The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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The Nominees
Nine nominated for Youth of the Year
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2008
Nine outstanding young people were honored April 7 by the Saline City Council, family and peers for initiating change and for their exceptional leadership in Saline during the past year.
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The middle and high school students were nominated for the annual Saline Youth of the Year Award. Andrew Schantz was the winner and will be honored Friday at the Saline Salutes banquet.
Brennan Arnett was nominated by his wrestling coach, Chris Fosket, who credits the eighth-grader for helping build the team and encouraging his peers to excel in the sport.
Arnett also has been a patrol leader in Boy Scouts and is working on the rank of Eagle Scout by replacing old shelving in the Saline Area Social Services food pantry. He led two food drives for SASS and has organized a team for the 24-Hour Relay.
"I believe Brennan is an exceptional young man with a great heart. He has accomplished a great deal at such a young age," Fosket said.
Kallie Kennedy is a junior at Saline High School and member of the Link Crew, National Honor Society, chamber choir and Saline Leadership Class.
"For Kallie, leadership is about the small things we do for one another, and it's those small things that make the Saline community a better place," her teacher, Laura Washington, wrote in her nomination.
Megan Lesch was nominated by her friend, Gina Yu, who said, "She's extremely kind, she's determined, she's talented and she's generous."
Lesch, an honor roll student, is active in the National Honor Society, the cross country and track teams, Link Crew, the German Club and the high school wind ensemble. A junior at Saline High School, she has volunteered at the Hope Clinic soup kitchen and with the Pleasant Ridge Elementary Math Counts program.
Joe Omichinski is a seventh-grader and led a group of students, local merchants and staff in renovating a dilapidated greenhouse at Saline Middle School. Dubbed, "Operation Extreme Makeover: Greenhouse Edition," the effort will allow teachers and students new opportunities in botany.
"This seventh-grader has extended great love to initiate change and better our community," said Nora Carichner, a teacher's assistant who nominated Omichinski.
Dhanashree Patel is a senior and has been an important member of FCCLA, Saline Youth Council, Destination Imagination, Link Crew, DECA marketing association for students. She was a founding member of the local chapter of Business Professionals of America and won first place at the regional contest for that group's 2007 entrepreneurship awards.
"Dhanashree puts her community and others' needs before her own. She feels responsible to give back to Saline for being so good to her," wrote her peer, Lizzie Solan.
The Downtown Merchants' Association nominated her, too, for her significant volunteer contributions to Saline Summer Craft Show and Harvest of the Arts.
Elizabeth Solan is a senior at Saline High School and has been a member of Saline Youth Council since 2005. She is captain of the cross country team and is a member of FCCLA and Link Crew. She was nominated by Dhanashree Patel.
Solan volunteers with local senior citizens playing bingo, the Red Cross and has worked with the Downtown Merchants' Association.
"She is always ready to speak her mind and give out her creative ideas to help the community," Patel wrote in her nomination.
Samantha Amber Sykes is in seventh grade and was nominated by her mother, Erin Sykes, who wrote, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Sam."
She maintains straight A's, plays the flute, plays goalie for one of Saline's premiere travel soccer teams, and plays volleyball and basketball. She is a member of Students Taking a New Direction and an active Girl Scout, volunteering and raising money in the community.
Stephanie Webb is a junior and participates in FCCLA, Saline Youth Council and National Honor Society. She founded the Saline Interact Club, a student arm of Rotary International and spearheaded Operation Christmas Child and is working on a book donation program for Room to Read.
As a gifted pianist, she volunteers by playing at Brecon Village and she volunteers at the University of Michigan Hospital. She is a member of the junior varsity tennis team and chamber orchestra.
"She is a charismatic and energetic individual who has a contagious spirit and drive," said Andrew Schantz, who nominated his peer.
Jordan Wylie was nominated by family friends Larry Ho and Mary Ellen Flaherty.
"We have known of very few people, youth or adult, who have worked with near the enthusiasm or generosity of Jordan to improve their community," they wrote.
Wylie has volunteered as a teacher's aid for Safety Town and is a member of Saline Youth Council and is on the executive council for National Honor Society. She plays with the marching band drumline and with the wind ensemble. She is a member of the Saline Interact Club and Saline Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. Working with Paws for Cause, she also trains seeing-eye dogs.
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