STUDENT OF THE WEEK 2023-2024

Conner Hyatt, who is a sophomore at Central High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of May 23.

He was nominated by the selection committee for his work ethic and commitment to his academics.

“Conner is respectful, intentional and goal oriented,” Principal Fred George said.

Hyatt holds a weighted GPA of 3.75 and he is enrolled in Honors biology, wood technology and consumer auto courses.

He plays football for Central High and has participated I track.

During his free time, Hyatt likes to workout and watch football.  

In the future, Hyatt would like to play football collegiately and attend college on an academic scholarship. He would like to study to be a physical therapist. 

East High senior Jenna Merritt has been named the May 9 Student of the Week.

According to the selection committee, Merritt is a dedicated student, kind to everyone, reliable and conscientious.

She has been an International Baccalaureate (IB) student since her freshman year in high school and is pursuing an IB diploma.

Merritt is involved in SkillsUSA, art and plays volleyball. She also has a sister who is in the IB program at East.

“Jenna is willing to discuss issues that are controversial but is able to keep an open mind and listen to the other side,” East High IB Program Coordinator Jon Lever said. “She truly embodies the idea of listening to understand, rather than listening to respond.”

Jaelyn Tafoya, who is a senior at Triumph High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of April 25.

“Since attending Triumph, Jaelyn has grown into an academic powerhouse,” members of the selection committee said.

According to the committee, Tafoya is a member of National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and is attending a concurrent enrollment English class at Laramie County Community College (LCCC).

“She has been a very creative and fun member of our TV media class,” committee members said. “She provides much entertainment in her pieces for the school’s news reports.”

Along with being a bright student, Tafoya practices activism in her spare time.

“She represents the best kind of student our district can hope to foster and cultivate,” Triumph Principal Troy Lake said. “We are fortunate to have her as a member of our student body as she moves on to graduate at the end of the school year.”

South High senior Diana Arenas-Rocha has been named the April 11 Student of the Week.

She was nominated by the selection committee for emerging as a leader in her senior class and for displaying the HERD (honorable, enthusiastic, responsible and determined) values daily.

“Diana always does her work with honor and integrity,” AP U.S. history teacher Dr. Reagan Kaufman said. “I love her sense of humor and determination to do well in class. She is a great leader.”

Throughout her high school career, Arenas-Rocha has taken honors and Advanced Placement courses along with maintaining a job.

During her time in the TV media production class at South, she created a public service announcement on the topic of sexual harassment.

“She created the scripts, did all the interviewing, filming and editing herself,” Assistant Principal Kristen Siegel said. “She took on this project as she felt this was a very important topic that students needed to be informed about.”

As a first-generation United States citizen, Arenas-Rocha has learned English as a second language, and she is bilingual in both Spanish and English.

“Diana has overcome several obstacles throughout her life,” Siegel said. “She has done so with determination, hard work and a positive attitude.”

After graduation, Arenas-Rocha plans to attend the University of Wyoming and majoring in international studies, politics or law. She would one day like to work in the government. 

Devin Hawk, who is a seventh grader at Johnson Junior High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of March 28.

He was nominated by the selection committee for being a stellar math student who is enrolled in honors math, science and world geography courses along with his 4.0 GPA.

“Devin has the self-confidence to flourish in a class that is a grade above his peers,” math teacher Debi Parker said.

Language arts teacher Quinton Bledsoe states that Hawk thrives in any situation and is always willing to go above and beyond for himself and his fellow classmates.

“Devin has a goal-oriented mindset which will guide him to be successful throughout his life,” physical education teacher Ashton Horsley added.

Science teacher Dan Sawyer said Hawk works cooperatively and collaboratively with his classmates, goes above and beyond and does more than the required course work.

“His interactions with adults and students demonstrate a level of empathy and maturity that is beyond most people his age,” social studies teacher Karen Perez said.

In his spare time, Hawks volunteers as a teacher’s aide with toddlers at his church. He also enjoys reading, hanging out with his friends, playing video games and recreational and competitive soccer.

In the future, Hawk’s goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a math or science related field.

Deron Walker, who is a seventh grade student at McCormick Junior High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of March 14.

“Deron is a fantastic student and is definitely deserving of being our Student of the Week,” math teacher John Scott said. “He is kind and helpful to his fellow students, respectful to staff and a very hard worker.”

Along with being an outstanding student, Walker enjoys playing basketball, doing arts and crafts, drawing and playing video games. His favorite subjects are math and science and he is proud of his grades.

“Deron is a great student and always completes his work right away,” language arts teacher Erin McNamee said. “He is friendly, respectful and I think he is an excellent choice for this.”

Walker said that what he likes most about McCormick are the people because they are nice and kind. He also enjoys the teachers and the classes he takes.

“He is a great student with a fun personality,” substitute teacher Holly Coles said. “He has the best giggle laugh.”

Walker’s goal is to maintain good grades throughout his entire school career. He then plans on going to college and becoming an anesthesiologist.

“Deron exceeds expectations regarding behavior and quality of work,” social studies and U.S. history teacher Jessica Edwards said. “He is a quiet, funny student with a gentle nature and his laugh is contagious. He is an excellent choice for Student of the Week.” 

Carey Junior High eighth grader Ava Walsh has been named the Feb. 28 Student of the Week.

She was nominated by the selection committee for working extremely hard in all her classes, setting a great example for her peers and for being an exemplary student.

The committee noted that Walsh has a noteworthy character as she is always someone who goes out of her way to help other students and staff around the school.  They also said that she is a leader in both the halls and in extracurricular activities that she participates in.

Walsh is a member of National Junior Honor Society, and Carey’s basketball, track and volleyball teams. When not in school, she plays club volleyball and soccer.  

“Ava’s attitude is always positive,” Carey Principal Derek Nissen said. “She represents the best of Carey Junior High.” 

Alanah Sparks, who is a junior at Central High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Feb. 14.

She was nominated by the selection committee for her involvement in school and her commitment to academics.

“She is also a positive contributor to the Central High community,” Principal Fred George said.

Sparks holds a weighted GPA of 3.81 as she is enrolled in both Advanced Placement and advanced World Language classes.

She is the co-founder and an active member of Central High’s Young Black Scholars and a member of the indoor track team.

During her free time, Sparks likes to spend time with her family. As a military dependent, Sparks appreciates the support her family provides one another.

In the future, Sparks plans on attending college where she hopes to major in forensic science or criminal justice. Her future career goal is to serve as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) profiler.

This summer Sparks will be traveling to Washington D.C. where she will intern with a professional forensic scientist. 

East High senior Connor Parks has been named the Jan. 31 Student of the Week.

He was nominated by the selection committee for being a powerful self-advocate, an extremely kind young man and for his positivity.  

According to the committee, Parks is an excellent student and takes courses that will support him in his future goals.

Parks is an active member of the East High community and participates in cross country and indoor track.  

“Connor always has a smile on his face and a friendly greeting,” selection committee members said. “He is a shining example of kindness in the East High culture.”

Parks plans to attend Laramie County Community College after graduation as he hopes to major in exercise science to become a personal trainer.

“Connor is a dedicated and trustworthy student,” East High teacher Mrs. Dundon said. “He is a team player and is always ready to uplift those around him. Connor rocks!”

Johnny Cornwall, who is a senior at Triumph High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Jan. 17.

At Triumph, emphasis is placed on the six P’s: Prompt, Prepared, Polite, Positive Mental Attitude, Participate, and Produce.

“Johnny excels at each of these character traits,” members of the selection committee said. “He always shows dignity and respect to others, whether it is peers, teachers, or custodial staff.”

According to the committee, Cornwall is prompt and prepared for his classes, even while taking a college English course at Laramie County Community College in addition to his high school schedule.

“He is getting concurrent enrollment credit for multiple classes in high school,” committee members said. “He is displaying participation and production to the highest level.”

Along with being a bright student, Cornwall is quick to learn and always asks insightful questions.

“Johnny has one of the kindest, politest personalities that I interact with daily,” Triumph Principal Troy Lake said. “He works hard and puts in extra time and effort when presented with a challenge.”

South High senior Sean Emery has been named the Jan. 3 Student of the Week.

He was nominated by the selection committee for excelling academically, maintaining a weighted 4.0 GPA and taking multiple honor’s and Advanced Placement courses.

According to the committee, Emery is a quiet, hardworking student who is always willing to help his fellow classmates, teachers and parents. He uses his 3-D printing skills to help teachers with projects for their classrooms.

“He is an excellent math student,” the committee said. “He works hard to understand the materials and has grown during his time at South into a role model for his peers.”

Emery enjoys robotics, math and science. He is a member of SkillsUSA, Robotics Club and the AVID program at South High. As a member of SkillsUSA he has lettered in robotics.

“Sean has competed in robotics every year and continues to prove to be a leader,” said South High engineering and drafting teacher Christopher Lindt. “Last year, he was a state champion in First Tech Robotics Club. He is always trying something new with his 3-D printer at home. I can honestly say that anything Sean is going to do, he is going to give 110%.”

Layla Munoz, who is a seventh grader at Johnson Junior High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Dec. 6.

She was nominated by the selection committee for being extremely charismatic, driven, having a wonderful work ethic, positive attitude, and for working well with all her classmates.

“What I appreciate about her the most is that she is self-motivated, and it rubs off on other students during collaborative work,” teacher Karen Perez said. “She does the big things right, but it is her willingness to do the small things every day that make her a standout student. I cannot say enough nice things about this kiddo. She is truly awesome.”

P.E. teacher Roger Zwonitzer states that Munoz is polite, pleasant, listens and follows instructions well. And Spanish teacher Bobbi Jenkins said, “She is a hard-working student who is always staying busy during Advisory. She participates in all lessons we have and is a great leader for the class.”

In addition to her outstanding academics, Munoz has played soccer since she was 6 years old. She also likes to play basketball and likes spending quality time with her family. She enjoys her classes and her teachers.

In the future, Munoz plans to attend Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming as she is interested in the medical field and hopes to become either a nurse or an anesthesiologist. She wants to stay close to home because of her close connection with her family and her community. 

East High senior Hailey Simons has been named the Nov. 22 Student of the Week.

She was nominated by the selection committee for excelling academically, maintaining a 3.83 GPA and scoring a 32 on the ACT with a perfect score of 36 on the reading sub-test.

According to the committee, Simons takes AP courses and especially enjoys her English, German, and art classes, citing Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Prevedel as two of her favorite teachers. Her favorite thing about East is the positive school community.

Simons is a member of the East High Book Club as reading is her favorite pastime. She is also a G-Team mentor who helps facilitate freshman orientation and serves as East High ambassador.

Her attendance at the High School Summer Institute through the University of Wyoming has sparked her interest as she plans to return to UW after graduation to pursue a degree in anthropology and archeology.

She is excited for the “more personalized learning” that happens in college, and for the opportunity of having more class options to choose from.

“Hailey is humble and kind; she is helpful to others and makes East a better place by being here,” the selection committee stated. “She contributes to the East High learning community not only through her intellect, but also her outstanding character. Because she is quiet, she flies under the radar, and we wanted to recognize her because she is such an outstanding student.”

Carey Junior High eight grader Mary Wallace has been named the Nov. 8 Student of the Week.

She was nominated by the selection committee for her dedication to learning, and for putting her full effort into the work she does for all four of her honors’ core classes.

The committee noted that Wallace goes above and beyond the success criteria for every assignment and is a true believer in higher education as she seeks out opportunities for growth.

In addition, Wallace also serves as a leader for the Carey school community. She advocates for peers and herself by asking questions that help foster inquiry in the classroom. She also assists other students when they need help.

When not in school, she takes private piano and harp lessons. She has dedicated her last seven years to playing the piano and two years to playing the harp. Wallace is also in the process of writing a novel as she wants to practice her skills as a writer. In the future, she hopes to be a published author.

“She lives each day to its fullest with integrity and positivity as a student, classmate, friend, daughter and person,” Carey Principal Derek Nissen said. “She is a blessing to Carey and truly deserves to be recognized at the district level as the LCSD1 Student of the Week.”

Central High School junior Andie Prince has been named the Oct. 25 Student of the Week.

She was nominated by the selection committee because of her infectious personality and work ethic. The committee noted her time spent as a student assistant in the Central High administration office made her an obvious choice for this accolade.

In addition, Prince excels in the classroom and on the women’s swim team. She is enrolled in an advanced placement (AP) Spanish 5 course, she is a member of the school's Spanish club, and she maintains a 3.7 GPA.

When not in school, she is employed at Capitol Cinema. She is also a member of the Greater Wyoming Council of the Boy Scouts of America and is currently working toward an Eagle Scout rank. Prince holds a leadership position in her church’s youth group, and she is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Recently, Prince attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp. She intends on serving as a youth counselor at the next RYLA.

After she graduates from high school, Prince plans to attend the University of Wyoming where she hopes to swim collegiately, and to pursue a medical degree, eventually becoming a psychiatrist.

Zoey Brown, who is a junior at East High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Oct. 11.

 “Zoey is a very humble, funny, kind student who is always encouraging to those around her,” members of the selection committee said. “She is extremely positive which is very admirable during challenging times.”

Committee members said Brown is a very good student, and she is taking honors trigonometry, differential calculus and AP statistics simultaneously.

Outside of school, Brown plays for the Colorado Fourteeners hockey team. She practices four times a week in Littleton, Colorado, and spends her weekends dedicated to clinics or competitions. Brown’s team qualified for nationals in 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was canceled.

According to the selection committee, “Zoey enjoys taking on leadership roles and was team captain for three consecutive years.”

Brown also helps with the local Zonta club, participates in the Silent Witness Walk and helps spread awareness about domestic violence and human trafficking. At school, Brown started the Z club to encourage young women to get involved in their community.

In her free time, she also works at McDonalds.

“She’s working hard to make a difference in her community,” committee members said. “Zoey is one of those kids that excels and simply always does what’s expected; she’s not afraid to go above and beyond and is a bright light in the halls of East High.”

Matthew Andera, who is a senior at Triumph High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Sept. 27.

Since 2018, when Andera enrolled at Triumph High, he has been a great student who listens well in class.

“He has phenomenal memory and is very rarely in need of review,” members of the selection committee said. “If we learned something in class, even if it has been a year or more, it is likely that he still remembers it.”

According to the committee, he is a very bright student who often draws connections between concepts and classes that other students don’t recognize.

“Matthew Andera is a one-of-a-kind student,” committee members said. “He is always up for whatever is happening in class, gives it his best and without fail—excels at it.”

Along with being a bright student, Andera is also courageous and not afraid to speak up when someone has acted or spoken impolitely.

“Matthew has a great sense of humor, gets along well with others and is a true asset to our school,” committee members said. “In short—he’s the best!”

Rayelle Brewer, who is a senior at South High, was selected as Laramie County School District 1’s Student of the Week for the week of Sept. 13.

“Ellie is an active member of the South High community and her local community,” members of the selection committee said.

Brewer participates in the Robotics Club. She recently received an award for first Dean’s list for the State of Wyoming at the state robotics competition.

She is a member of the South High swim team. In her off season, she competes in club swimming and manages the boys’ swim team.

Along with the school’s orchestra, Brewer is involved with her church’s youth orchestra. She is a member of FBLA and performs numerous hours of community service.

“Ellie manages to maintain a weighted GPA of a 4.1, while balancing all of her extracurricular activities,” Assistant Principal Kristen Siegel said.

After high school, Brewer would like to study marine biology in college and continue swimming. She hopes to work in marine rescue and rehabilitation in the future.