Posted on Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Dexter High School Top Scholars
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Dexter High School held its 2012 graduation ceremonies Sunday, June 3, 2 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The class included 301 graduates.
Katie Adler
Parents: Deborah Reed and Jon Adler
Activities and Awards: Kate was a member of the National Honor Society. She participated in varsity track and cross-country for four years. Kate was a captain of the cross country team her senior year. She was in the Marching Band. She was a member of the Dreadbot FIRST Robotics team.
Plans After Graduation: Katie will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology, majoring in environmental engineering.
Parents: Barbara and Larry Bowman
Activities and Awards: Ali was the vice president for the National Honor Society, the co-president and co-founder of the Dexter High School chapter of the ONE Campaign Dexter and the president of her equestrian 4H club. Ali trains year round and competes in 3-day event style equestrian competitions and played for one year on the women's varsity volleyball team and for two years on the junior varsity team, playing as JV captain her sophomore year. Ali was a link crew leader for both her junior and senior years, a member of Key Club, and a participant in the Senior Survivor fundraising competition for Dexter Tornado Relief and Faith in Action.
Plans After Graduation: Ali will be attending the University of Michigan LSA Honors College, majoring in biology.
Parents: Barb and Dennis Claflin
Activities and Awards: Jake was a four-year member of the varsity swim team and was captain for his senior year. He earned All-Conference, All-State, and All-American awards during his time on the team as well as Academic-All-America honors his senior year. Jake swam year-round with Club Wolverine Swimming. He also served as treasurer for the National Honor Society.
Plans After Graduation: Jake will be attending the University of Michigan and plans to study biomedical engineering.
Holly Clegg
Activities and Awards: Holly was a member of the National Honor Society and acted as chairperson for the school-wide blood drives. She also organized her own blood drive through American Red Cross during the summer of 2011. As the secretary of Key Club and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, she is an active volunteer within the high school and the greater community. Holly participated in Drama Club for three years and played the starring role in her senior year production, The Music Man. Apart from drama, Holly also participated in forensics for two years and was a MIFA semi-finalist as a sophomore. She was one of Dexter’s “Best and Brightest,” attending the SEC All-Academic Banquet for 2012.
Plans After Graduation: Holly will be attending the University of Michigan to pursue a career in dentistry.
Christine De Zeeuw
Activities and Awards: Christine was a member of the National Honor Society at Dexter High School. Christine was a three year member of the women's varsity tennis team. She also was in the marching band for four years, serving as a color guard captain for the past two years. In addition to being a color guard captain, Christine has been the first chair clarinetist for two years in the Symphonic Band, Dexter's top performing band. Christine has volunteered her time serving the community through programs at her youth group, including a mission trip to Haiti this summer. She sings with the worship team on a regular basis, and works with the children of the church. Christine has received the Calvin College Presidential Scholarship.
Plans After Graduation: Christine will be attending Calvin College, majoring in engineering.
Carly Anne Glahn
Activities and Awards: Carly was a member of the National Honor Society and Link Crew. She played tennis on Varsity for four years, was Captain of the team for two years and currently plays 1 Singles. Carly received the SEC Sportsmanship Award in tennis. In addition to playing tennis, she played Volleyball for three years. Carly has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and earned her Gold Award. Carly was also chosen to represent Dexter High School at Girls State. She volunteered her time at Dexter’s Annual Jingle Run and Shop with a Cop.
Plans After Graduation: Carly will be attending the University of Michigan, majoring in Biology
Trevor Herman Hilker
Activities and Awards: Trevor was a member of the National Honor Society. He was a National Merit Finalist and Scholarship Winner and recipient of the University of Michigan Regents Scholarship. Trevor was recognized as a member of the 2012 SEC All Academic team and was nominated to participate in the WXYZ Brightest and Best event. Trevor was a four-year member of the Dexter High School soccer team, and a four-year member of the Dexter High School Chamber Orchestra. He collaborated with three classmates to create the “A Quartet,” which received the Distinguished Scholar Award at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival 2011 and won the Shar Quartet competition divison 2, 2012. Trevor has volunteered his time coaching preschool and elementary-age soccer players.
Plans After Graduation: Trevor will be attending the University of Michigan Honors Program in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
Tony Kurcz
Activities and Awards: Tony was on the SEC All-Academic team. He was involved in many activities throughout high school including varsity football for four years, wrestling for three years, Lacrosse for two years, and he was also part of the drama club for his senior year being a supporting role in "The Music Man". He was awarded the Second Team All-State Academic and the SEC sportsmanship award for Varsity Football. Tony also participated in the "National Relief Network" trips with St. Joseph Parish, where he helped people around the country suffering from natural disasters. He was a member of the Chamber Orchestra where he played cello.
Plans After Graduation: Tony will be attending the Irvin D. Reid Honors College at Wayne State University, majoring in biomedical engineering.
Melissa Lemke
Activities and Awards: Melissa has participated in the Women in Science club for three years. She is a three-year member of the LEO’s club, a community service organization, and was elected treasurer this year. Melissa was also an active member in the National Honor Society this year. She has played Tennis for the last three years and participated in Cross Country for this last year. Melissa was also chosen as one of five of Dexter’s SEC All-Academic honorees.
Plans After Graduation: Melissa will be attending the University of Michigan and plans to study Biomedical Engineering.
Yasmeen Mansour
Activities and Awards: Yasmeen was a four-year member of the Marching Band, serving as a rank leader her junior year, and as Drum Major her senior year. She has volunteered her time to community service projects through her four-year membership in Key Club. She served as President of the club her senior year and secretary as a junior. In addition to Key Club, she was a Link Crew Freshman Mentor in her senior year. Yasmeen was a member of the National Honor Society, and was a co-chairman of the Red Cross Blood Drives.
Plans After Graduation: Yasmeen will be attending the University of Michigan, majoring in pre-health.
Ellie Martin
Activities and Awards: Ellie has participated in the Dexter High School Chamber Orchestra since freshman year. She has been playing violin since third grade. She has been riding and competing horses since she was five and participated in the Varsity Equestrian Team freshman and sophomore year. She played on the Dexter tennis team her sophomore year. Ellie was a member of the National Honor Society, volunteering for many service projects such as Market Day and blood drives. She also enjoyed volunteering through her church and other organizations.
Plans After Graduation: Ellie will be attending the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, majoring in history and anthropology.
Taylor Neely
Activities and Awards: Taylor was an active member of the National Honor Society and Key Club. He received SEC All-Academic Recognition, was an AP Scholar with Honor, and was ranked first in his class. The National Council of Teachers of English nominated Taylor for the Achievement in Writing Award where he was a finalist. Taylor has been a member of the varsity men's track and cross-country teams for four years and has competed at the State Meet for both programs. He was elected as captain for both teams his junior and senior years. Taylor volunteers regularly at the Food Gatherers community kitchen in Ann Arbor.
Plans After Graduation: Taylor will attend Dartmouth College, where he plans to study molecular biology and run for the varsity cross country and track teams.
Parents: Nicole Kletzka and Steve Petri
Activities and Awards: Taylor was a member of the National Honor Society and Future Leaders of America. She was a four-year member of the DHS Drama club, participating in thirteen shows and serving as public relations officer of the club in both her sophomore and junior years, as well as president her senior year. In addition to being a part of the Drama club, she has participated in forensics, debate, and SPARK.
Plans After Graduation: Taylor will be attending the University of Michigan, majoring in environmental engineering and minoring in musical theater.
Ashley Paige Stephenson
Parents: Barbara and Philip Stephenson
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society, Women in Science and Technology, LEO's Club, FIRST robotics, guitar, AP Scholar, Officer's Award for exceptional Leadership and Service—Tutoring Program, president of small online business
Plans After Graduation: University of Michigan; Engineering and Pre-med.
Melissa Vesey
Activities and Awards: Melissa was voted captain of the swim & dive team as well as the water polo team in her senior year. She earned the MISCA All State Academic award, and remained a scholar-athlete throughout her four years at Dexter High School. Melissa was also a member of the National Honor Society. She has played the violin since 5th grade, and has been a part of the DHS Chamber Orchestra since her sophomore year of high school.
Plans After Graduation: Melissa will be attending Michigan State University, majoring in zoology. She plans to attend MSU's veterinary graduate school after completing her undergraduate studies.