Published 7:47 am Thursday, May 15, 2025
By Max Harden
DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac Union High School seniors and their families filled the gymnasium Wednesday night to be recognized for their academic ventures with awards and scholarships during the school’s 67th annual Honors Program.
In total, Dowagiac seniors were awarded $1,487,680 in scholarship funds.
The awards and scholarships were presented to the following students:
Valedictorians: Guadalupe Brito, Emerson Kruger, Rebecca Guernsey, Nevaeh Hemminger, Brenna Mott, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger
Salutatorian: Markus Ottinger
High honors graduates: Merrill Adams, Avery Amundsen, Amelia Bakeman, Elizabeth Bale, Lauren Balsbaugh, Makayla Best, Aaron Bonczynski, Emma Bontrager, Guadalupe Brito, Javier Carrillo, Cal Chapman, Deonna Cross, Marissa Cross, Jonathan Dash, Hayden Groth, Rebecca Guernsey, Hayden Hagemann, Nevaeh Hemminger, Angel Hernandez, Jasmine Honn, Malayna Klug, Zachary Kroepel, Emerson Kruger, Anneliese Lee, Alexis Lewis, Brenna Mott, Markus Ottinger, Colin Parker, Ella Parker, Alainna Preston, Tanner Roberts, Owen Saylor, Kaleb Smith, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger, Rylei Thielmann
Honor graduates: Jacoby Baker, Mason Bressler, Calvin Diamond, Nevaeh Ferrier, Jaden Gant, Amari Gaston, Braeden Gillesby, Lilyana Gray, Tyler Hannapel, Zariah Pulliam, Aleera Ruiz, Devean Whitaker,
Academic awards of excellence: Merrill Adams, Avery Amundsen, Elizabeth Bale, Lauren Balsbaugh, Guadalupe Brito, Hayden Groth, Rebecca Guernsey, Nevaeh Hemminger, Angel Hernandez, Jasmine Honn, Malayna Klug, Zachary Kroepel, Emerson Kruger, Brenna Mott, Markus Ottinger, Colin Parker, Kaleb Smith, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger
Early college participants: Nevaeh Hemminger, Sophie Kirtdoll, Alexis Lewis, ETS Recognition Award, Mrs. Bethani Mott, Dylan Birdsey, Loren Bowen, Guadalupe Brito, Misael Castillo, Julianna Chavez, Deonna Cross, Austin Farley, Nevaeh Ferrier, Amari Gaston, Cassidy Green, Hayden Hagemann, Kamarion Huddleston, Sophie Kirtdoll, Anneliese Lee, Alexis Lewis, Aidan Morford, Colin Parker, Zariah Pulliam
Van Buren Tech Student of the Year Scholarship: Avery Amundsen
SMC Dual Enrollment High Honors Award: Merrill Adams, Amelia Bakeman, Lauren Balsbaugh, Marissa Cross, Hayden Groth, Rebecca Guernsey, Hayden Hagemann, Malayna Klug, Zachary Kroepel, Emerson Kruger, Brenna Mott, Colin Parker, Alainna Preston, Kaleb Smith, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger
Dowagiac Elks Club Scholarships: Cal Chapman, Nevaeh Hemminger, Brenna Mott
Dowagiac Elks Club Trade Scholarship: Colin Parker
James and Ann File Scholarship: Jasmine Honn
Community Grange Scholarship: Cal Chapman
County Conservation Scholarship: Merrill Adams
SMC Talent Scholarship: Rylei Thielmann
Cass County Farm Bureau Scholarships: Merrill Adams, Alainna Preston
Dowagiac Education Association Scholarships: Tyler Hannapel, Emma Stanger
Beta Sigma Phi Theta Mu Scholarship: Brenna Mott
Beta Sigma Phi ECC Scholarship: Emma Stanger
L.A.D.D. Inc. Scholarship: Kaleb Smith
Carol Novak Scholarship: Rylei Thielmann
Jim and Mary Alice Giles Memorial Scholarships: Guadalupe Brito, Rebecca Guernsey
Ronald Latourette Memorial Scholarship: Emma Stanger
Heather Nash Memorial Scholarships: Deonna Cross, Rebecca Guernsey, Emerson Kruger, Jillian Torbet
Ascension Maggie Cripe Scholarships: Emerson Kruger, Carlee Spagnoli
Brian Parker Memorial Scholarship: Guadalupe Brito
Carson Ausra Memorial Scholarships: Deonna Cross, Rebecca Guernsey
Landen Taggart “Dreamer” Scholarships: Tyler Hannapel, Kaleb Smith, Reagan Williamson
Ronda L. Lucas-Sullivan Legacy Foundation Scholarships: Emerson Kruger, Brenna Mott
Chris Taylor Memorial Scholarship: Cal Chapman
Dowagiac Rotary Club Scholarship: Merrill Adams
Peninsular Lodge No. 10 F. & A.M. Scholarship: Deonna Cross
Knights of Columbus Scholarships: Rebecca Guernsey, Zach Kroepel, Emma Stanger
Lyle Taylor Scholarship: Rebecca Guernsey
Craig Behnke Scholarship: Amelia Bakeman
Dick Dorgan Memorial Scholarship: Brenna Mott
Dowagiac Athletic Booster Club Scholarships: Cal Chapman, Hayden Hagemann, Rebecca Guernsey, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger
Chieftain Golf Outing Scholarships: Avery Amundsen, Amelia Bakeman, Lauren Balsbaugh, Mason Bressler, Guadalupe Brito, Hayden Groth, Rebecca Guernsey, Hayden Hagemann, Emerson Kruger, Brenna Mott, Kaleb Smith, Carlee Spagnoli, Emma Stanger
Dowagiac Athletic All Sports Award: Cal Chapman, Rebecca Guernsey
Miss Apple Festival Scholarship: Deonna Cross
Miss Cassopolis Scholarship: Merrill Adams
Miss Dowagiac Scholarships: Amelia Bakeman, Meg Charles, Lauren Balsbaugh, Jillian Torbet, Nevaeh Hemminger
Miss Eau Claire Scholarship/Miss Blossomtime Scholarship: Malayna Klug
Midwest Energy Communication Scholarship: Rebecca Guernsey
Niles Haunted House Scholarship: Hayden Hagemann
Dowagiac Connected Scholarship: Amelia Bakeman, Emma Stanger
Zolman Tire Scholarship: Guadalupe Brito
Sodexo Services Scholarships: Presented by Deb Cahill, Guadalupe Brito, Brenna Mott, Rebecca Guernsey, Emma Stanger
Cass County Sheriff’s Community Scholarship: Merrill Adams, Rebecca Guernsey, Emerson Kruger, Amelia Bakeman, Nevaeh Hemminger, Brenna Mott
The Future Farmers of America Scholarships/Steven Waldschmidt Memorial Scholarship: Merrill Adams, Alainna Preston
Winnebago Industries Scholarship: Kaleb Smith
SMC Roadrunner Scholarships: Cassidy Green, Myrissa Rowe, Jillian Torbet, Austin West
Southwestern Michigan College Award of Excellence Scholarships: Merrill Adams, Jacoby Baker, Elizabeth Bale, Cal Chapman, Angel Hernandez, Jasmine Honn, Zachary Kroepel, Colin Parker, Zariah Pulliam, Owen Saylor, Rylei Thielmann
Central Michigan University Maroon and Gold Merit Scholarship: Hayden Hagemann
Ferris State University Crimson Scholarship: Amari Gaston
The Provost’s Scholarship: Anneliese Lee
Presidential Scholarships: Guadalupe Brito, Carlee Spagnoli
Michigan State University Spartan Achievement Scholarship: Alainna Preston
Western Michigan University Bronco Merit Scholarships: Kaleb Smith, Avery Amundsen, Markus Ottinger, Amelia Bakeman, Hayden Groth
The Bronco Promise Scholarship: Calvin Diamond
Hope College Anchor Award Scholarship: Tyler Hannapel
University of Michigan Merit Scholarship: Emerson Kruger
Bethel College Merit Scholarship: Rebecca Guernsey
Bethel College Scholarship: Sam Sardeneta
St. Mary’s College Madeleva Scholarship: Lauren Balsbaugh
Kalamazoo College Luxe Esto and JT Williamson Scholarship: Devean Whitaker
Albion College Kresge Scholarship: Austin Farley
United States Marine Corp.: Aiden Morford
