2004 Young Achievers of Year announced

A dozen metro area kids have been named the 2004 Gateway Young Achievers of the Year. Awards go to elementary, middle and high school students for their accomplishments in school, volunteer service and leadership.

The 2004 Gateway Achievers are:

Elementary school (grades 1-6):

• Jimmy Gordon, Fenton, Mo.
• Brianna Jones, Hazelwood, Mo.

Middle school (grades 7-8):

• Kalina Kutriansky, Collinsville, Ill.
• Marcus Zamphier, Mehlville, Mo.

High school (grades 9-12):

• Gretchen McCready, Festus, Mo.
• Aaron Fuller, Florissant, Mo.

Community Service:

• Michael Arb, Fenton, Mo.
• Micah Manary, St. Louis.

Leadership:

• Vivian Harper, St. Louis.
• Blake Slagle, Eureka, Mo.

Music:

• Emily Sprague, Chesterfield, Mo.
• Miriam Foltz, O'Fallon, Ill.

Six of the award winners were named in grade categories. The other six were in subject categories: two each in community service, leadership and music.

The 2004 award ceremonies will be held Sunday, May 2. They will be at the Busch Student Center on the campus of Saint Louis University.

Each Achiever receives a $1,000 savings bond. They also are entered in the national Achiever competition, later this year.

In addition, 50 other students will get medallions and $50 gift certificates. Over 500 kids were nominated in the Young Achiever competition.

Barbara Eichhorst heads the local office of the International Leadership Network. The ILN sponsors the Young Achiever of the Year program. The local Gateway program is made possible by support of the Millstone Foundation of St. Louis.

Young Saint Louis.com focuses primarily on metro area kids in third through eighth grade. Therefore, we are providing thumbnail sketches of the five kids in those grades. Two are winners from elementary school category and two others from middle school. The fifth, Michael Arb, a sixth grader, was one of the community service winners.

(Starting in June, YSL.com will run individual profiles of these five youngest Achievers.

(For more information about the Achiever program, you can call (314) 961-5978 or log on to www.YoungAchievers.us.)

Sketches of the youngest Achievers:

* Jimmy Gordon, 5th grade, Uthoff Valley Elementary School in Fenton.

Jimmy has achieved five different ranks in the Boy Scouts of America. He's also taken part in the Fenton Park Clean-up, Memorial Day Good Turn at Jefferson Barracks and Riverchase Beautification. He is a member of the school's cross country and track teams. He also is in the Uthoff Valley Strings and special chorus.

 

* Brianna Jones, 6th grade, Grannemann Accelerated Program in Hazelwood.

Brianna is active in Student Council and DARE. She also volunteers for Lutheran Family and Children's Services and Faith Beyond Walls. She's a member of the Music Makers Children's Choir, the All-School chorus and band. She enjoys gymnastics, soccer and cheerleading.

 

* Kalina Kutriansky, 7th grade, North Junior High School in Collinsville, Ill.

Kalina is active in Junior Achievement and has received numerous Illinois District 29 honor awards and certificate of Award for Young Authors. She participates in Student Council, band and dance, including ballet, tap and jazz.

 

* Marcus Zamphier, 8th grade at Margaret Buerkle Middle School in Mehlville.

Marcus is involved in Student Council and the Youth Progressive Connection anti-bullying program. He is a peer mentor and tutor and also takes part in school outreach programs. Marcus helped organize an event with Drug Free Schools Program. He's also a member of the technology, home economics and chess clubs.

 

* Michael Arb, 6th grade at Life Christian School in Fenton.

Michael is active in the Mission Gate Prison Ministry and volunteers on mission trips to orphanages in Thailand. He assists in construction projects and has taught Sunday School classes at Full Gospel Fellowship Church in Chaing Rai, Thailand. He also is active in church youth groups.