Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for April 21-25
Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on IndyStar.com, with polling closing at noon on Thursday, April 24. Winners will be announced every Friday.
This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees.
Here's what nominating school leaders had to say about this week's nominees:
Jaysi Klink is a bold risk-taker on stage! In the House Band Showcase, she had an electric, entertaining energy that wowed the audience. In Godspell, our spring musical, she took risks vocally and as a performer, as she commits with her whole heart to communicating her love for Christ to the audience. Jaysi has been a leader throughout the process of the musical, and we are so proud of her hard work!
Ryan Mueller is an outstanding senior at Franklin Central High School! Not only is he a four-time No. 1 varsity singles tennis champ for our school, he has given countless hours to community service through the National Honor Society. Ryan's academic focus in Dual Credit World Literature, compassion, and ability to support and uplift others make him an outstanding Flash!
Morgan strived to become the best she can in school. She is persistent and takes responsible risks. She has pushed through every hurdle and desires to learn more. Morgan has completely changed since switching back to in-person school. We could not be more proud of her.
Malaya maintains a 3.5 GPA or higher as a student athlete as well. Cheer is her sport of choice and her bubbly personality meshes with it well. Being aggressive early in her academics has allowed her to earn high school credits ahead of time, leaving room in her schedule to become an office assistant at Indy Met; this position is only reserved for the top students at Indy Met and comes with great responsibility and accountability, which is exactly what Malaya possesses. Malaya's post-secondary plans include studying to become a licensed Psychologist to assist those in her community who struggle with mental health. Currently, Malaya is deciding which college she'll attend as she has received admission to each she's applied.
Roncalli Communications teacher Julie Albertson states "Phelan has proven to be a critical member of the yearbook staff this year. She has not only created well photographed and designed pages, but she has also asked to help with other pages. I know I can count on her to get her work done in an excellent manner and also to help make the work that others do even better." Leadership activities within the classroom and a willingness to be of service are also cited.
Danielle is a member of the Cooking Club, Book Club, GSA, and JAG. She is a member of the M.H.S. Unified Flag Football Team, Unified Bowling Team, Unified Track and Field Team, and Sparkle Cheer. Sparkle Cheer was her favorite H.S. activity, and Mrs. Cheatham's Teaching Class is her favorite Class. She enjoys working with Students at a local Elementary School (Smith Fine Arts Elementary) in their classroom, where she works with first-grade teachers and Students. Danielle's plans include wanting to be a book author. She enjoys going to church each week with her family.
Preslee Goodwin excels academically, ranking among the top in her class and on track for an honors diploma. Preslee embraces a challenging course load, showcasing her commitment to education. In addition to her academics, she is a key member of the cheer squad and shines in show choir and drama. Her leadership and dedication in these activities inspire her peers. What truly sets Preslee apart is her positivity and infectious smile, which enriches the environment for everyone. For these reasons, I believe Preslee deserves this recognition as Student of the Week.
Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for April 21-25
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Experiencing Rihanna's Crop Over Festival In Barbados
I went to Barbados with beautiful beaches and the Bajan baddie, Rihanna, in mind, but I left the island inspired by a rich culture and the community it birthed. Hey, my name's Morgan, and I'm a proud card-carrying member of the Rihanna Navy. I visited her home country while on my self-proclaimed Caribbean Birthday Tour. And if there's one event I remember her talking about around my birthday, it's Crop Over, so I knew it was time to check off some bucket list items, all in the name of turning 35. Before I decided to visit Barbados, the main thing that stuck out to me about Crop Over was the beautiful costumes that both men and women wore. Rihanna has posted several throughout the years, as recently as 2024. For those who don't know, Crop Over is Barbados' biggest annual festival — a colorful, months-long celebration that marks the end of the sugar cane harvest. 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People Are In Awe Of Martin Short's 'Classy' Response To Kathie Lee Gifford Repeatedly Referring To His Late Wife As Though She Were Alive In An Awkward Resurfaced Interview
Martin Short's 30-year marriage to his wife, Nancy Dolman, was one of the most wholesome relationships in Hollywood, with Martin and actor Nancy meeting back in 1972 when they starred in the Toronto production of Godspell. They got married in 1980, and Nancy retired from showbiz five years later to be a stay-at-home mom and raise their family, with she and Martin adopting three children over the years. Related: Tragically, Nancy died of ovarian cancer in August 2010, and Martin has been open about how his wife's passing impacted him over the years. In 2014, Martin revealed that before she died, Nancy had told him that she didn't want a funeral. "She once said to me: 'I don't want a funeral, and I don't want a memorial. Throw a party, or not,'' he recalled on The Meredith Vieira Show. "So I just followed her wishes. We went up. We had a party with all the family — about 30 close friends and family. The kids and I went into a boat. We sprinkled the ashes in the water, and we jumped into the ashes.' And speaking to The Hollywood Reporter just last year, Martin said of Nancy's death: "It was absolutely horrible, obviously, and as sad as anything. I will tell you what I said to my kids at the time: 'I believe Mom has zoomed into our souls.'" He then mentioned a George Eliot quote that he'd also shared with his children when their mom died, saying: 'George Eliot said: 'Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.' We were together for 36 years. I didn't want to forget Nancy." Now, Martin has won widespread praise for the 'classy' way he handled Kathie Lee Gifford discussing his marriage with Nancy unaware that she had died during an awkward interview on the Today Show. For context, the actor was on the show to promote his movie Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, and how he reacted to Kathie's questions about his and Nancy's relationship is beyond impressive. Related: It all started when Kathie asked: 'You and Nancy have one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business, how many years now for you guys?' After a slight hesitation, Martin replied: 'We, uh… Married 36 years.' Kathie then pushed: 'But you're still, like, in love?' to which Martin confirmed: 'Madly in love. Madly in love.' 'Why?' Kathie followed up with a laugh, and here, Martin offered a slight shrug before joking: 'Cute, I'm cute.' The host then said: 'And you make each other laugh, right?' To which Martin said 'yes' before Kathie's co-host, Hoda Kotb, changed the subject. Discussing the resurfaced clip on a Reddit forum, a popular comment lauded Martin for the 'generous' way that he responded to Kathie's questions. It reads: 'I've seen this clip a few times, and it's a complete Masterclass from Marty on how to be a classy, generous public figure.' 'He didn't want to embarrass her or make it awkward so he just went with it and took the chance to talk about the woman he loved. A class act,' somebody else echoed. While another wrote: 'Very classy response from Martin. I know it wasn't malicious on Kathie Lee's part, but I'm dumbfounded how she didn't know about his wife's passing. It should've been basic info to know when she was prepping to interview a guest.' One more noted: 'His eyes are so sad 😭😭' 'Martin handled this with so much grace,' another user wrote. 'I know he didn't want to embarrass her and she didn't mean it, but interviewers (or the people responsible for research) really need to do background research on the people they interview." Related: At the time, Kathie acknowledged her misstep after a commercial break, telling viewers: 'I felt so badly for my question. Marty very kindly came up to me and told me what I had done, and I want to say my sincerest, sincerest apologies to him and to his family for not realizing what I was doing on live television.' She also tweeted after the show: 'I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled the situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful.' And Martin was just as gracious about Kathie's blunder off-screen as he was on. The star was asked about the incident in a subsequent interview with E! News, where he said: 'I think that it's live television and people make mistakes and there's no ill will intended.' Martin, now 75, has been romantically linked to his Only Murders In The Building costar Meryl Streep since the start of 2024, but the two have not confirmed their relationship. Related: You can watch the full Today Show clip below, let me know your thoughts in the comments! More on this Selena Gomez Called Her "OMITB" Costars Steve Martin And Martin Short "Childless Cat Ladies," And I'm CacklingLauren Garafano · Sept. 16, 2024 15 Celebs Whose Stories About Meeting Their Husbands And Wives I Think About At Least Once A Week Because They Are So PureNora Dominick · Nov. 29, 2024 After Denying Dating Rumors, Meryl Streep And Martin Short Held Hands On The Red CarpetNatasha Jokic · Aug. 23, 2024 Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity:
