Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS) senior Margaret Mills has been selected as the January Chagrin Valley Rotary Student of the Month.
Rotary Student of the Month: Magaret Mills
Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS) senior Margaret Mills has been selected as the January Chagrin Valley Rotary Student of the Month. Mills was chosen based on her leadership and service qualities she has displayed in the community.
Mills has been the recipient of several awards during her high school career. These include National Speech and Debate Association Academic All American, National Merit semifinalist, National AP Scholar and a pending Ohio Seal of Biliteracy in Chinese. She also received two Regional Gold Keys and was nominated for American Voices Award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
In her time at CFHS, Mills has been a member of the girls golf team and was varsity captain, a four year varsity starter, and a two-time First Team All-Conference member. She also has served as the editor-in-chief since 2018 and podcast host for the CFHS Tiger Times. Further, she has been on the Speech and Debate team, and served as president through her junior year, currently serves as vice president, and has been the Public Forum captain since 2018.
Outside of school, Mills spends her time playing piano. She has played for 12 years and volunteered as school accompanist from 2016 to 2019.
Her accelerated classes include AP Physics I, AP Physics II, AP Chinese, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Music Theory, AP Economics, AP Government, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP English Literature, AP English Language and Post-AP “Great Books” course.
After high school, Mills plans to attend the University of Chicago where she will study political science and international relations.
Eighth-Graders Becoming Forces in Motion
This year, eighth-grade students at Chagrin Falls Middle School are striving to be “forces in motion.” Students brainstormed numerous ways to make a difference in their community and are now in service learning groups led by a staff member that meets three times a month.
Tiger Tutors, under the direction of Amanda Heintzelman and Meghan Bando, are busy working with students 1-1 in the Innovation Center every Thursday during WIN period.
Under the direction of art teacher Amy Fenton, the Art Fur Animals student group is working on art pieces and making animal clothes to donate to nonprofits to be used for fundraising events. They also are hosting pop-up painting parties in the middle school art room where students will pay to participate with the proceeds going to nonprofits.
Tigers Lend a Paw, under the direction of teachers Marisa Conte and Tamara Mrofchak, are working to put together fundraisers and making items to donate to the animals at Rescue Village.
One of the service learning groups, Lead 4 Change, led by Kathleen Aranavage and Marissa Ausperk, made 100 food bags to feed the hungry at the West Side Catholic Center.
“We are so grateful for the thoughtfulness and care that your students put into making these bagged lunches,” said Michael Bernot, director of advancement, West Side Catholic Center. “If our clients arrive for a meal late, or a parent arrives with a child, these bags are given out to those individuals to ensure that they do not go without a meal.”
The Build a Hand: Enable the Future student group, led by PLTW teacher Mike Wujnovich and Makerspace Implementor David Kimball, continues to use the 3D printer to assemble a prosthetic hand for a donation to someone in need.
The Rehab-a-Bike student group, led by teacher Todd Thombs, collected old bikes and is learning how to repair and refurbish them to donate to iCan Bike Camp hosted by the Achievement Center for Children.
The Tigers Care group of students, led by teacher Jennifer Remaley, has raised funds by selling Chromebook stickers and donating to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. They also collected toys for Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland, which were delivered before winter break.
Under the direction of teacher Emily Moore, the ChaGreen Jr. group of students has been looking at ways to make Chagrin Falls more environmentally friendly. They have created recycling posters that are displayed around the school and also helping with a community clean up and tree planting. Chagreen Jr. has a goal to get plants in every classroom.
Library media specialist Angie Jameson’s News Crew students are filming and creating a mini-doc to publicize all of the great things each of these service learning groups are doing. Students have learned about photojournalism and videography throughout this process. Students are using iMovie to produce their mini-documentary.
“Forces in Motion builds engagement. Engaged students are excited. They are able to wonder and feel connected, whether it’s to school, peers, staff or projects,” said Principal Laila Discenza. “What makes this group successful is that the courses were developed from student voice while advisers help personalize student experiences. Eighth graders have the entire year to not only explore their passions but also their world and identify how they fit into it and how they can make it better.”
