2021 Turnaround Achievement Awards Recipient

SAGINAW, MICHIGAN – Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) hosted the 25th Annual Turnaround Achievement Awards Ceremony.  The Turnaround Achievement Awards, sponsored this year by Independent Bank, The Saginaw Exchange Club, Nexteer, and Saginaw ISD, honor Saginaw County students for their academic and personal improvements.  The award program celebrates and recognizes students from Saginaw County middle schools, high schools, and alternative schools that have been nominated by school staff for demonstrating the most effort, perseverance, and commitment to turning their lives around.     

This year 34 students were presented with personalized plaques and memorabilia at the award ceremony which was held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Saginaw ISD.  The 2021 Saginaw ISD Turnaround Award recipients are:  

  • Zachary Adelberg - St. Charles High School
  • Mariah Averill - Frankenmuth High School
  • Christopher Ayala - White Pine Middle School
  • Sy’Nyah Baker - The Success Academy
  • Eli Balbach - Martin G. Atkins Elementary School
  • Torrey Dobbins - The Success Academy
  • Bailey Fobear - Birch Run High School
  • Hannah Glover - Merrill Middle School
  • Jaylen Hodges - Bridgeport-Spaulding High School
  • Jessica Hight - Freeland Middle School
  • Kyle Jedynak - Hemlock Alternative High School
  • Nikeyttia Lee Jones - Saginaw Covenant Academy
  • Madison Mahoney - Bridgeport-Spaulding Middle School
  • Kodi Maier - Merrill High School
  • Krystel Melanson - Omni High School
  • Connor Nagel - Swan Valley Adult and Alternative Education
  • Alicia Ostrander - Mackinaw High School (ACE Award Recipient)
  • Taylor Parent - Saginaw ISD Transitions Center
  • Mitchell Patrick - Carrollton High School
  • Michael Jr. Pearson - Freeland High School
  • Samuel Princinsky - Chesaning High School
  • Corion Pritchett - Saginaw High School
  • Nikki Reed - Carrollton Middle School
  • Dustin Roberts - Birch Run Progressive High School
  • Austin Sayer - Swan Valley High School
  • Madison Shye - Great Lakes Bay Early College
  • Lucas Slater - E.F. Rittmueller Middle School
  • De’Ronnie Sparks - Arthur Hill High School
  • Makylah Tackebury - Marshall Greene Middle School
  • Jackalin Taylor - Heritage High School
  • Dominic Teddy - Chesaning Middle School
  • Casey Wardin - Hemlock Middle School
  • Hunter Wiktorowski - Swan Valley Middle School
  • Aaron Wilding - Anna M. Thurston Middle School

Alicia Ostrander, a student at Mackinaw High School and 2021 Turnaround Award recipient, was also awarded the Saginaw Exchange Club $1,000 ACE Award.  The ACE Award is a scholarship to be used upon graduation for college or post-secondary education.  The ACE Award recognizes students who have overcome great adversities and hardships.  The scholarship serves as a powerful example to all students that hard work and perseverance pay dividends. 

Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD, said, “Congratulations Turnaround Award recipients on your well-deserved successes.  Not only did you overcome personal challenges, but you did so during the extreme turbulence of a global pandemic.  Your accomplishments are modeled reminders that we all own the power of choice to grow, change, improve, and make positive differences, no matter our circumstances.  This award is an excellent recognition of your leadership and, on behalf of the entire Saginaw ISD, we applaud your achievements.”    

About Saginaw Intermediate School District
Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) is an educational service agency that provides effective and innovative leadership, services, resources, and programs throughout Saginaw County, Michigan.  Saginaw ISD serves 12 local school districts, 5 public school academies, and 22 non-public schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 27,000 students.  Public school districts supported include:  Birch Run Area Schools, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Carrollton Public Schools, Chesaning Union Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Freeland Community School District, Hemlock Public School District, Merrill Community Schools, Saginaw Public School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools, St. Charles Community Schools, and Swan Valley School District.  Saginaw ISD provides career and technical education, early childhood, finance, human resources, instruction, pupil accounting, special education, technology, and transportation services.  In addition, SISD operates multiple educational programs to meet the unique needs of students ages birth to 26 across Saginaw County, including: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Head Start/Early Head Start and Great Start to Readiness Programs, Great Lakes Bay Early College, Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center School, and Special Education Center Programs.  Learn more about Saginaw ISD by calling (989) 399-7473 or visiting www.sisd.cc.