KELSEYVILLE – Five Lake County students who are succeeding despite a variety of obstacles were honored recently by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Lake Charter.

The Every Student Succeeding honorees of 2012 are Jacob Blue of Clear Lake High School, Leticia Bowman of Carlé Continuation High School, Amber Marga of Upper Lake High School, Jordan Marquardt of Middletown Unified School District, and Neira Meciel-Jimenez of Natural High School.

ACSA Lake Charter President Korby Olson, superintendent of Middletown Unified School District, introduced the students and presented them with award certificates on the evening of March 29.

In addition, each student received a gift bag from the Mendo Lake Credit Union, sponsor of the Every Student Succeeding Program. ACSA annually recognizes students who are nominated for their achievements after facing barriers through their lives, Olson said.

Honorees, parents, friends, school superintendents, counselors, principals and instructors attended the presentation program at Kelseyville High School. Jacob Gill, a Middletown High School student, played acoustical guitar prior to the presentations and while attendees enjoyed dinner prepared by Michelle Malm, Kelseyville Unified School District’s director of food services.

School representatives who accompanied the students spoke of the teens’ accomplishments and abilities to overcome hardships.

Middletown High School Principal Bill Roderick told attendees that Jordan Marquardt has shown tremendous growth in communication with peers, staff and faculty since coming into the school district.

He plays basketball for Special Olympics and takes Karate. “He is a part of our culture on campus,” Roderick said while congratulating Marquardt.

Natural High School instructor Dave Hagberg praised Neira Meciel-Jimenez for initiating a turnaround in her attendance and academics.

Stating that the teen is a “pleasure to teach,” Hagberg said she “shines” as an aid in Irene Lopez’s Special Day Class at Lakeport Elementary School. “Neira has a remarkable ability to connect with the kids,” Hagberg added.

Amber Marga came to Upper Lake High as a junior last year, school Counselor Karen Riordan told the group. Prior to her move to Lake County from Oregon, Marga’s life had been somewhat unstable. “She has done very well” despite it, said Riordan, who noted that Marga now has a 3.67 grade point average and has been accepted at all three of the universities to which she has applied. “Amber is resilient, successful, and very determined,” said Riordan.

Verna Rogers, English and Careers class teacher at Carlé Continuation School, congratulated Leticia Bowman, “Leti” as she is known at school.

Describing her as a “hard worker and awesome student,” Rogers said Bowman has overcome many obstacles and “always has a smile on her face.”

Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Bill MacDougall said Bowman has been his “right-hand” at every community service event he has been involved in the last two years. “She is dedicated, tenacious, and charming – a true success,” said MacDougall.

Jacob Blue has “put himself on the right track” for completing his education, Clear Lake High School Principal Steve Gentry said.

Blue has received encouragement from his cross country coach, Peter Stanley, his teachers at Clear Lake High, and counselor Paul Larrea, who also attended the ceremony.

However, Blue deserves the credit for his success, said Gentry. He came to high school in Lakeport when he enrolled as a senior in August last year. He previously had attended several schools and said he had an “attitude adjustment” while going to Unicorn School in Mendocino County.

The “positive young man” now carries a 4.0 grade point average, is active as a recording technician for the concert band, and was on the school’s Academic Decathlon team.

For more information about ACSA’s Every Student Succeeding Program, contact Olson at the Middletown Unified School District office, 707-987-4100.

The program’s sponsor, Mendo Lake Credit Union, is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. It has branches in Fort Bragg, Ukiah, Lakeport and Clearlake.

Additional information is available on the credit union’s Web site, www.mlcu.org , or by calling 707-468-0161.