Ethan Stoddard - 9th Grade

Nominating Teachers: Mrs. Amanda Dolata and Mrs. Casey Bobbitt

Ethan was nominated by Mrs. Dolata and Mrs. Bobbitt, who wrote, “Ethan recently befriended a young man with significant disabilities in his Sports and Entertainment Marketing class. He showed exceptional kindness, empathy, and compassion towards this student. Without realizing it, he served as a role model for his peers - many of whom may not know how to navigate such interactions. In a world where inclusivity is often discussed but not always practiced, Ethan went above and beyond to make a real difference in the life of this young man. Ethan’s impact was evident. The student frequently asked about him and looked forward to class every day because of their interactions. At a recent birthday party for the student, Ethan let the young man hold his hand the entire time because he was so excited that Ethan came. Ethan innately found a way to connect and communicate with this student, despite the fact that this young man does not communicate verbally. Ethan was patient and cooperative and made sure the young man felt valued and included. It was clear to the adults around him that this brief friendship was not based on obligation, but on genuine care. Ethan's unmatched maturity and embodiment of true acceptance have made our LMHS community a better place, and he is highly deserving of Student of the Month for March.

Favour Igwe - 10th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Ms. Alyssa Basko

Favour was nominated by Ms. Basko, who wrote, “I believe that Favour overwhelmingly deserves to be named Student of the Month for the month of March. Favour is a glowing example of a student that exhibits dedication and excellence, both academically and with extracurricular activities. Holding straight A’s in all subjects, Favour consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and an incessant commitment to academic success. Beyond the classroom, Favour is an active member of the symphony orchestra, showcasing her passion for music. Favour's dedication was further evident when she attended the music department trip to Disney, staying ahead of academic assignments and promptly catching up on all missed assignments upon her return. Additionally, Favour's perfect attendance reflects her responsibility, reliability, and dedication as a student. For these reasons and more, I believe that Favour is a student that is truly deserving of this recognition.”

Seth Akuaku - 11th Grade

Nominating Faculty Member: Mr. Brian Isselmann

Seth was nominated by Mr. Isselmann, who wrote, “Seth has impressed me from day one with his mature and empathetic approach to his own learning as well as towards our classroom community. He exemplifies hard work and determination and makes a positive impact on those around him. His humble and quiet approach may allow him to be overlooked, but I see him!”

Andrew Stearn - 12th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Tara Pellegrino

Andrew was nominated by Mrs. Pellegrino, who wrote, “Andrew is the Co-President of Mock Trial and in this role he proved to be an exceptional leader. Not only was he able to manage the varsity team, he coached them so well that they placed 2nd in the State Championship. 2nd out of220 teams. What's more impressive however is that Andrew altruistically took it upon himself to coach the JV team, comprised of mostly underclassmen, so that they were for the first time in recent LM history, viable in the regional competition. LM's JV Mock Trial Team made it to semi-finals this year! I have not seen that kind of success from this team in my 4 year tenure as their advisor. Andrew is simply the best and I hope that we can recognize him this month for all his hard work.”

Natalia Kasmer - 9th Grade

Natalia’s teachers wrote, “While she's maintaining A’s in all of her courses, Natalia is heavily involved in sports such as basketball. Natalia is a team player that helps and encourages others with their full potential.”

Yahsir Waites - 10th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Meaghan Cappelloni

Yahsir was nominated by Mrs. Cappelloni, who wrote, “Yahsir asks thoughtful questions in class and demonstrates excellent work ethic. He has a cheerful, positive attitude and gets along with all of his peers. Yahsir makes teaching his class even more enjoyable!”

Sophia Fendo - 11th Grade

Sophia’s teachers wrote, “There is no student this year that is more diligent in every aspect of being a student. Sophia communicates clearly and professionally when she needs help, has fallen behind, or is confused. She is respectful of people's time, making sure that when she comes in for extra help that she is not imposing and she schedules meetings well in advance. Her notes are always incredibly organized and detailed; she goes the extra mile in adding her own commentary to her notes to make it make sense in her own words. For a student who excels and has grown tremendously this year, Sophia still remains humble in public and proud ofherself in private. She consistently holds herself to a high standard not out of a desire for perfectionism but because she always wants to improve upon her own work.

Complimenting her individualistic drive is a passion for helping others. On a daily basis, Sophia helps her peers when they feel lost or have missed a class. She demonstrates empathy and patience when working with her peers, never showing any kind of judgement. Instead, she demonstrates a sincere desire to help people be at their best. This is amazing to see coming from someone who expressed apprehension at the start of the year regarding her own abilities. Her confidence in herself has grown so much since September, and she has used that confidence to serve not only herself, but the classroom community as a whole.

Sophia Fendo is an exemplar of Accountability, Character, and Effort. Every single day she enters the classroom ready to learn and grow and leaves serving her peers and her community.”

Georgia Bond - 12th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Taryn Stevens

Georgia was nominated by Mrs. Stevens, who wrote, “Georgia is co-editor-in-chief of the yearbook. Over the past 2 years, I have seen Georgia interact with the rest of the yearbook staff, all of whom are of varied backgrounds. Georgia is kind, patient, and ensures inclusion ofeveryone. Georgia makes sure each staff member has tasks they can complete that match their ability levels and will chat with each member about their day as we sit in the room working together. In addition, Georgia can seriously identify most of the student body. She has an amazing ability to remember names and faces which I think also speaks to her compassion and genuine interest in others. Georgia is organized, diligent, hardworking, and demonstrates integrity at every level. I have never heard her say an unkind word about anybody. She truly embodies the "character counts" philosophy.”

Derek Thu - 9th Grade

Derek’s teachers wrote, ““At the beginning of the year, Derek said he wanted to meet and befriend as many people as he could. He's a hard worker and helps others.” They also included, “He’s a compassionate person. He puts others before himself and is willing to drop what he is doing to help someone else.”

Andres Rivas Mujica - 10th Grade

Nominating Teachers: Mrs. Krysten Lopez & Mrs. Marybeth Martin

Andres was nominated by Mrs. Lopez, who wrote, “Andres has consistently demonstrated outstanding accountability, character, and exceptional effort throughout the school year. He is always a responsible student putting forth his best work, actively participating in class and striving to improve with each task. He completes assignments on time, follows through on group projects, or acknowledges when mistakes are made, always shows maturity and a strong sense of integrity. Andres sets a great example for others by staying focused on his goals, owning his work, and never shying away from challenges. He is eager to learn and asking questions demonstrates his motivation. His positive attitude, combined with his commitment to doing the right thing even when no one is watching, truly makes him deserving of this recognition. Every single person who meets him says he is super well-mannered and respectful.” Mrs. Martin added, “Andres is always modeling the ACE expectations. He is responsible and hard working. He also brings out the best in other students. In group work, he keeps students on task while remaining friendly and personable. He truly is a pleasure to have in class!”

Paul Mezey-McMahon - 11th Grade

Nominating Faculty Member: Dr. Brian Mays

Paul was nominated by Dr. Mays, who wrote, “Paul is involved heavily in football and approached me earlier this year to ask if any of my freshmen who are on the football team needed some additional supports. I approached Paul about one of my freshman students who I thought would benefit from some peer-based mentorship. Paul was willing to take on the task and foster a positive school environment while holding high academic standards for the student in question.”

Molly Diamondstein - 12th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Tara Pellegrino

Molly was nominated by Mrs. Pellegrino, who wrote, “I am going to give you 3 highly specific examples of why Molly should be student of the month and 3 non-specific reasons that Molly should be student of the month… 1. I told my senior class how they need to be annotating the book we are reading so as to acquire and retain vocabulary in Spanish. Molly… did what I asked her to. As a result, she actually learned the word bostezar… [and] used a new word she learned from the text to answer! 2. A student from the Merionite came in to interview my class about ways that kids cheat at LM. Molly said, "I don't cheat. I'd rather get the F." This is actually true. Molly has so much integrity. She's a straight shooter and doesn't hold back when she has something to say. It's refreshing and inspiring. 3. Molly, when she couldn't find a word from the book using an online source, took the time to ask me what it meant…Her question let me know that she is actually reading and thinking about what she reads!… All around student of the month vibes emanating from Molly: 1. Molly makes me laugh, truly laugh, every time I see her... 2. Molly is so genuine. She says what others are thinking. She isn't afraid to be herself and her bravery is inspiring to those around her. 3. Molly brings the party. Seriously, when she's not in class, the energy is lacking. I think the kids are calling this "aura". Molly has that.”

Ayaan Herial - 9th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Dr. Saher Masoodi

Ayaan was nominated by Dr. Masoodi, who wrote, “Ayaan is a model student who exemplifies dedication and positivity. He is a diligent worker who completes all his assignments on time, studies regularly, and demonstrates a strong understanding of literary concepts. He frequently participates in class discussions with insightful interpretations of texts. Ayaan stands out in the class. I think he inspires his peers to engage more deeply with the class material. Beyond academics, he is respectful to and collaborative with teacher and peers.”

Arryannah Glover - 10th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Andria Johnson

Arry was nominated by Mrs. Johnson, who wrote, “Arry is a model student, dedicated basketball player, and a perfect representation of the LM Community. In class, Arry shows natural curiosity; she always participates and drives inquiry forward. In all of her projects, she puts forth maximum effort, conveyed by the high-quality outcome and relevance of the project content. Arry regularly requests feedback because she truly cares about her growth as a learner.&rdquo

Aidan Desper - 11th Grade

Nominating Faculty Member: Mrs. Casey Gallagher

Aidan was nominated by Mrs. Gallagher, who wrote, “Aidan is a leader in my classroom. His attendance is perfect, he is funny, respectful, participates in class and always lends a helping hand when needed to peers and adults. Aidan is a pleasure to have in class.”

Lianzi Zhang - 12th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Krysten Lopez & Mrs. Marybeth Martin

Lianzi was nominated by Mrs. Lopez and Mrs. Martin, who wrote, ““Lianzi consistently takes responsibility for her actions, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it's owning up to mistakes or meeting deadlines without reminders, she shows a strong sense of responsibility for her academic and personal actions. Her consistency in following through on commitments, especially when working in group projects or completing assignments, makes her a role model for their peers. She will ask for help when needed and demonstrate a clear understanding that growth comes from accepting responsibility. She has integrity and respect for others. She consistently shows empathy, actively listening to others and offering support when someone is in need. They are a positive influence on the school culture, fostering an inclusive and respectful environment.”

Rachel Bucurescu - 9th Grade

Rachel’s teachers shared, “Rachel is a model student. She earns good grades and demonstrates a consistent effort to stay on top of her work and make sure she understands all assignment expectations. She is a very conscientious student, visiting when needed during Lunch and Learn. She is also a very thoughtful and caring person.”

Jonathan St. Germain - 10th Grade

Jonathan’s teachers shared, “Integrity. Effort. Well Being (of others). It's been so awesome and encouraging to see how Jonathan has grown and matured this year. His effort has increased and his awareness of his potential has also increased. Jonathan has improved his effort in class and is successfully in control of his academics and grades. Also, Jonathan has gone above and beyond to be kind to others in need. Jonathan is a person of integrity, and he has a bright future here at LM.”

Declan Brophy - 11th Grade

Nominating Faculty Member: Ms. Meryl Melnikoff

Ms. Melnikoff shared, “Declan approaches each school day with a smile and gives 200% effort in ANYTHING I ask him to do. I’ve had the opportunity to see Declan’s growth in a variety of ways over several years. Declan embodies character and effort. I feel that he should be recognized for his strength of character, ability to overcome obstacles, and the way he makes everyone he meets a little bit happier. He is active in Best Buddies and participates in Unified Track as well.”

Dylan Silberman - 12th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mr. John Grace

Mr. Grace wrote, “All of the organizational, and personal dedication to all the folks at LM. PLAYERS, the Student Council, the faculty, the Yearbook. Dylan's affection for the LM community, not only friends but the wider collection of teachers and students influences the day, all day, every day in ways not always visible to the rest of us. Singular effort to improve school culture at LM through PLAYERS marketing, including all efforts to showcase LM theatre on LMSD web page with Mr. Capkin and Ms. Buckman, and extended to organizing first stages of Amazing Ace.”

 

Noa Okutsu - 9th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Melissa McCloy

Mrs. McCloy wrote, “Noa embodies good character. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her peers and is friendly to all. She is someone that makes her peers feel welcome and included. The quality of her schoolwork has also been excellent thus far. Noa is always prepared for class. She is the first to raise her hand in class and has a positive attitude about everything. She takes her learning seriously and works very hard in all of her classes. She is receptive to teacher feedback and asks really thoughtful questions.”

Cecilia Petersson - 10^th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Jennifer Sand

Mrs. Sand wrote, “I’d like to nominate Ceci as the 10th grade Student of the Month. She’s one of the only sophomores in my AP Biology class and the only student in her class to have an A+! Her work ethic is incredible, and she stands out among her peers as truly dedicated to fully understanding everything we cover in class. She’s also a dedicated, veteran member of TSA. She has taken on an impressive challenge by entering the Montgomery County Science Research Competition, something our school has never done before. She even took the initiative to get me to sponsor her, and she’s diving into a complex biology project completely on her own. She’s a motivated, independent thinker and absolutely deserves this recognition!”

Milad Asadi - 11^th Grade

Nominating Teachers: Mrs. Krysten Lopez

Mrs. Lopez wrote, “Milad has a strong character and is always thinking of others. He works very hard, especially as a language learner. He keeps himself accountable in all he does. He maintains high grades and does a lot for his family.”  

Anthony Labbad - 12^th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Heather Van Horn

Mrs. Van Horn wrote, “Anthony exemplifies sense of belonging. His acceptance, inclusion, and connectedness to all is natural. He is kind to all. At a recent regional inclusion conference, he support others and represented LMHS/ LMSD in such a positive way.”

 

Audrey Fisher - 9th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Andria Johnson

Mrs. Johnson wrote, “Audrey has shown responsibility through communication and diligence in her completion of assignments. She consistently enters the classroom with an upbeat attitude that creates an environment conducive to learning. Audrey has demonstrated pride in her school community with her participation in every spirit day, and her warmth makes her approachable to her peers. I'm sure she will distinguish herself in future years at LM and become a recognizable figure on campus.”

Christian Cook - 10^th Grade

Nominating Teacher: Ms. Katie Tsai

Ms. Tsai wrote, “Chris has had perfect attendance since Day 1. No tardies to my class either. Chris had the 5th highest score in the class on our first quiz. Chris has done all of his homework and classwork on time. More importantly, Chris shows up to class every day with a positive attitude. He is attentive, prepared, and engaged. He helps out his classmates, even if he's not immediately friends with them. He's a positive role model for all students in the class. I know I can always count on Chris to do the right thing, even if the right thing is difficult!”

Charlie Welgs - 11^th Grade

Nominating Teachers: Mr. Joe Augustine and Mrs. Samantha Parks

Coach Augustine wrote, “Charlie has defined what an all-around student should be. He has demonstrated success in the classroom as well as in the community with outreach in the special education community as well as helping a young child who was being bullied. He is a role model of encompassing academics, athletics, and a social responsibility that more of our students should take as a priority.”

Mrs. Parks wrote, “Charlie continues to go above and beyond. He expresses gratitude to the athletic office personnel, the officials, and the operations crew at every football game without thinking – it is natural of him to conduct himself in that manner. He accepts special education students with ease, as if they are no different than anyone else in the building. He goes out of his way to say hi to the special education crew and while that seems minimal, it has a major impact on our students who feel invisible in the building at times. Charlie takes time out of his evenings to encourage youth who have been bullied to continue playing football. His calm nature and sense of humor is great to be around in general.”

Samira Rafide Isen - 12^th Grade

Nominating Counselor: Mr. Eli Skinner

Mr. Skinner wrote, “Samira exemplifies our ACES expectations. She is trustworthy, hardworking, always has a positive attitude, excels in the classroom, and is a standout goalie on LM's field hockey team.”