Outstanding area high school students were honored at the Heart of the Valley and Greenleaf/Wrightstown Optimists Youth Appreciation Banquet at the Starlite Club in Kaukauna on Nov. 9, during Youth Appreciation Week.
For the 22nd year, the Optimist clubs worked with guidance counselors and school staff from each school to select outstanding students based on their demonstrated citizenship, leadership and school activities.
Sixty representatives were chosen from the top three grades at Kaukauna, Little Chute, Kimberly, Freedom and Wrightstown high schools.
The honorees and their parents enjoyed a chicken dinner and a motivational speech by Mike Valentyne.
A special drawing was held for a $500 grant; Michael DeBruin of Kaukauna High School was the lucky recipient.
Area schools look forward to the event each year, the Optimists say, and the clubs are proud to host the banquet annually.
Patrick Lee presented the awards to the following Kaukauna High School students:
• Sophomores — Kayla Bastian, Amanda Crupi, Joy Rueden, and Sadie Tennessen
• Juniors — Kelly Haen, Emily Peters, Lindy Stein and Michael DeBruin
• Seniors — Ryan Propson, Leah Van Abel, Mary VanAbel and Lauren Grube.
Patricia Nikolay presented these Little Chute High School students chosen for 2005:
• Sophomores —  Carly Anderson, Sarah Evers, Abigail Nikolay and Amelia Van Handel
• Juniors — Tyra Hermsen, Kristin Hiroskey and Amanda Van Keulen
• Seniors — Alex Gloudemans, Maggie Hartjes, Jennifer Peeters and Tyler Wundrow.
The following Kimberly High School students were acknowledged by Tom Dudzik:
• Sophomores — Robert Beck, Kelly Bogard, Mitchell Olds and Alison Seline 
• Juniors — Robert Gruber, Andrea Milis, Drew Oudenhoven and Riley Zeka 
• Seniors — Amanda Kilsdonk, Peter Nilson, Daniel Rosenow and Melissa Tran.
Lois Cuff presented these Freedom High School students:
• Sophomores — Brittny Conrad, Cory Ihde,  Richard Olson and  Katie Woelz
• Juniors — Adam Bowers, Brandon DeCoster, Brittney Gleason and Anna Schlimm 
• Seniors — Amanda Beyer, Kelly DeCoster, Brennan Rausch and Jana VanHandel .
Scott Thompson honored the following Wrightstown High School students:
• Sophomores — Jessica Klister,  Jonathan Swanson, Jesse Bohrtz and Theresa Liebergen
• Juniors — Melanie Yanzik, Tina Carmichael,  Greg Vanevenhoven and Kyle Kamps
• Seniors — Adam Diny, Jill Meulemans, Steven Seiltz and Leah Borchardt.