From left, junior Carolyn Sparks, sixth-grader Jaydan Lotton and senior Eli Sturgill were honored as the February R.E.D. Hornets of the Month at the Medora Community School Corp. board of school trustees meeting Monday.
MEDORA — Responsibility, empathy and determination are three qualities Medora Community School Corp. continues to promote through its students.
During Monday night’s board of school trustees meeting, the February R.E.D. Hornets of the Month were honored.
Those honored include senior Eli Sturgill for his willingness to help and positive attitude, junior Carolyn Sparks for her kindness and determination to excel in the classroom and sixth-grader Jaydan Lotton for her hardworking attitude and respect for others.
Kara Hunt, principal of Medora Junior-Senior High School, introduced the honorees to trustees and read statements from their teachers.
Sturgill’s teachers honored him for his willingness to work hard and helpful attitude.
“Eli Sturgill has been a committed member of the graduating class and has always helped out when needed,” English/language arts teacher Rebecca Lanier said. “He brings a smile and a joke with him to all events. Despite his feelings about English, he still managed to reach success and gain the credits that he often thought were impossible to achieve. As long as Eli keeps fighting against those mental roadblocks and jumping over any hurdles in his way, I have no doubt he reaches his goals in life with a big grin on his face and a laugh ready to share.”
Science teacher Leah Young said Sturgill is a pleasure to have had in class for the past three years, and he is always ready to help with any project she throws at him.
Special education teacher Bobbi Derheimer said Sturgill is always polite and helpful and has a willingness to achieve goals.
“Eli Sturgill is a kindhearted young man with a goofy sense of humor. He asks me almost every school day how I am doing,” social studies teacher Reuben Nehrt said. “Eli gets along well with everyone and is willing to give a helping hand when needed.”
Sparks’ teachers praised her for her cheerful attitude and positive influence on others in the classroom.
“Carolyn Sparks is one of the most cheerful people I have ever met,” Lanier said. “She always greets me with a huge smile and a positive attitude. In class, she tries her best and always seeks to be a good student and have a positive influence on others. She is very deserving of being awarded Hornet of the Month.”
Young said Sparks is a kind student who is helpful and strives to always do her best, while computer science teacher Riley Morris said Sparks is an absolute joy to have in class.
“She has an infectious positive attitude and always tries to bring her peers up rather than put them down,” Morris said. “She takes leadership in group activities and always approaches each project as a challenge to learn from. I chose her as my computer science student of the year in 2021-22, and she has continued to do excellent this year, as well.”
Derheimer said Sparks has demonstrated determination through her positive attitude.
Math teacher Kyle Derheimer said Sparks is a pleasure to have in class.
“She always has a great attitude and positive outlook, both in the classroom and out,” he said. “Carolyn is also a very hard worker and puts a lot of effort into learning the material required for geometry. During this school year, she has shown significant growth on her diagnostic testing, increasing her overall score by 184 points, which is a huge leap. I am very proud of her and all the progress that she is making.”
Nehrt said Sparks is a generous and warmhearted young woman with a positive attitude and a bubbly personality. He also said she cares for those who are oftentimes overlooked.
Lotton, who started at Medora Community Schools in the second semester, already has made a positive impact, according to her teachers.
“Jaydan is an amazing student. She works hard even when she doesn’t necessarily want to, is always respectful, asks questions and always wants to do her best, even on things she doesn’t personally care about,” English/language arts teacher Christopher Sinnett said. “She’s good to other people, even when they don’t deserve it, she’s helpful and she’s a good listener, an absolute joy to have in class.”
Bobbi Derheimer said Sparks shows kindness and is dedicated to her academic performance.
“Jaydan Lotton is a wonderful addition to our school,” Nehrt said. “She stands out from her peers in a number of ways. Jaydan is polite, hardworking and respectful. She is a pleasure to have in class.”