Clarkston Area Optimist Club honored several students in grades 6-12 with Outstanding Student Citizen Awards: Sashabaw Middle School student Savannah Walker; Clarkston Junior High School student Abbey Tolmie; Hannah Diffenderfer, Renaissance High School student; Sarah Stafford, Everest Collegiate High School student; and Clarkston High School senior Mitchel Thompson.
“These awards are very special, very close to our heart,” said Optimist Carol Gruppa. “They embody and demonstrate the core values of our creed.”
The Optimists invited the students to their breakfast meeting at Clarkston United Methodist Church, April 20.
Thompson was familiar with the procedure. He earned the honor twice before, when he was in fifth and ninth grade.
“He’s a triple crown winner,” said CHS Principal Gary Kaul.
To know him is to love him, the principal said.
“Mitchel’s nomination was head and shoulders above other nominees this year. He’s simply amazing in every way possible,” he said.
It’s a great honor to be recognized by the Optimists with the other students, Thompson said.
“This is a fantastically positive group of people,” he said. “I’m honored to be considered a member among them.”
Sashabaw Middle School Principal Elizabeth Walker said Savannah is always helping others.
“She’s kind hearted, respectful, and always gives 110 percent,” the principal said.
Clarkston Junior High School Principal Adam Kern said Tolmie is a wonderful role model who shows strong leadership and academic success. “She stands out well beyond other students,” Kern said. “She’s always positive.”
Renaissance High School Director Christa Fons said Diffenderfer embodies the Optimist Creed. “She came to mind instantly,” the director said.
Everest Collegiate High School awarded its first Outstanding Student Citizen Award to Stafford in honor of her many accomplishments, said Principal Reichert
“Sarah has been an amazing example for us,” he said. “She is quite literally a force for good.”
She has earned honors with the National Honor Society and Leadership Award, plays soccer and basketball, and has performed missionary work in Haiti and Detroit.

  Clarkston Area Optimist Club