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Westfield-Mayville Rotary names Students of the Month for May, June

Local high school students who were recognized by the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club as “Scholars of the Month” for May and June are pictured from left to right, Sydney Gleason, Chautauqua Lake CSD; Bethany Schaaf, Westfield Academy and CSD; Grace Bodenmiller, Westfield Academy and CSD; Ronald Brown, Brocton CSD; and Megan Snider, Chautauqua Lake CSD. These outstanding seniors were honored during the May 21 meeting of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club, which was held at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield.

Five outstanding high school seniors were recognized as “Scholars of the Month” by the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club during its May 21 meeting at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield. During this very busy time of the year in the schools, the scholars for both May and June were honored. Earning much deserved recognition were May honorees Sydney Gleason, Chautauqua Lake Central School; and Bethany Schaaf, Westfield Academy and Central School; and June honorees Grace Bodenmiller, Westfield Academy and Central School; Ronald “Bubba” Brown, Brocton Central School; and Megan Snider, Chautauqua Lake Central School.

Club President Mary Swanson welcomed the scholars, their parents, school administrators, and Rotarians to the meeting. After dinner and some club business, Dan Smith, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Youth Services Chair, began the recognition program. Rotarians Sheila Chapman, Barbara Fay, and Luci Petrella then took turns announcing each of the honorees’ various academic, extracurricular, athletic, and volunteer achievements. Each of the scholars received a framed certificate, a pen, and hearty congratulations.

Sydney Gleason, a Chautauqua Lake CSD senior, is the daughter of Craig and Nancy Gleason of Ashville. In June, this scholar will be the first student in her school’s history to graduate one year early ahead of her peers. During her final year at CLCS, Gleason has maintained a rigorous course load. She is academically ranked tenth in her class, and she will graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma.

In addition to her academics, Gleason is very active in school activities. She has been class president, and she is a member of both the National Honor Society and CLCS Student Administration. She was honored as a CLCS Student of the Month. During her freshman and sophomore years, Gleason participated on the track and basketball teams. She gave up athletic participation to concentrate on her studies, when she combined her junior and senior courses into one year.

Outside of school, Gleason has volunteered for Shooting Stars, the Ice Festival in Mayville, the CLCS National Honor Society Talent Show, and a canned food drive, as well as having given many hours for the Panama Basketball Camp during summers. After graduation, Gleason will attend Jamestown Community College, where she will begin her studies in Communication. She plans to then study abroad, before transferring to a four-year university. She aspires to work in the music industry.

Bethany Schaaf, a Westfield Academy and CSD senior, is the daughter of David and Jennifer Schaaf of Westfield. At the end of her high school career, Schaaf will have earned 27 college credits through various Jamestown Community College courses, and also SUNY College at Buffalo credits for enrolling in Biology 100. Her outstanding academic success has earned Schaaf the designation as the Salutatorian of the WACS Class of 2019. She will graduate this June with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors with Mastery in Mathematics and Mastery in Science.

Schaaf is a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the high school academic bowl, treasurer of her class, a Spanish club member, and captain for the varsity swim team. She is a section leader in senior high chorus, a member of the select choral ensemble Westwinds, and the all-female singing group Firecrackers. Also, she is the section leader in senior high band, where she plays the bass clarinet, as well as section leader in All-County Band. Schaaf scored a 98 on a level six solo at the New York State School Music Association competition. She is a member of the McClurg Street Band and also the drama club. Schaaf has participated in the school musicals “Into the Woods,” “Newsies,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

During both the school year and the summer, she is a lifeguard at Welch Field and Brocton Central School. In the fall of 2019, Schaaf will attend Vassar College to pursue a degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy. She plans to pursue her graduate degree and do research, before going into public service in government.

Grace Bodenmiller, a Westfield Academy and Central School senior, is the daughter of Thayne and Louella Bodenmiller of Westfield. As a participant in the Jamestown Community College Connections Program, this scholar has taken six JCC courses, earning 30 college credits, and one SUNY College at Buffalo course. This June Bodenmiller will graduate with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors and Mastery in Mathematics and Science.

She is the WACS Class of 2019 President and captain of the varsity tennis team. Also, she is a member of student government, prom committee, and Faith, Hope, Love Bible study. In her sophomore year, Bodenmiller was inducted into the National Honor Society. She is a reliable and friendly student, who embodies the NHS core values of character, leadership, scholarship, and service.

Bodenmiller has held employment at the Farmer’s Daughter, and she is active in the First Baptist Church of Westfield. In the fall of 2019, Bodenmiller will attend SUNY Fredonia to pursue a degree in Biology, and her long-term goal is to become a dentist.

Ronald “Bubba” Brown, a Brocton CSD senior, is the son of Kathy Claybrooke and Ronald Brown of Brocton. With a cumulative GPA of 90.703, he is academically ranked sixth in his class. Upon graduating with an Advanced Regents Diploma, this scholar will have earned 24 college credits from Jamestown Community College. This past year he was named JCC Student of the Year.

Brown has always taken the most challenging classes available to him. In particular, he has enjoyed his various math classes. He has been a positive influence to many of the underclassmen in his school. Brown values the importance of education, because he knows how important it is to have a successful future.

Throughout his high school years, sports have made an impact on Brown. He has been a student athlete and captain of the Brocton basketball and baseball teams for three years. During his senior year, he has been nominated for the Student Athlete Award. Baseball recognition he has earned include two first team all-star awards, a first team WNY all-state award, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus County Division 2 West Most Valuable Player, and he was inducted into the Chautauqua County Hall of Fame in his junior year. His basketball recognition includes two first team all-star awards.

In the fall, Brown will attend SUNY Fredonia, where he will major in Exercise Science. Continuing his love of sports in college, Brown will play on the Blue Devils baseball team. His career aspirations include being an athletic trainer or a physical therapist, and helping others pursue their love for sports.

Megan Snider, a Chautauqua Lake Central School senior, is the daughter of Neal and Carolyn Snider of Mayville. This scholar will graduate in June with an Advanced Regents Diploma and with being academically ranked as eleventh in her class.

Snider has pushed herself and has excelled in the Advanced Placement courses offered at her school. Through the Jamestown Community College Connections Program, Snider has immersed herself and earned JCC credits in math. Also, she has been recognized for her academic excellence in history.

She was named CLCS Student of the Month, and she is a member of the high school academic bowl team. Plus, she participated on the varsity girls swim team for two years.

In her spare time, Snider enjoys reading, weaving, and musicals. After her high school graduation, she plans to attend Jamestown Community College for two years as a business major. She intends to then enroll at SUNY Fredonia, where she will major in business and minor in music.

The Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club proudly congratulates Sydney Gleason, Bethany Schaaf, Grace Bodenmiller, Ronald Brown, and Megan Snider on their many outstanding achievements. It wishes these five scholars much success and happiness in their college studies and future careers.

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