Marcus Whitman Senior Honored
Mary Leet, a resident of Stanley and senior at Marcus Whitman Central School, received Keuka College’s Experiential Learner of the Month Award for November.
Keuka, the national leader in experiential, hands-on learning, established the program to honor high school students whose commitment to experiential, hands-on learning has made a difference in their communities.
Leet will receive a partial academic fellowship to Keuka and qualify for the Experiential Learner of the Year Award, which carries a full academic fellowship to the College.
She was nominated for the award by Michael J. Sullivan, a school counselor at Marcus Whitman.
“I am extremely proud of the tremendous growth Mary has exhibited during high school,” said Sullivan. “She is a confident young woman who knows herself and is concerned about making the world around her better.”
Leet has made her mark at Marcus Whitman in myriad areas, including the performing arts. She was selected to the All-County Chorus this year and is a member of Marcus Whitman’s Women’s Ensemble, Drama Club, Art Club, Cartooning Club, and Creative Writers Club.
A talented writer, she is student editor of The Whitman Word. Leet’s January 2011 article, “Uglies Makes Readers Question Common Labels,” was selected for inclusion in The National Edition, “a weekly collection of stories highlighting the most interesting and relevant work done by teen journalists” and published by My High School Journalism (my.hsg.org).
Leet is organizing a LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) group at Marcus Whitman.
“Never one to do things halfway, Mary has consulted with other LGBT organizations throughout our region and has reached out to professional advocates in seeking benchmark organizations,” said Sullivan.
Also active in her community, Leet volunteers at the United Methodist Church, where she is member of the choir, and the Friendship House in Middlesex. She has performed various volunteer work as a member of the Girl Scouts and lends her time and talents to the Gorham Rotary Club and Boy Scouts.
The Experiential Learner of the Month Award-winner is featured on television stations throughout central, western, and northern New York state, as well as the Southern Tier.
The participating stations include WTVH, Channel 5, Syracuse (CBS); WHAM, Channel 13, Rochester (ABC); WWNY, Channel 7, Watertown (CBS); and WBNG, Channel 12, Binghamton (CBS).
Good for you, Mary! =)
What an honor for our small community-way to go Mary!!