School board honors students at fall awards night

Mat-Su Borough School District honored several local students and teams during its recent fall recognition awards night. Honored were:

Anthony Keller

A Burchell High School sophomore, Keller has been called a “hero” and honored by the city of Wasilla, Mayor Verne Rupright, the Kenai Fire Department, the Mat-Su Borough School Board and especially by a grateful mother.

Last month, Keller was at the Quality Inn in Kenai, and as were 5-year-old Taylia Hardy and her mom. Taylia jumped into the middle of a 5-foot-deep hot tub to retrieve a ball. She wasn’t breathing after being pulled out of the water by a friend of her mom’s. Keller’s CPR training, coupled with his quick and sound judgment, allowed him to respond courageously and administer about 30 chest compressions and some breaths, which re-started the child’s breathing.

Colony High School cheerleaders

The district celebrated Colony High School’s cheerleading team, which has won 14 state titles, including seven consecutive state championships. Calvin Culverwell coaches the CHS varsity team, which placed first in the state at the Alaska Spirit Coaches Competition Oct. 22 at South High School. Shani Powell and Melanie Schuerch are senior co-captains. Scholarship winners included: Megan Cucullu, $1,000; Alyscia Sanderson, $750; Jennifer Lamb, $500; Karen Clement, $250; and Sam Matlock, $250.

Colony Middle School cheerleaders

Capping a decade of winning, the Colony Middle School cheerleaders were winners at the Alaska Spirit Coaches Competition Oct. 22 at South High School. Both varsity and junior varsity squads won first-place honors for individual competitors, five-man stunt group and team overall. The varsity team is coached Chris Hebert and junior varsity team is coached by Amanda Ackerman.

CMS varsity also received the Grand Champion Award.

Paiton Kelly

Mat-Su Central School sophomore Paiton Kelly was a sparring gold medal winner in the 2011 Pan American Open Championships (G-1) in Las Vegas, Nev. Kelly trains in tae kwon do at Primal Martial Arts in Wasilla. Coached in the Pan-Am Games by Team USA coach from Washington, D.C., Sherman Nelson, Kelly competed with 800 athletes from 17 countries. Kelly is a focused young woman, keen in her abilities and skills, and eager to continue pursuing her life dreams.

Jesse Dahms

Recommended by Palmer High School Principal Wolfgang Winter, senior Jesse Dahms is the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship from Nordstrom, as well as a new MacBook computer and other prizes.

Dahms is one of 80 recipients nationwide. When the call came from Nordstrom that he was a finalist, Dahms was at summer camp without cellphone service, so he learned the news when he returned the call.

About his plans after graduation, Dahms said, “I want to major in elementary education and youth ministry, so that I can come back to Alaska and build a Christian youth camp.”

Dahms is a soon-to-be candidate for the International Baccalaureate Program diploma at PHS.

For more information, contact 746-9251 or visit matsuk12.us.