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Young Achievers

Thirteen Gateway Young Achievers of 2008

Thirteen metro-area young people have been named 2008 Gateway Young Achievers.

The awards are given to elementary, middle and high school students to honor their outstanding achievements both in school and in their communities.

The 2008 Achievers are:

Elementary and middle schoolers:

  • Lara Bakula, Fenton, 5th grade, Kellison Elementary School.
  • Katie Bayer, St. Louis, 8th grade, Oakville Middle School.
  • Andre' D. Booker, Chesterfield, 8th grade, Parkway Central Middle School.
  • Meghan Danielle Chac, Fenton, Kellison Elementary School.
  • Torey Dunlap, St. Louis, 6th grade, McKinley Classical Leadership Academy.
  • Kami Fox, High Ridge, 6th grade, Lone Dell Elementary School.
  • Alexander Kehm, Fenton, 8th grade, Rockwood South Middle School.
  • Mary Ann McCain, Ballwin, 7th grade, Parkway Southwest Middle School.
  • Claire E. Rembecki, Sullivan, 8th grade, St. Anthony's School.

High schoolers:

  • Brittany Herold, Chesterfield, 9th grade, Marquette High School.
  • Varum Mehrotra, Wildwood, 10th grade, Lafayette High School.
  • Diane Murray, Jerseyville, IL, 10th grade, Jersey Community High School.
  • Colin Watkins, East St. Louis, IL, 9th grade, East St. Louis High School.

This is the 18th year for the Young Achievers program, which is sponsored by the International Leadership Network. The awards program is supported by the Millstone Foundation of St. Louis.

The 13 finalists will receive a star award and a $1,000 savings bond. They also are entered in the International Young Achievers competition.

One of 2007 Gateway Young Achievers won an international award. Chandler Dalton of Town and Country won the international mention. He earned an additional $1,000.

The 13 2008 Young Achievers and their sponsors will be honored at a breakfast on Friday, May 2. Ceremonies will be held at the St. Louis Airport Renaissance Hotel.

(Young Saint Louis.com has followed the Young Achievers program for years. In addition to this 2008 YA article, YSL.com will profile the nine elementary and middle school winners. The first profile will be in our June edition.)

The following contains brief sketches and pictures of the 2008 elementary and middle school winners:

  1. Lara Bakula, Fenton, 5th grade, Kellison Elementary School. Lara is a straight A student and in the school's special chorus. She is in the Rockwood Talented and Gifted Program and has had her art pieces displayed in the district art fair. She, her twin sister, Sara, and three others won the "most creative award" at the Creative Challenge Cup at Washington University. She swims and dances competitively and plays the piano.

  2. Karie Bayer, St. Louis, 8th grade, Oakville Middle School. Katie is on the school's honor roll and participates in the Junior Honor Society and the Duke University TIP program. At her home parish, she is a cantor for the Children's Choir. She is first flute in the Symphonic Band and is in the school's Concert Band. She received an "award of distinction" from the Kiwanis Club for 50 hours of community service.

  3. Andre' D. Booker, Chesterfield, 8th grade, Parkway Central Middle School. Andre' has maintains honor status throughout his school career and is in Parkway's gifted program. He is a delegate for the Student Council. He plays Jr. Colts football, basketball and track and field. He was selected by the staff at Junior Achievement to speak at the Global Business Hall of Fame. He's also served as Safety Town instructor by the Chesterfield Police.

  4. Meghan Danielle Chac, Fenton, 5th grade, Kellison Elementary School. Meghan attends the Rockwood's Center for Creative Learning and is a straight A student. Her group took 1st place at the Washington University Academy Challenge Cup. Meghan plays select soccer for Missouri Premier and plays softball. She is also in the Special Chorus.

  5. Torey Dunlap, St. Louis, 6th grade, McKinley Classical Leadership Academy. Torey has a 3.5 GPA and is in the Mathematics Education for Gifted Secondary Students. She's also in the school's Concert Choir and in Girl Scouts. She plays the violin and the keyboard. She hopes to have a career in the culinary arts and wants to own her own restaurant.

  6. Kami Fox, High Ridge, 6th grade, Lone Dell Elementary School. She's been on the honor roll every year since 1st grade. She's a member of the Character Choir and Student Council and is a representative of Red Ribbon Leadership. She is active in her church, volunteering in the nursery and in church/community events. She has several art pieces displays in the United Bank of Missouri and the St. Louis Galleria. Kami wants to be a pediatrician.

  7. Alexander Kehm, Fenton, 8th grade, Rockwood South Middle School. Alex is in the school's Talented and Gifted program and a member of the Student Council. He represented Rockwood South as a viola player in the all-district Honors Orchestra. His team won the 2007 West County Soccer League. He also founded Fenton Passback, an organization committed to providing soccer equipment to underprivileged kids.

  8. Mary Ann McCain, Ballwin, 7th grader, Parkway Southwest Middle School. She was selected as one of 20 young divers in the U.S. to train for the 2012 Olympics and competes internationally in both springboard and tower diving. She's also a 7-year national winner at Piano Guild. She also plays viola in the All-Suburban Orchestra and the YMCA Youth Orchestra. She's served as student body president and has monthly service projects.

  9. Claire E. Rembecki, Sullivan, MO, 8th grade, St. Anthony's School. Claire is a straight A student and vice-president of the Student Council. Last year, she won a Citizen of the Month award and was selected as a teacher of dance for the School of Performing Arts. She had a lead role in summer drama and science camps in 2007. As a volunteer, she was a teacher's assistant at an adult education computer class as well as a volleyball coaching assistant. Claire was a lector and server at her church.

(For more on the Gateway Young Achievers, visit www.youngachievers.us.)

 

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