SHS students recognized for academic excellence

A handful of Sandpoint High School students have been recognized for their academic achievements as the Sandpoint Elks Lodge has announced students of the month for September and October.

Selected for the honor in September are Hope Barnes and Caden Martz, and for October, Jacey Rust and Lane Gavin.

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

The Elks actively seeks 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 an 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.

Hope Barnes

A senior at Sandpoint High School, Hope Barnes was named an Elks' student of the month for September.

She has maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.3 weighted GPA throughout her time at the Lake Pend Oreille School District high school. This places her in the top 1% of her class. 

Barnes is a four-year varsity soccer and track athlete. Her future plans are to attend a 4-year university on the pre-med track. 

Caden Martz

The son of Mike and Chandra Martz, Caden Martz was named an Elks' student of the month for September.

A senior at Sandpoint High School, Caden maintains a weighted 4.1 GPA and earning a place on the High Honor Roll throughout all four years. He is a dedicated student-athlete, competing on the varsity tennis team and has been honored as Rookie of the Year and Most Distinguished Athlete. Along with tennis, he also participates in both downhill and enduro mountain bike racing.

Beyond academics and athletics, Caden is actively involved in community service through his leadership role in a local church youth group. He also enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering on local trail maintenance projects.

In addition to his school and service commitments, Caden co-founded an auto detailing business alongside two fellow SHS students, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic.

After graduation, Caden plans to pursue a degree in business where he can combine his creativity with hands-on technical skills to build and lead a company of his own.

Lane C. Gavin

The son of Chris and Teresa Gavin, Lance C. Gavin was named an Elks' student of the month for October.

A senior at Sandpoint High School, Gavin has maintained a 3.95 GPA while taking both honors and dual credit courses during his four years at the Lake Pend Oreille School District high school. He is ranked 16th out of 249 senior students. 

Gavin is active in Interact, National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, and is also on the varsity golf team. He also enjoys playing video games with his friends in his spare time. 

During his freshman year, he traveled to the Dominican Republic with classmates where he participated in coral reef restoration projects. As a junior, he traveled Puerto Rico with his Interact Club to assist in the updating of a dog shelter and then to New York City to attend and participate in the Model United Nations Conference with his International Relations class. 

Gavin will be attending the University of Idaho in Moscow upon graduation where he will pursue his passions in both the health and international relations fields.  He hopes to become an epidemiologist and travel globally when he graduates.   

Jacey Rust

Jacey Rust was named an Elks' student of the month for October. 

The daughter of Nick and Sheyna Rust, she is a senior at Sandpoint High School

Throughout her time at SHS, Jacey Rust has participated in various activities and clubs, including volleyball, earth club, and National Honor Society, where she is often congratulated with "hardest worker" and recognized as a high honors student. 

Rust is 18th in her class with a 4.0 GPA and plans to carry these grades into college where she will find a degree in wildlife biology and conservation before likely pursuing a career in environmental law.

    Martz
  

    Gavin
  

    Rust