South Lake Schools has long been committed to providing our students a real education that prepares them for the real world. Even so, it’s always motivating and validating to hear stories about South Lake students who really have internalized that commitment and are actively giving back to their community.

Owen Hall is a current South Lake High School freshman who has been a student in South Lake Schools since elementary school. Owen is a young man who epitomizes “walking the talk.” This past summer Owen approached me with an idea that would enable him to achieve his Eagle Scout Award while giving back to his new school. He many offers to use this opportunity to help another organization, but Owen was determined to give back to his school.

We are committed to promoting community values that create an environment of excellence and achievement.

Owen recently completed his landscaping beautification project on our High School grounds and was awarded his Eagle Scout designation! But, he did not stop there. His project was less costly than he anticipated so he will be donating the remainder of the money to his High School to be used for student projects.

Another high school student who goes the extra mile to uphold his commitment to his school and peers is Nick Nieto. Nick is an active, involved student who has a passion for his school and promoting it in the greater community. Nick has frequently visited the St. Clair Shores City Council meetings to share good news about South Lake High School, its staff and students. He is tireless in his desire to ensure that all members of the community know his school as he does. He has written speeches and editorials that capture his love of South Lake Schools. One of the lines in a recent piece of writing summarizes his feelings for his school, “To me, and to so many people in our district, South Lake is that parent we’ve always wanted that wants the best for us, that pushes us to succeed, that will do anything and everything to see to it that we are well equipped to deal with the world and how much it has changed.”

We take seriously our job of preparing today’s student to be tomorrow’s leader.

Owen and Nick are just two examples of students living their classroom lessons through their commitment to their community and their goal to be a contributing member of the world beyond school.