Lower right photograph: Congressman Bart Stupak was the keynote speaker at the banquet. The Straits Area Conference (SAC) honored 115 senior scholar athletes during the Second Annual Scholar Athletic Recognition Banquet hosted by LaSalle High School (LHS) at Little Bear East Convention Center Tuesday, April 11.

Bart Stupak, United States congressman since 1992 and former Gladstone High School student athlete, was the keynote speaker.

The SAC invites a former league scholar athlete to be the guest speaker. This year Krista Clement, valedictorian and 2004 graduate of LHS, and 2003 Miss Basketball in the State of Michigan, led the recognition awards banquet.

Miss Clement spoke about appreciating parents and the sacrifices they make during their sons' and daughters' athletic careers in high school and college.

"You also can learn more from a defeat on the athletic field and court, and take advantage of all your experiences," added Miss Clement.

Miss Clement, who received Academic All-Big 10 honors, the league sportsmanship award for girls basketball for the University of Michigan, and the scholar athlete award with the highest grade point average on the Wolverines squad, closed with "everyone should be able to change their lifetime list."

Above photograph: LaSalle High School Scholar Athlete Award honorees and speakers included (front, from left) Krista Clement, Chelcee Tiernan, Christina Smith, Jenny Massaway, Brittany Dykstra, Megan Gustafson, Krista LaVake, Kate Springsteen, Ashley St. Louis; (back) Congressman Bart Stupak, Joe Brown, Paul Davis, Stephen Massaway, Don McLeod, Rob Olsen, Brad Silet, Nathan Zimmerman, principal Don Gustafson, and athletic director Marty Spencer. Missing from photograph are Jacquilyne Beard and Kristina LeCount. Mr. Stupak started with the coaches and teachers who were inspirational in his high school career and said that everyone needs to have discipline and focus during life.

The deaths of his son, B.J. Stupak, and friend, Dale Fountain, teacher and coach at Stephenson High School, formerly of Pickford, taught Mr. Stupak to never lose track.

"Never doubt yourself. You never know what life has in store for you," he said.

Upper right photograph: Rudyard High School Scholar Athlete Award honorees and speakers include Krista Clement, Congressmen Bart Stupak, Dana VanSloten, Cortney Mesnard, Danielle Pitts, Erica Nordquist, Erin Meehan, Trent Salo, Nick Pavolski, principal Rich Guimond, and athletic director Carl Anderson. Missing from photograph are Terry Boque, Tanya Loonsfoot, and Alisha Peake. Mr. Stupak, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, closed with thanking the athletic directors for the honor of speaking to the scholar athletes, something that is personally very meaningful.

"These young adults are the leaders of the future and I believe they all will be part of tomorrow's place in life," he said.

The athletic directors and principals from each of the SAC schools presented the medals to the scholar athletes from St. Ignace, Rudyard, Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, Cheboygan, and Rogers City high schools.

LaSalle High School seniors in attendance were presented by athletic director Marty Spencer and principal Don Gustafson, including valedictorian Kate Springsteen, salutatorian Brittany Dykstra, Joe Brown, Paul Davis, Megan Gustafson, Krista LaVake, Jenny Massaway, Stephen Massaway, Don McLeod, Rob Olsen, Brad Silet, Christina Smith, Ashley St. Louis, Chelcee Tiernan, and Nathan Zimmerman.

Krista Clement, LHS graduate, was the guest speaker for the scholar athletic banquet. Rudyard High School seniors present at the banquet were presented by athletic director Carl Anderson and principal Rich Guimond, including Dana VanSloten, Cortney Mesnard, Danielle Pitts, Erica Nordquist, Erin Meehan, Trent Salo, and Nick Pavolski.

The St. Ignace Jazz Band provided the music entertainment before the banquet and during dinner for the more than 350 people in attendance.