Ryan Wilson

MAYVILLE — Students of the Month at Chautauqua Lake Central School, honored for February achievements, are Ryan Wilson, Chelsie Mercado, Logan Walczak, Parker Gleason, Sophia Shearer, and Alexandra McKee. The student recognition program honors students in grades 7 through 12 whose classroom performance, attitude toward learning, work ethic and extra-curricular activities set them apart.

Senior Ryan Courtney Wilson is the son of Steve and Laura Wilson of Ashville. This year the classes he enjoys the most are calculus, Spanish, and principles of engineering. Ryan is an active participant in a variety of school activities that encompass his well-rounded nature. He has participated in many academic competitions: the Envirothon, Science Olympiad, and county-wide Math and Science Challenge, where his team won the “Quidditch” event by answering challenging math and science questions. This year, he is president of National Honor Society and a student representative to the CLCS Building Team. He has been a peer mentor for the past two years, a member of Ski Club since sixth grade, and a competitor on the track and field team since he was a freshman. He has won many awards throughout his time at CLCS. In tenth grade, he was the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) ambassador, and he was selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. As a junior, he received the Rochester Institute of Technology Innovation and Creativity Scholarship, and as a senior he received the University at Buffalo Pride of New York Scholarship. Outside of school, he enjoys hiking, snowmobiling, disc golfing, hunting, and running. The person Ryan most admires is The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, “due to his ability to provide comic relief to political topics while still remaining honest.” When asked what person he would like to be for a day, Ryan commented, “Well, actually, I wouldn’t be a person at all. I would want to be my dog, Cocoa, just to see what goes through her head all day.” After graduation, Ryan will attend the University at Buffalo to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

Junior Chelsie Mercado is the daughter of Brandi Mercado of Ripley. She most enjoys her English class at CLCS and her health careers classes at the BOCES Hewes Center in Ashville. She enjoys playing softball, and outside of school she likes to work out and listen to music. Chelsie looks forward to attending college to prepare for a career as an occupational therapist or possibly a surgeon. If she could be another person for a day, Chelsie would choose Temple Grandin — professor, inventor, best-selling author, and expert consultant in the fields of animal science and autism education — so she could understand how Grandin’s brain works.

Sophomore Logan Walczak is the daughter of Rick Walczak of Mayville. This year, her favorite classes include Mandarin Chinese and French. She has competed on the school’s tennis team since seventh grade and the track team since eighth grade, and last year she earned the Most Improved Award for track. She was named a Scholar Athlete and is consistently on the honor roll. Outside of school, Logan enjoys reading, playing Youth Elite Tennis, attending hockey games, and listening to Korean music while trying to learn it. In history, she admires Eleanor Roosevelt because she was, “a fearless woman who did what was right. She was very confident and proud to be who she was and proud of her choices. Iconic is my word to describe her.” If she could be another person for a day, Logan would like to be the late Jonghyun, singer-songwriter of the group SHINee: “I would mainly want to be able to tell his fans why he did what he did and that he is proud of all of them for being strong. Also, to give his family closure and experience life in an idol’s body.” After graduation, Logan hopes to attend Princeton University to study international politics.

Freshman Parker Gleason, the son of Craig and Nancy Gleason of Ashville, selects geometry and global studies as his favorite classes. Parker has competed on the golf team since he was a seventh grader and he also played basketball as an eighth grader. Outside of school, Parker enjoys playing golf, basketball, and four-wheeling. The historical person he most admires is Michael Jordan because “even on some of his worst days he was able to persevere and play the game he loved.” The person Parker would like to be for a day is Canadian rapper-singer-songwriter Drake because, “I could figure out how to become a great artist and make money when I became myself again.” Parker looks forward to attending college, though he has not yet decided what he will study.

Eighth grader Sophia Marie Shearer is the daughter of Ken and Jen Shearer of Mayville. Algebra, Spanish, and social studies are her favorite subjects this year. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys drawing, reading, and writing short stories. She admires Albert Einstein “due to his unique perspective on life and his infinite imagination.” If she could be another person for a day, Sophia would want to be, “someone who is the exact opposite of me so I can understand people’s views and ideas better.” She is considering a career as a math teacher.

Seventh grader Alexandra McKee is the daughter of Lisa Gierszal of Chautauqua. Her favorite classes are Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Alexandra competed on the girls’ soccer team this year; she is also active in the Book Club, performed in the musical, played clarinet in the All-County Junior Band, and she plays in the school’s concert band. Outside of school, Alexandra enjoys participating in the Chautauqua Lake Rowing Association and the Infinity Performing and Visual Arts Center. Alexandra admires Jacqueline Kennedy because, “of her style and grace and the strength to live through all of her losses.” If she could be another person for a day, Alexandra would choose Serena Williams because, “she is an all-star tennis player. I’d help with the fund that she started: the Serena Williams Fund.”

Teachers Amy Redman and Tara Reyda coordinate the Student of the Month recognition program in the secondary school.