the scouts were able to complete all seven of the required steps.

     There are seven scouts in the troop, each one earning a Bronze pin, Bronze certificate and Bronze badge. They meet at Hedke Elementary School in Trenton after school on Thursdays. It is their fourth year as a troop.

     The members include Chelsea Kings, Amelianna Delagarza, Kylie Maguire, Alysia Macklin, Amia Turner, Miriam Doshoian and Sarah Y.

     The troop would like to raise more money to buy more Evacpet bags (fire rescue items) for the Shelter to Home folks. It has done some past projects before, but this is the only one to earn an award. The scouts did a past fundraiser (soda/pop bottle/can drive — at the school and through donations) and raised money to help to build a wheelchair ramp for a young Downriver girl, planted flowers in front of City Hall with the City of Trenton beautification committee and
are planning to plant more flowers this year.

Bear Cub Pack 1723 members with the hockey goal and bags of other items pulled from the Frank & Poet drain.

BY ERIC HOSHAW

     The third-grade Bear Cub Scouts, Pack 1723, and their den leader, Scott McMillan and parents performed a watershed trash clean-up on the Frank & Poet Water Shed from West Road to Fort Street. This neighborhood conservation project was part of a much larger project that occurred over several months, which earned the Bear Cubs their first-ever Cub Scout World Conservation Award. 

     The bear den is made up of third graders Harrison McMillan, Gage Pittman, Brady Tepper and Brody Thomson. McMillan has help from assistant leaders Karen Gorski, Pete Miller and Angela Tepper.

     The boys pulled around 10 large trash bags full of paper, plastic, glass bottles, Styrofoam, metal, bottles, very large pieces of Styrofoam packing materials, and one full-sized hockey net from the Frank Poet. Additionally, while fishing, one Bear Scout caught a Salmon Fishing Rod and Reel and another caught a large nut with their grub jigs, “further driving home the lesson of the importance of the conservation of our amazing waterways here in Trenton,” McMillan said.

     The Bears additionally cleaned up and rehabilitated the entrance and entire front to Hedke Elementary by weeding, leveling and graveling the landscaping, constructed bird houses that will be placed at the Trenton Cultural Center (motion approved at the May 7 Trenton City Council meeting), learned about animals that are extinct and endangered, planted mini herb gardens for their homes, took care of pets for a minimum of two weeks and logged their work, hiked, learned about composting and city/urban farming, went fishing at Elizabeth Park and learned about preserving our local streams, creeks and river waterways.

     The Bear Cub Scouts also took a trip to the Trenton Fire Station to learn about chest compression CPR.

     The Bear Cub Scouts of 1723 were honored by the Trenton City Council and Mayor Stack, who thanked them for their hard work performed during the cleanup. Each Scout received a City of Trenton certificate for their efforts.

     The Scouts and their leaders also asked Trenton residents and guests help to keep our neighborhoods clean and our waterways free of trash and debris. You can help by taking part in conservation projects for our city, all in an effort to keep Trenton and Michigan clean.