state champions - WKTV Journal

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The East Kentwood team earned its first state championship for We the People since 2010. (Courtesy, Sophie Gemmen, team member and EKHS yearbook member)

This past weekend, East Kentwood High School added another state championship to its list of awards as the school’s We the People team brought home the top honor.

On Jan. 6, the Michigan Center for Civic Education hosted the We the Students: Michigan’s We the Program State Showcase. By a narrow lead, East Kentwood, lead by high school teacher and We the Pepple head coach Justin Robbins, beat out East Grand Rapids, and earned the honor of representing Michigan in the national Center for Civic Education’s We the People competition, which is set for April 22-24 in Washington DC.

We the People is an educational process which aims to enable students to learn about and address a range of governance-related issues, culminating in competitions to present at simulated congressional hearings.

This will be East Kentwood’s third consecutive trip to the national competition and its first as the State Champion from Michigan since 2010.

Along with the overall state championship title, there units in the group also won state championships in their content.

Bianca Bancifra, Maggie Fisher, Keaton Nguyen, and Sara Shapin, who are Unit 1, won for their knowledge of high law, colonial charters, and rights in common law.

Amira Hamilton, Dewaynia English, Connor Shaw, and Sophie Gemmen, who are Unit 2, won for their knowledge on the Articles of Confederation and the impact of slavary on the Constitution.

Lucy Fornetti, Mary Johnakech, and Owen Lawrence, who are Unit 6, won for their knowledge of privileges and immunities of citizens, immigration, and civic responsibilities in a republic.

The team also includes Dependra Bhattarai, Mollie Croskey, Rishta Tamang, Collin Terry, Drew Dame, Rebecca Moore, Mike Nguyen, Elleana Strehl, Ebise Tarekegn, and McKenna VanOveren.

Volunteer coaches are Ahjah Bailey-O’Conner, Tyler Buck, Ava Chatlosh, Eric Dubois, Branden Graf, Ken Orzanich, Justin Robbins, Mike Traywick, and Avalon Wieczorek.

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By Erin Albanese

School News Network

The music is rising to a crescendo at Godwin Heights High School, where Band Director Jake Castillo is building off the excitement of the Marching Band’s first-place state championship by launching new opportunities for his musicians.

Masked conductor Eyvin Miranda leads from the bleachers

Castillo is extending opportunities past the marching band season by starting an after-school jazz band, which Godwin hasn’t had in several years, along with wind and percussion ensembles. He also recently led an All-Wyoming Honors Band concert with students from Godwin Heights, Godfrey-Lee, Wyoming and Kelloggsville high schools.

“I’m passionate about it and I want the students to have the opportunity to play jazz outside of school,” said Castillo, who manages one of the most rigorous marching band schedules in the area, including a two-week band camp onsite at the school.

Godwin Heights’ 80-member Marching Band earned a score of 91.35 to take first place in Flight IV at the State Finals at Detroit’s Ford Field on Nov. 4. The show, Sideshow, incorporates elements for a circus, with students performing stunts, while playing Big Top-themed songs. Other first place finishes this year took place in competitions at Grant, Belding, Jenison and Reeths-Puffer schools.

Mauricio Bresso plays way low on the tuba

The state championship is Godwin’s first under Castillo, who is in his third year as director. The band has won seven state titles since 2004.

In Godwin Heights, nearly 90 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. The district pays for all students’ instruments, and allocated $80,000 to the band program from the bond issue voters approved in May.

Senior Eyvin Miranda, conductor, said it’s the culture of the program that creates success. “It’s the family aspect. It brings us together and inspires us to keep going.”

Senior marimba player Adriel Vera-Soto echoed that sentiment. “One thing that makes us really successful is we are committed and united as a family. Blood, sweat and tears has made this season so worth it.”

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.