Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for May 19-23
Welcome to the last Student of the Week competition for the 2024-25 school year!
Each week, readers vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond.
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, May 22. 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 school leaders had to say about this week's nominees:
More school news: 2025 graduations dates for Indianapolis and surrounding high schools
Venita is a wonderful example of Christian kindness. She is a person who leads by example, always speaking to others with kind words and being inclusive to everyone she meets. She is also a person of strong faith who lives it each day. We are blessed as a community to have someone like her who truly tries each day to love her neighbor as herself.
First off, Henry helps our in-school food pantry - Sparky's Closet. He works tirelessly to move items from delivery trucks to storage inside the school. Then, twice a month, he assists with doing a food distribution to local families as they drive up to the school. He and his teacher, Courtney Wilkerson, helped make this program a success. Second, he is an active participant in our IHSAA Champions Together program. He participates in our Unified Soccer and Basketball games. He also comes to the Unified Skills Basketball Clinic. He is a tremendous teammate and always brings enthusiasm to all the events.
Ahbisak's dedication and strong work ethic earned her a spot at the Kelley School of Business, where she will pursue a degree in accounting. Her academic excellence has also earned her the distinguished title of a Southport High School STAR, a recognition given to students maintaining a GPA above 4.0. Beyond the classroom, Ahbisak shines as a member of the tennis team, and her involvement in MSA, Spell Bowl Club, and Key Club showcases her commitment to leadership, service, and school spirit.
Ademikun exemplifies all the qualities we value in our classroom community. Ademikun is incredibly inquisitive, curious, and hardworking. He approaches each day with enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn, always showing respect to his peers and teachers alike. His positive attitude and dedication to his studies make a noticeable difference in our classroom environment. When he is present, our class is brighter, more focused, and filled with thoughtful questions and meaningful discussion. His eagerness to grow and contribute truly inspires those around him.
Roncalli Communications teacher AJ Ablog said, "Simon has a sharp understanding of what makes a video work. It's more than just knowing the technical stuff, he gets it. You'll always see him involved in lectures; he gives his thoughts and participates, which makes class way more interesting. On top of that, he's super productive and seriously talented when creating videos. He's not just going through the motions; he's passionate and puts a lot of skill and effort into everything he makes, making him a standout student in my classroom." Intellectual curiosity within the classroom and creative approaches to problem-solving situations were also cited.
Oyin is the epitome of the type of student that high school teachers wish for. She is an independent thinker. She questions and analyzes material well. She took on the toughest form of debate this year as a novice and did her best while representing our school well. Oyindamola worked to promote the Riley Marathon event. She was a state finalist and is nationally bound in the business department. Daily, she persists to come to school even on a crowded school bus, which sometimes passes her; she then has to get rides to school to be here to complete her studies. On paper, she holds a high grade point average, but beyond that, she is no average student. Oyindamola is the student who would make you want to teach for years to come.
Marco is an excellent student whose commitment to academic and personal growth is impressive. He is curious, reliable, and eager to improve, consistently implementing feedback and striving for success. His dedication to the band mirrors his academic drive. Marco is the kind of student every teacher wants in class.
Jameson is PASSIONATE about learning Spanish, and it's impressive. Jameson gives 100% effort in class daily, solid participation and a near-perfect grade, but that's not what led to his nomination. The way he seeks out more information about Spanish to learn as much as he can is both rare and admirable, and I LOVE having Jameson in class. Thank you for being awesome, "Alejandro"!
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