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News May 8, 2008
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VanDusen, Otten Are Named Top Students at Rudyard
Cara VanDusen and Isiah Otten are the valedictorian and salutatorian of Rudyard High School for the 2008 graduating class.

Cara VanDusen
Miss VanDusen, valedictorian, has earned a 4.07 overall grade point average and plans to attend Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids to study nursing.

She has been involved in community orchestra, band, chorus, drama, Quiz Bowl, Student Council, and a variety of sports. While president of the National Honor Society, she organized and volunteered in numerous community projects. An active member in her church and youth group, she has also participated in missions outreaches in Mexico.

Miss VanDusen was named Scholastic Achievement Council Student of the Year for 2007. Other honors and awards she has received include the Michigan Promise Award, and the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship. Additionally, she is the recipient of an Award for Excellence and a Faculty Scholarship from Grand Valley State University.

She is the daughter of Robert and June VanDusen. Her brothers, Joseph and Nathan, and a sister, Beth, are also graduates of Rudyard High School.

Isiah Otten
Mr. Otten, salutatorian, has earned a 3.99 overall grade point average and also plans to attend Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapids.

He has been involved in band and Honors Band, chorus, Quiz Bowl, National Honor Society, Art Club, Student Council, and many theater productions. He has also participated in cross country, basketball, and track for all four years of his high school career. In the last three years, he has found a top place in Academic All-State in cross country, in addition to achieving Most Valuable Runner and winning a spot on the U.P. First Team. In basketball, he won a coach's award for all four years, under two different coaches. He also qualified for U.P. Finals in Track and Field for two of the last three years.

Mr. Otten is the son of John and Mary Otten. He has two older brothers, Luke and Sam, who were graduated from Rudyard High School, and a younger brother, Andrew, a sophomore at RHS.


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