The Sandpoint Elks Lodge has announced students of the month for February and March for the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Students selected are Ara Clark, February; and Nicholas Peacock and Kelsey Cessna, both for March.

To be selected as an Elks student of the month, students must meet guidelines for character, citizenship, service, scholarship and leadership.

The Elks actively seek to reward youth through many different programs including scholarship awards, Hoop Shoot tournaments, dictionary donations to third graders, drug awareness programs, and many other activities and programs.

Sandpoint Elks Lodge awards thousands of dollars in scholarships and local students also received additional money in state and national Elk scholarships. The Elks are the third-largest awarder of scholarships in the county and several students have received large scholarships from the state and national level of Elks.

Ara Clark

The daughter of Carleen Sandell, Ara Clark was selected an Elks Student of the Month for February at Sandpoint High School.

A senior, she has been involved in many activities throughout high school.

Clark competed in cross-country and track and field all four years, serving as junior and senior captain of both teams as well as playing on the basketball team during her sophomore year. In addition, she has been active in school clubs including the National Honor Society and Earth Club.

Clark has taken numerous AP courses and, through hard work and dedication, she has earned a 4.42 GPA, putting her in line to be the valedictorian of her graduating class. Clark hopes to further her education by attending either Columbia University in New York or the University of California, San Diego, where she will pursue a degree in environmental law.

Kelsey Cessna

The daughter of Gary and Lisa Cessna, Kelsey Cessna was named an Elks Student of the Month for March at Sandpoint High School.

Cessna has participated in varsity soccer and basketball for all four years of high school and, during her senior year, she was captain for both teams. As a soccer player, she earned All-Inland Empire League Player as a freshman, sophomore, and senior. During her freshman year, she earned the title of Miss Bulldog, defensive player of the year, and contributed to a state championship title for the Sandpoint Bulldogs. After taking her junior year off due to a knee injury, she returned to help her team reach state once again as a senior.

Also as a senior, she earned the Scholar-Athlete award, and the Golden Boot and made the all-state second team. She was also nominated for the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame for girls soccer. 

Cessna was also an All-Inland Empire League Player in her freshman, junior and senior years of basketball. In her senior year, she helped her team win Sandpoint's first state basketball championship. She earned the most inspirational award as well as scholar-athlete, and Miss Bulldog. Cessna made the North Idaho All-Star Team and The All State Regional Team played at North Idaho College with All-Star Seniors from around the state. She was nominated for the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame for girls basketball. She was also nominated for the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame Female Athlete of the year. 

Outside school, Cessna enjoys spending time with family and friends at the lake, hiking, camping, and fishing. She has a weighted GPA of 4.054 and is ranked 33rd in her class.

Cessna plans to attend college to study business and marketing. 

Nicholas Peacock

The son of Scott and Kristan Peacock, Nicholas Peacock was named an Elks Student of the Month at Sandpoint High School for March.

Peacock is actively involved in the Bonner County 4-H program entering his 11th year and has represented the Bonner County Fair as Fair King for two years. He has served as president of the Sagle Yodeling Coyotes 4-H Club for the past three years.

Peacock is a five-time Idaho state archery champion, with memberships in the Idaho Field Archery Association and the National Field Archery Association. Peacock is an IFAA Board Representative for the Archers of the Inland Northwest.

Peacock is a classified para archer with USA Archery and will begin competing in USA team trials beginning in April. Peacock is currently a sponsored archer and shoots for Carnage Ridge Archery, Truball/Axcel, Feather Vision, Easton Archery, and 60X Custom Strings.

Peacock has a GPA of 3.5 and is ranked 94th in his class. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Welding Club. Peacock plans on attending North Idaho College or another Career Technical Institution to pursue a career in diesel mechanics.

Peacock is training and competing to represent the United States at the 2024 or 2028 Paralympic Games as a para archer.