Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for March 10-14

Each week readers will vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on IndyStar.com, with polling closing at noon on Thursday, March 13. Winners will be announced every Friday.

This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees.

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Here’s what nominating school leaders had to say about this week’s nominees:

Zadoc Eusebio-Perez, a sophomore at George Washington High School

Zadoc always gives 110% effort in all of his classes. He steps up and assists his classmates and enjoys helping staff. He is extremely courteous to everyone. He makes teaching a real joy.

Avery Barton, a senior at Cascade High School

For the past four years, she has been an invaluable teaching assistant in the office, consistently demonstrating dedication and reliability. With a positive attitude and a servant’s heart, she eagerly steps in wherever she is needed, always looking for ways to support others. Her strong work ethic and commitment to excellence make her a standout student, both academically and in her role. She approaches every task with enthusiasm and professionalism, ensuring the office runs smoothly while setting an example for her peers. Her willingness to help and strive for success makes her an asset to both the office and the school community.

Catherine Powers, a senior at Franklin Central High School

Senior Catherine Powers uplifts our school through her service as an officer of the Creative Writing Club and participation in Flashes Around the World. Her inclusive spirit is appreciated, along with her dedication to academics. Thank you and way to go, Catherine!

Aidan Mahaney, a junior at Bishop Chatard High School

Aidan is the vice president of our Best Buddies Club and has been working tirelessly to raise money and support the program. Recently, she organized a schoolwide pie a Teacher fundraiser, which was met with great excitement and success. Through her commitments to Best Buddies, Dance-a-thon, and several other service projects, she consistently dedicates her time to the success and happiness of others while still maintaining phenomenal grades and a positive attitude. Aidan is always working to improve her community, and we are lucky to have her!

RJ Tennin, a senior at Southport High School

A standout both in the classroom and the community, RJ exemplifies leadership, teamwork, and academic excellence. As a motivating member of the boys’ basketball team, RJ’s positivity and encouragement uplift his teammates, classmates, and friends. His kindness and determination make him an inspiration to those around him — proof that the world needs more people like him. RJ will be graduating with a Core 40 diploma with a concentration in marketing and plans to further his education and training as an electrician. We could not be more proud of RJ and look forward to cheering him on in his next chapter!

Marisol Sanchez, a senior at Guerin Catholic High School

Marisol has been an incredible risk-taker during Godspell rehearsals. She takes risks vocally by singing in a bold manner. She takes risks as an actress by thinking about how her character reacts in situations rather than waiting to be told. Finally, she takes risks as a leader by holding her fellow cast members accountable with charity.

Katie Cuellar, a junior at Ben Davis High School

Katie is one of our student assistants. She is always willing to help out and be another set of eyes and ears in class. Recently, we had a new student enroll in Sports Literature. This student is brand new to the U.S. and has limited English proficiency. Katie, being bilingual, has been translating on behalf of this student to ensure he has what he needs to succeed in class. She started doing this unsolicited and it has been occurring daily. Her understanding of the situation and subsequent empathy is one of a kind. We can’t brag about her enough.

Kingston Shepherd, a sophomore at Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School

Kingston Shepherd is a sophomore at Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School and an exceptional athlete on the basketball court. His skill, dedication, and passion for the game make him a standout player, while his commitment to improvement sets him apart. Beyond athletics, Kingston excels as a peer tutor, supporting fellow students academically, and consistently upholds Tindley’s high expectations. He is a role model both on and off the court, demonstrating discipline, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. His leadership and dedication to both academics and athletics make him a well-rounded and deserving nominee, inspiring his peers every day.

Hailee Brumley, a senior at Martinsville High School

She is a 4-year M.H.S. Cheerleader for the team, which again won the Mid-State Conference Championship. She has been a distinguished mentor for Sparkle Cheerleading. Hailee is a part of the Red Blue Crew, has helped build a home for Habitat for Humanity, has helped raise money for childhood cancer awareness, and has volunteered at Camp Discovery. Hailee is currently employed at the Culver’s in Martinsville. After high school, Hailee plans to attend IU Indianapolis, majoring in health and human sciences to pursue pediatric medicine.

Faris Safiia, a junior at Eman Schools

Faris is an AP Scholar with Honors, a member of our student council since 2021 and is an honor student here on campus. Over the years, Faris extended his education to also take after-school dual-credit courses and classes in the IU SPAN program. Faris has served on the school’s World Quest, UNICEF, Red Cross clubs, wrote a grant to the Fishers health department for AEDs for our school, is involved in our greater community and helps with the special needs Saturday school, tutors students for SAT testing and volunteers for the local food pantry.

Regina Jones, a senior at Cathedral High School

Regina Jones, vice president of Cathedral’s Black Student Union and an active community member. She has been deeply involved in organizations like React Theater, Wheeler Mission and Gleaners. Jones also plays tennis at Cathedral High School. Jones has big plans as she prepares to attend Yale University.

John Malan, a senior at Roncalli High School

Roncalli Economics teacher Reece Milligan states, “John has been an exceptional student in class so far this semester. He shows up to class every day with the right work ethic, effort, and attitude. He has shown time and time again that he is one of the hardest workers in his grade and his work certainly exemplifies that. On top of that, he genuinely cares about his learning, as he consistently participates and poses great questions that serve not only himself but his peers well. While he is a great student, he is also a great all-around person and servant to the Roncalli community. John has been a joy to have in class, and I am excited to see the work he puts in going forward!”

Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for March 10-14