enews Graduation Issue | June 14, 2013 - Ferndale Public Schools

2013 John F. Kennedy Scholarship Recipients
Alexis Thompson
Alexis Thompson has demonstrated
a special combination of
scholarship, hard work, and tremendous
maturity. As the UHS Student
Representative for the Ferndale
Schools Board of Education, she
was thorough and professional and
always provided interesting and
impressive information about UHS
accomplishments.
Alexis has been very active in
all aspects of the UHS experience.
She was involved in nearly every
club, including the GET IT Girl’s engineering club and the
Robotics team. She was a standout on her Robotics teams
which won two district championships, twice qualifying for
the state competition with a third place finish, and qualifying
for the national competition. Alexis’s Robotics advisor Julie
Patterson praises her exceptional problem-solving ability and
her dedication to completing even the most challenging task.
With the DECA marketing club, she has been an officer
for the local chapter, and her projects have qualified her for
the International Career Development Conference for her
Merit Award Project. She also received a Merit Award at the
International Conference.
Alexis has competed on the girls’ basketball team, serving
as a team captain, and last year sharing in the team’s
Academic All-State recognition. She was also a captain of the
cross country team, and a starter on the volleyball team.
In addition to her leadership and extracurricular involvement,
Alexis is known as an outstanding scholar. She is dedicated
to high-quality work and an active participant in the
classroom. Next year, she plans to continue her education
at the University of Michigan-Dearborn to study Mechanical
Engineering.
Marquis Ray
Marquis Ray has truly
taken advantage of every
University High School opportunity.
He is known as a
quiet, respectful role model
for his classmates. He has a
steadfast drive and work ethic.
His academic performance
was outstanding throughout
high school, including Honors,
Advanced Placement, and
dual enrollment college courses
at Lawrence Technological
University.
His teachers appreciated his friendly, humorous
personality combined with his dedication and
perseverance.
Jason Beatty, one of his school leaders and
teachers, says: “Marquis has the traits that will guarantee
his success throughout his academic career.”
Marquis leads by example, and he is described
as kind and very well liked by everyone who meets
him. Marquis has been involved in Picture Perfect,
leading the photography of all UHS events to make
sure the yearbook documented your high school
years. He has also been a standout leader of the National
Honor Society where he was dependable and
mentored Ferndale Schools’ elementary students
through the NHS mentoring program.
Next year, Marquis enters Oakland University to
study Computer Engineering.
University
High School
Since 1964, the Ferndale Schools have
awarded two graduating seniors – one
male student and one female student – with
the distinguished John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Award. With its first graduating class in
2008, the Board expanded the scholarship to
students at UHS.
This year, two outstanding students were
awarded by members of their school
community, teachers, and administrators.
These two outstanding students are nominated
for this special award by members of
the community, teachers, and administrators.
Alexis Thompson and Marquis Ray are
selected because they best represent their
graduating class by having demonstrated
an outstanding combination of scholarship,
school involvement, community service,
leadership, and individual responsibility
during their years at University High
School. The two students received a keepsake
plaque, their names will be engraved
on a permanent sign in the school office,
and they each received a $1,000 college
scholarship from the Ferndale Schools
Board of Education.
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