Ms. Shyenne, a CIS site coordinator located at Kalkaska Middle School, knew that seventh grader Dom had hidden talents waiting to be revealed. Eager to bring them to the surface, Ms. Shyenne tapped Dom for a leadership position in Kalkaska Middle School’s Wellness Club.
“Having worked with Dom since sixth grade, I knew he had the capacity to be a leader if the right opportunity presented itself, as he was starting to make better choices in the classroom and among his peers,” Ms. Shyenne observed.
During the 2023-24 academic year, the Wellness Club, a student-led effort that educates young people on the benefits of fitness, health, and nutrition, invested their energy in a Student Voices for Healthy Choices cookbook themed on popular movies. As a year-long project that sharpens communication, confidence, and leadership skills, Student Voices for Healthy Choices is supported with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment.
Over the course of the year, the student body voted for the top 25 movies to be featured in the cookbook. Their ideas inspired Dom and fellow Wellness Club members to create the Movies, Meals, Movement Mindset Cookbook, containing 25 student-created recipes, fun wellness facts about movies, and interactive tasks for students to complete with families at home. Recipes like Kickin’ Chicken Ramen (The Karate Kid) to Tony Stark’s Green Energizer Drink (Ironman), are featured on vividly designed pages that please the eye—and the stomach!
The graphic design aspect of the project piqued Dom’s interest in an unexpected way. Outside of club time, Dom frequently stopped by Ms.Shyenne’s office to ask complex questions about graphic design. Ms. Shyenne, a graphic design major in college, was impressed by Dom’s newfound interest. She put his talents to immediate use, as he designed three of the 25 pages of the cookbook.
Whether experimenting with shading or typography, Dom poured his heart and soul into every aspect of the project
“I love this,” he said. “I really love this.”
English teacher Ms. Kovalcsik took note of Dom’s enthusiasm and channeled his creativity into classroom assignments. She allowed him to complete several projects using graphic design programs to communicate his grasp of the subject matter with success.
“Dom struggles in class with everyday work. After learning that he loves to use graphic design, I decided to differentiate his end of the year project and incorporate graphic design to appeal to him,” said Mrs. Kovalcsik.
“When I find that students have an interest in something like drawing or graphic design, I use that and change up a major project to appeal to their interests. This boosts their interest and helps them come to love education,” she shared.
Instilling that love of education is why teachers like Mrs. Kovalcsik and site coordinators like Ms. Shyenne are passionate about their work.
“This teaching method works best for Dom. It might not be traditional, but he is grasping the concepts and he’s learning,” shared Ms. Shyenne.
While the effort poured into each entry made it challenging to pick just one winner, The Sandlot was the top cookbook selection, featuring ballpark nachos as the recipe favored by Kalkaska Middle School Students. To bring the Student Voices for Healthy Choices theme full circle, Dom and the Wellness Club members created a Sandlot-themed health and fitness afternoon for their peers to enjoy. As a special surprise, the Traverse City Pit Spitters rewarded the Student Voices for Healthy Choices team with tickets to an upcoming game!
Looking ahead, Ms. Shyenne is optimistic that Dom’s future in design—and in life—is colored with promise.
“It’s so important to have adults who move you down the right paths in life. I hope this spark ignites a flame.”
