MCC Upper Elementary celebrates student achievements

Danny Bastosiewicz, front, second from left, was presented with the Courage of Gabe Award. From left: Blake Spyker, Danny, Barrett Pasco. In back, Principal Kimes, Jeff Bastosiewicz, Don Pasco, Elizabeth Pasco.

Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — For 12 years, Mason County Central Upper Elementary School Principal Kevin Kimes has awarded the Courage of Gabe Award to a fifth grade student who has over come obstacles. It is named after 2021 MCC graduate Gabe Sessions, who was the first recipient of the award. Sessions has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rapidly progressive form of muscular dystrophy.

This year’s Courage of Gabe Award was presented to Danny Bastosiewicz this morning during the MCC Upper Elementary end-of-the-school year awards ceremony.

Kimes said Danny, the son of Brea Bair and Jeff Bastosiewicz, has overcome many social and academic obstacles during his three years at the upper elementary.

Helping Danny through that process have been two other boys who have also faced their own challenges, Blake Spyker and Barrett Pasco. Because of the boys’ friendship and support of each other, Kimes presented them with No. 1 Pier to Pier Awards.

“This award could have gone to any of these three boys,” Kimes said. “They have each shown great growth over the last three years and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Blake is the son of Michael Dittmer. Barrett is the son of Elizabeth Pasco and Don Pasco.

During the awards ceremony, students were recognized for maintaining grades of all As and all As and Bs, improvements for Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) testing scores, students of the month, and perfect attendance.

Parent Christy Kessel was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year.

Christy Kessel, center with her son, Levi, left, and Principal Kimes.

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