Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Nineteen students from six area middle schools graduated from the R.R. Donnelley Middle School Project Wednesday.
This is the third year Donnelley has offered the program to students with the mission of "exposing middle students to workplace skills that will transfer to a high school extracurricular activity, a community endeavor and an awareness of employment opportunities with R.R. Donnelley."
The students were divided into three groups. Members of the first catalog page design group were Doru Aldea, Whitko Middle School; Jenelle Barrett, Wawasee Middle School; Tony Landry, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School; Amber Marsillett, Lakeview Middle School; and Wesley Wright, Milford Middle School. They were advised by Jeanetta Justice and Robert Voreis.
The second catalog page design group included Cole Eiser, Triton Jr./Sr. High School; Tom Gronendyke, Wawasee; Stacey Johns, Milford; Timothy Linn, Whitko; and Ally McDonald, Lakeview. Their advisers were Doug Cripe and Mike Harrell. Ling Zhou, a former participant in the middle school project, served as a student adviser.
Members of the Web Page Design group included Joshua Adams, Wawasee; Frank Bumgardner, Whitko; Timothy Clennon, TVMS; Sarah Howard, TVMS; Todd Jones, Wawasee; Kaylyn Price, Milford; Heather Upson, Lakeview; Courtney Watkins, Whitko; and Matthew Zelt, Triton. Their Donnelley advisers were David Hite and Sandy Matson with Matt Zorn serving as a student adviser.
Several area prominent persons spoke about the great opportunity provided to the students through the middle school program.
Grant McGuire, R.R. Donnelley vice president of manufacturing, said everyone involved in the program invested a lot of time in the projects, including the students, so they will be successful.
"This is really nice for our plant to be able to do this," he said. He also thanked the middle schools involved for allowing their students to be involved in the program.
After an introduction by Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce President Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the program is not just a Warsaw issue, but a community one. The area has a great quality of life thanks to people like the middle school students participating in the program, their parents and companies like Donnelley and their employees. He congratulated and thanked all of those involved.
Former participants Ling Zhou and Mathew Zorn, who also were recognized by Donnelley for volunteering to be student advisers, spoke briefly about their experiences the first and second time around. This was the first year former middle school project participants served as advisers.
"I think it was just as worthwhile the second time around as the first," said Zhou. He thanked everyone for giving him an opportunity to participate. "It really has been great and I really wish in the future, more would be able to experience what I did."
Also speaking at the recognition ceremonies was Larry Chamberlain, president and executive director of Grace Brethren North American Missions and Investment Foundation and a member of the Warsaw School Board and the Warsaw Community Public Library board.
He said he was sure the students would agree that the program was a worthwhile and positive experience in each of the participants' lives that they always will remember. But, he said, it was made possible because of the people at Donnelley who helped organize it and committed their time to it. It's an example of how a local business can positively reach out to the community and local children's lives.
He said it also is important for people to get involved in the world and make a difference, telling the students that "in your hands is the future of our world."
Patricia Outlaw, middle school project manager, recognized the six middle schools that had students participating in the program this year - Whitko, Wawasee, Milford, Lakeview, Triton and Tippecanoe Valley. At the start of the program three years ago, she said, there was some anxiety, but "over the course of the three years, this project has continued to grow."
Finishing the remarks were Ann Branson, R.R. Donnelley human resources manager, and Hal Harting, middle school project coordinator. Harting challenged the students to learn at least one thing every day and keep up a good attendance record for the rest of their lives at school and work.
