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Valedictorian, co-salutatorians highlight Clinton High School’s Class of 2026 scholar seniors
Along with a class valedictorian and co-salutatorians, 15 other Clinton High School students have been named scholar students for achieving GPAs of 4.0 or greater during their high school career.
By Brad Heineman
In practically a matter of weeks, Clinton Community Schools will celebrate its commencement exercises for the Class of 2026.
But before that graduation celebration takes center stage, the high school’s scholar seniors are being recognized, and this year, the senior class is led by a valedictorian and co-salutatorians.
Camdenne Kruse headlines the Clinton High School scholar seniors as the Class of 2026 valedictorian. Mia Calucci and Robert McDonald will serve as the graduating class’s co-salutatorians. The successes of these students and 15 others were recently shared during the March meeting of the Clinton schools Board of Education.
Each of the students recognized as scholar seniors has earned a grade point average of 4.0 or higher during their high school careers, according to high school Principal Katie Bennett.
“Achieving this level of academic excellence doesn’t happen by chance,” Bennett said during last month’s school board meeting. “It reflects years of commitment, discipline, perseverance and dedication to learning. These students have challenged themselves with rigorous coursework all while participating in athletics, fine arts, leadership roles and service to our school and community. Behind every one of these students is a strong support system.”
That support system of teachers, parents and classmates, Bennett said, has encouraged these students throughout their academic journey and pushed them to think critically.
“It puts a big smile on your face,” was the reaction of Superintendent Kevin Beazley when reflecting about the successes of Clinton’s scholar seniors. “…We are a smaller school district and we work pretty hard to compete with the big districts.”
Kruse, the daughter of Garvin and Mandy Kruse, plans to attend the University of Michigan and study business and arts administration, according to information presented during last month’s school board meeting. She has earned multiple scholarship and academic recognitions, while being heavily involved in the school district.
According to the scholar students presentation, high school science/STEM teacher Ron Schaffner is listed as Kruse’s influential educator, with her commenting, “I would like to thank Mr. Schaffner for teaching me that it’s okay to fail and for helping change my mindset as a student for the better.”
Calucci, the daughter of Morgan Calucci, will be attending Saginaw Valley State University with plans to study criminal justice. She then plans to attend the military police academy in Fort Leonard Wood, a major United States Army installation in South-Central Missouri.
Another decorated student when it comes to scholarship/academic recognitions, as well as school involvement, Calucci named Tyler George and Renee Gilson as her influential educators.
“I would like to thank both for being wonderful teachers and helping me get to where I am now,” Calucci said. “They are always supportive and understanding, even when I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Sharing the title of co-salutatorian with Calucci, McDonald is the son of Robert and Carrie McDonald. His post-graduation educational plans are to attend the University of Michigan to study electrical engineering. He named Schaffner as his influential educator.
Clinton High School’s remaining 2026 scholar seniors are:
• Aurelia Bennett, daughter of Lucas and Heidi Bennett. She plans to attend Hope College to study mathematics.
• Brian Ferree, son of Stephen and Carrie Ferree. He plans to attend Washtenaw Community College to study in the pre-engineering science transfer program.
• Lillian Trubiano, daughter of Fred Trubiano and Amanda Pardee. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study nursing.
• Dalia Albashir, daughter of Amin and Kimberly Albashir. She plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to study political science.
• Ava VanTuyle, daughter of Tom and Monica VanTuyle. She plans to attend Central Michigan University and double major in music education and Spanish.
• Angel Rubio, son of Rene and Jessica Rubio. He plans to attend Washtenaw Community College to study radiography with intentions to transfer to either Wayne State University, the University of Michigan or the University of Toledo.
• Boston Lawler, son of David and Brandy Lawler. His college destination is listed as undecided, but he plans to study mechanical engineering.
• Emma Neff, daughter of Jacob and Dawn Neff. She plans to attend Michigan State University to study chemistry with further plans of becoming a pathologist.
• Makayla Whitehead, daughter of Shawn Whitehead. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study social work.
• Finnley Faulkner, daughter of Scott Faulkner and Jeanelle Griffin. She plans to attend Eastern Michigan University to study nursing.
• Brailey Gibson, daughter of Shane and Amanda Gibson. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study communications and criminal justice — pre-law track.
• Teagan Zbikowski, son of Stephen and Angie Zbikowski. He plans to attend Michigan State University to study supply chain management and data science.
• Ginger Wahl, daughter of Justin and Jill Wahl. She plans to attend Spring Arbor University to study elementary education.
• Lydia Ormsby, daughter of Jeff and Shawn Ormsby. She plans to attend Michigan State University to study kinesiology with a focus in pre-physician’s assistant.
• Lacey Gerten, daughter of Edward Gerten and Annie Webb. She plans to attend Baker College to study veterinary tech.
According to its online events calendar, Clinton’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 is scheduled for May 21.
This year’s graduating class is one of the last groups of students that Beazley had when he was high school principal before replacing Jim Cracraft as superintendent in July 2022. With the school year winding down, Beazley said students across the district are still keeping busy and working hard.
“They’re still hitting it at all cylinders right now,” he said. “They won’t stop until they are out of here. That’s just the way they are. They work hard.”
In practically a matter of weeks, Clinton Community Schools will celebrate its commencement exercises for the Class of 2026.
But before that graduation celebration takes center stage, the high school’s scholar seniors are being recognized, and this year, the senior class is led by a valedictorian and co-salutatorians.
Camdenne Kruse headlines the Clinton High School scholar seniors as the Class of 2026 valedictorian. Mia Calucci and Robert McDonald will serve as the graduating class’s co-salutatorians. The successes of these students and 15 others were recently shared during the March meeting of the Clinton schools Board of Education.
Each of the students recognized as scholar seniors has earned a grade point average of 4.0 or higher during their high school careers, according to high school Principal Katie Bennett.
“Achieving this level of academic excellence doesn’t happen by chance,” Bennett said during last month’s school board meeting. “It reflects years of commitment, discipline, perseverance and dedication to learning. These students have challenged themselves with rigorous coursework all while participating in athletics, fine arts, leadership roles and service to our school and community. Behind every one of these students is a strong support system.”
That support system of teachers, parents and classmates, Bennett said, has encouraged these students throughout their academic journey and pushed them to think critically.
“It puts a big smile on your face,” was the reaction of Superintendent Kevin Beazley when reflecting about the successes of Clinton’s scholar seniors. “…We are a smaller school district and we work pretty hard to compete with the big districts.”
Kruse, the daughter of Garvin and Mandy Kruse, plans to attend the University of Michigan and study business and arts administration, according to information presented during last month’s school board meeting. She has earned multiple scholarship and academic recognitions, while being heavily involved in the school district.
According to the scholar students presentation, high school science/STEM teacher Ron Schaffner is listed as Kruse’s influential educator, with her commenting, “I would like to thank Mr. Schaffner for teaching me that it’s okay to fail and for helping change my mindset as a student for the better.”
Calucci, the daughter of Morgan Calucci, will be attending Saginaw Valley State University with plans to study criminal justice. She then plans to attend the military police academy in Fort Leonard Wood, a major United States Army installation in South-Central Missouri.
Another decorated student when it comes to scholarship/academic recognitions, as well as school involvement, Calucci named Tyler George and Renee Gilson as her influential educators.
“I would like to thank both for being wonderful teachers and helping me get to where I am now,” Calucci said. “They are always supportive and understanding, even when I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Sharing the title of co-salutatorian with Calucci, McDonald is the son of Robert and Carrie McDonald. His post-graduation educational plans are to attend the University of Michigan to study electrical engineering. He named Schaffner as his influential educator.
Clinton High School’s remaining 2026 scholar seniors are:
• Aurelia Bennett, daughter of Lucas and Heidi Bennett. She plans to attend Hope College to study mathematics.
• Brian Ferree, son of Stephen and Carrie Ferree. He plans to attend Washtenaw Community College to study in the pre-engineering science transfer program.
• Lillian Trubiano, daughter of Fred Trubiano and Amanda Pardee. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study nursing.
• Dalia Albashir, daughter of Amin and Kimberly Albashir. She plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to study political science.
• Ava VanTuyle, daughter of Tom and Monica VanTuyle. She plans to attend Central Michigan University and double major in music education and Spanish.
• Angel Rubio, son of Rene and Jessica Rubio. He plans to attend Washtenaw Community College to study radiography with intentions to transfer to either Wayne State University, the University of Michigan or the University of Toledo.
• Boston Lawler, son of David and Brandy Lawler. His college destination is listed as undecided, but he plans to study mechanical engineering.
• Emma Neff, daughter of Jacob and Dawn Neff. She plans to attend Michigan State University to study chemistry with further plans of becoming a pathologist.
• Makayla Whitehead, daughter of Shawn Whitehead. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study social work.
• Finnley Faulkner, daughter of Scott Faulkner and Jeanelle Griffin. She plans to attend Eastern Michigan University to study nursing.
• Brailey Gibson, daughter of Shane and Amanda Gibson. Her college destination is listed as undecided, but she plans to study communications and criminal justice — pre-law track.
• Teagan Zbikowski, son of Stephen and Angie Zbikowski. He plans to attend Michigan State University to study supply chain management and data science.
• Ginger Wahl, daughter of Justin and Jill Wahl. She plans to attend Spring Arbor University to study elementary education.
• Lydia Ormsby, daughter of Jeff and Shawn Ormsby. She plans to attend Michigan State University to study kinesiology with a focus in pre-physician’s assistant.
• Lacey Gerten, daughter of Edward Gerten and Annie Webb. She plans to attend Baker College to study veterinary tech.
According to its online events calendar, Clinton’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 is scheduled for May 21.
This year’s graduating class is one of the last groups of students that Beazley had when he was high school principal before replacing Jim Cracraft as superintendent in July 2022. With the school year winding down, Beazley said students across the district are still keeping busy and working hard.
“They’re still hitting it at all cylinders right now,” he said. “They won’t stop until they are out of here. That’s just the way they are. They work hard.”
