When South County Democrat Bob Burns ran successfully for State Representative in the new 93rd District, he had help from a DeSmet senior with his own hopes for a future in politics. Connor Valenti is a straight-A student, but couldn’t get hired by Dierbergs, Burns said, but he and Burns said he found the right job, in politics. Valenti worked for Burns's campaign since before the primary elections. "I went door to door with him when I had time, straight through the summer," Valenti said. "I was knocking on doors, talking to people." Valenti said he worked the polls all day in the primary …

Last Wednesday two Bayless High School students were recognized by the Bayless School Board for having earned the Special School District's Rosemary Zander Award. William Brahan and Ra'Shawn Wright came with their families and thanked their teachers as the board honored them. According to the Special School District website, the Rosemary Zander Award, founded in 1988, recognizes accomplishments by SSD students that demonstrate positive attitudes and an unwavering will to succeed. The award is named for an SSD teacher who died in a car accident in 1988. SSD's website describes Zander: In her …

Name: Stephanie Grant School: Affton High School Grade: 12 Stephanie is ranked second in her class. She’s the Vice-President of the National Honor Society and co-Vice-President of Competition in DECA. She has participated in her school’s renditions of Arsenic and Old Lace, Les Miserables and Crazy for You and was inducted into the International Thespian Society last year. She has been a Mathlete for four years. Stephanie placed 6th in DECA Districts in Advertising Campaign and achieved the highest test score in her category. She is the first chair viola in the school orchestra. Stephanie …

Name: MacKenzie Bernard Grade: 10th School: Affton High School Activities and Accomplishments: MacKenzie currently has a 3.7 GPA and participates in student council and mathletes. She is the only bass clarinetist in the school band. MacKenzie’s most impressive accomplishments, however, are outside of school, where she spends her time watching an autistic child three days a week and works to spread autism awareness to her peers. She is also an active leader of Geyer Road Baptist Church as a member of the youth leadership team, youth council, prayer intercessors, ushers and children's church …

Name: Alex Hoggatt School: Affton High School Grade: Sophomore Alex is currently ranked number 3 in his class with a 4.2 GPA and is involved in many sports and activities. He has lettered in track and band, and twice as a member of the Varsity Boys' Swim Team. Alex serves on Affton's CATS Crew as a freshman mentor, where he enjoys helping incoming students transition into high school. Alex is also on the Team Spirit Task Force, an organization that promotes safe driving practices for teens. He is enrolled in the Project Lead The Way program and was recently elected President of the Affton's …

Name: Morgan Brust Grade: 12 School: Affton High School This week, we're letting Morgan tell her own story. Here's how she describes her background, activities and accomplishments: My name is Morgan Brust, I am 17 years old and the second oldest in my family of six kids. I was born in Saint Louis and homeschooled until I was 13 years old and started attending public school at Rogers Middle School in the 7th grade. I am currently a senior at Affton High School. At Affton, throughout my high school experience I have been involved in many groups and clubs including Mathletes, TREND, National …

Name: Ian Quinn School: Lutheran High School South Grade: 12 Ian Quinn, a senior at Lutheran South, is involved in a variety of activities at school including the cross country and track teams, National Honor Society and Student Ambassadors. He also serves as a devotion leader for small group worship. But it’s what Ian does outside of school that makes him especially awesome. For the last 11 years, Ian has been competing in speed skating. In his most recent competition, America’s Cup in Chesterfield, Ian won a 1st place finish in the 500m and a 3rd place finish in the 1500m races. He earned …

Name: Ziyodakhon "Ziyoda" Abdurakhmanova School: Rogers Middle School Grade: 8th Ziyoda came to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010. While in Uzbekistan she took English one day a week. When asked about the differences between Rogers Middle School and her school in Uzbekistan, she said that the teachers here are much nicer. She also had classes six days a week, and the teachers were very strict, but she also had more outside work to do. Her excellent skills in English are from reading a lot over the summer. Ziyoda loves to read, primarily books about teen problems and romance. She also …

Name: Jan Steinbrueck School: Lutheran High School South Grade: Nine Activities and Accomplishments: Steinbrueck took first place in the discus throw at the District Track meet last Saturday, qualifying her for the sectional competition on May 21. But she does more than just track. She played on the JV and varsity girls’ basketball teams and on the field hockey team this year. She was named to the school's Leadership Cabinet and was selected as a mentor for younger students. She belongs to Black Gold & Green (LHSS's recycling club) and Lutherans for Life. Key to Awesomness: Her mind still on …

Name: Jon Lauer School: Lutheran High School South Grade: 12 Activities and Accomplishments: Jon has been named the graduation class speaker for the class of 2011. He is a state track medalist and has been a member of the varsity track team for four years. He recently broke a 30-year-old school track record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.73 seconds. He’s a KAIROS small group worship leader, president of Messengers (a student chapel drama group) and a member of the Lancer Singers. He is an honor roll student. He is also in the National Honor Society and the National German Honor …

Name: Matt Heckenkamp School: Affton High School Grade: 10 Activities and Accomplishments: Last Thursday Heckenkamp was sworn in as an Eagle Scout by Boy Scout Troop 821 at a ceremony held at Affton High School. Only two percent of scouts reach this achievement, which requires the completion of 21 merit badge activities. For his Eagle service project, Heckenkamp led a crew that landscaped both sides of the driveway leading to Rogers Middle School from Mackenzie Road by designing beds and installing nearly 400 legacy stones. He joined the local Cub Scouts at age seven and later earned their …

Name: Paige Black School: Rogers Middle School Grade: 8th Activities and Accomplishments: Paige has been a leader in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Wii fitness program at Rogers, assisting school nurse Kathy Beezley in publicizing the club and the school's other fitness programming. She is on the honor roll and is a member of student council. She acts as a Cougar Peer Mediator and works on the school's yearbook staff. She also plays on the Rogers volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. Outside of school, she plays on the AJAX Elite select soccer team and the St. Michael the Archangel’s soccer team. …

Name:  Oscar Owens Grade:  11 School:  Affton High School Accomplishments and Activities: Oscar is student council vice president and participates in numerous clubs and extracurriculars. He was fifth in the state at last year's DECA competition, and this year tied for eighth in the state in matheletes. He plays on the chess team and created Affton High's strategic board game club. He plays volleyball and floor hockey, and he said he is involved with "band everything." Oscar also belongs to the school's National Honor Society. Key to Awesomeness: "I'm going to say my height. We joke about this…

Name:  Denana Vehab Grade:  12 School:  Bayless High School Accomplishments and Activities: No. 1 in her class, yearbook editor, National Honor Society president, Missouri Girl’s State Representative, St. Louis Rotary Club Scholarship recipient, St Louis College Club Scholarship recipient, Dean’s Scholarship recipient Key to Awesomenss: Denana said she lives by these words from Ken Venturi: “I don’t believe you have to be better than everyone else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.”

Name: Adela Cajic School:  Affton High School Grade: Junior Accomplishments and Activities: Adela was nominated by the science department as its 2011 outstanding junior science student. Because of the nomination, Adela was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Science from the University of Missouri—St. Louis College of Arts and Sciences. Adela is applying to the STARS program, a premier science program in the area. She wants to eventually work in the field of nanotechnology in cancer research. Adela is at the top of the junior class and speaks four languages.

Name: Courtney Kroeger School: Rogers Middle School Grade: 8th Activities and Accomplishments. Courtney is a president of the student council at Rogers Middle School. She on the Honor Roll, participates in the Affton Reads Book Club—a parent/child book club that Rogers sponsors. She is also a peer mediator, part of a group which works to keep Rogers a fight-free school. She participates in the new Wii Play 60 fitness group and plays volleyball and basketball on the Rogers Middle teams. She also plays on teams at St. Dominic Savio. Courtney has earned the Bronze Award in Girl Scouts and is …

Name:  Tony Huynh School:  Bayless Junior High School Grade: Eighth Accomplishments and Activities: Tony was selected by the Bayless Junior High faculty as the February Student of the Month and was honored for his outstanding attitude and character by the Rotary Club at a luncheon on Feb. 23. At school, Tony is involved in SMILE (a student-led anti-bullying group) and is an active choir member. According to school counselor, Christa Hessler, “Tony has a positive attitude and always has a smile on his face.” Key to Awesomeness: “I help others and develop my character in a positive way.  I …

Name: Jeffrey John Pyne Grade: 12 School: Affton High School Accomplishments: Jeffery earned his Eagle Scout with gold and bronze palms for a project at Greenwood Cemetery, clearing an overgrown area of trees, shrub and brush and raising five markers. He participates in varsity swimming and wrestling and has played on the junior varsity baseball team. He won first place at the Suburban South Diving Championship and has received scholar athelete awards. Jeffery plays first chair in the trumpet section of the Affton High School Band. He's made first place at the TEAMS engineering competition. …

Name: Alexis ClemonsGrade: 6School: Bayless Intermediate SchoolAccomplishments: Alexis is involved in the Intermediate Honor Choir, the Intermediate Band, the MINDGLO gifted program, student council and the Character Education committee. She was in the Junior High production of "Alice in Wonderland." In the classroom, Alexis goes above and beyond academic expectations for a sixth grader. She consistently earns herself a place on the honor roll and is recognized for outstanding citizenship every quarter. Outside of school, Alexis is a part of several sports teams.Key to Awesomeness: "I love …

Name: Katy McAllister Grade: 12 School: Affton High School Accomplishments: Katy has played varsity softball for four years and has been recognized numerous times as one of the best players in the county and state. She was picked for the All-State second team her freshman sophomore years and the first team her junior and senior years. She was chosen for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro first team. She was conference player of the year her junior and senior years, and lead the St. Louis area with 62 hits last year and a career total of 191. She maintains a 3.45 GPA and is is graduating on…