BY ANDREW DUPONT
Clarkston News Staff Writer
The 2005 winners of the Clarkston Middle School Principal’s Award are Jenica Dabrowski, 14, and Calib Barr, 14. At the end of school year, the two students, from the former middle school were chosen by the school’s principal, Shawn Ryan.
Ryan said those students selected represent the ‘top of the top? achievers in their class. He added that the selection process is a difficult one because there are so many high achieving students to choose from.
According to Ryan, nine candidates were recommended by teams leaders. Those nominated showed excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, and community-minded activities with an underlying element of school spirit. After interviewing the candidates individually, Ryan selected Dabrowski and Barr as the winners.
Jenica is the daughter of Tom and Katie Dabrowski. She has three siblings; older brother Colin, older sister Marina and younger sister Quinn.
Besides excelling at school, Jenica volunteers her time towards charity work and educational programs. When summer comes along, most students are happy to take a break, but Jenica keeps working, spending most weekdays at Bower’s Farm in Bloomfield where she was up in the early morning to work with farm animals. Jenica said she is thinking about being a veterinarian or a marine biologist in the future and the farm work was good experience toward that goal.
‘I’ve always been interested in working with animals,? Jenica said.
Jenica has taken a variety of dancing lessons for the last 11 years, piano for the last seven and two years ago started snowboarding.
‘It’s hard at first, but once you get used to it, it’s a lot of fun,? Jenica said about learning to snowboard.
Calib is the son of Gerald and Denise Barr. He has two older sisters, Shaunna and Janean, and two older brothers, Matthew and Nathan.
One thing Denise notices about her son is that he’s always happy.
‘He always smiling. I’ve heard that since kindergarten,? she said.
Calib was named Student of the Month and Student of the Semester during the last school year, and has been a member of the student council and the Optimist Club for several years.
For the last five years he played football, and is still playing as wide receiver and defensive back. Outside of school, Calib said he likes to golf, ski and go hunting with his dad and brothers. This year Calib said he harvested his first whitetail deer.
When he was first notified about being nominated for the Pricipals’s Award, Calib said he was nervous because the notice came on a blue slip, which is usually an indication of being in trouble.
Calib said he hasn’t decided what he wants to do in the future, but he’s interested in studying civil engineering or business.
‘I’ve heard from other people that I’d be a good person to start a business,? said Calib.
‘He’s just a very responsible kid,? said Denise. ‘We’re very proud of him.?