Brandon Twp.- Cody Hibbs was in the Brandon High School Performing Arts Center with hundreds of other students gathered for an assembly on Wednesday when it was announced he had won the Patricia C. Boss Award for the top student leader in the state of Michigan.
‘I was so happy, I started smiling, it was so cool,? said Hibbs, a senior who has been president of the student council for the past two years and has been president of the class of 2009 for the past three years. ‘It was bittersweet, because I lost my mom in August and I credit her for a lot of these awards I get. It’s because of my mom? she taught me a lot.?
Jenny Hibbs died in August after a long battle with cancer. Her son lamented Wednesday that she was not there to see him receive the award honoring a student for outstanding leadership by the Michigan Association of Student Councils and Michigan Association of Honor Societies.
Cody Hibbs was nominated by Student Council advisor and BHS math teacher Emily Dressler, but also had to apply for the honor, writing an essay on the importance of leadership and sending a resume with his activities in the community.
‘Over the last four years, it has been my goal to get this,? said Hibbs, who has also been the student liaison to the board of education, chairperson of youth involvement for Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance, a member of the National Honor Society, and is varsity soccer captain. ‘It’s not just about me, but the people I’ve surrounded myself with. My dad (Darryl) always says, ‘You’re only as good as the people around you.? I’ve had so much help from people in the community, I couldn’t just take all the credit. It’s very humbling.?
Dressler praised Hibbs, saying, ‘Everyone who meets Cody remembers him. He’s such a dynamic young man, mature beyond his years.?
Dressler was celebrating not only Hibbs? award Wednesday. The student council was also granted the Award of Excellence from the State of Michigan, given for organization, problem solving and community service.
BHS was also awarded the Tonya Award, for donating more money than other other high school to the state charity, which is chosen every year by the MASC. This year’s charity was the Pendrickton Center for the Blind, for which the BHS student council collected more than $5,500 from students and staff.