On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, representatives from local schools convened at Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Ballroom for the annual Copper Country Association of School Boards (CCASB) awards banquet. Schools typically recognize individuals in three different award categories, such as Student Leadership, Outstanding Education Employee, and School Service. While it takes a village and the contributions of many paddling in the same direction to help schools function effectively, Chassell's school stakeholders chose to nominate and celebrate the following individuals for the 2023-24 school year.
Student Leadership Award - Mason Loukus
Mason is a Chassell senior. While he’s always been a leader for his peers, he’s actively taken on new opportunities to continue showcasing his selflessness heading into his last year of high school. Mason is equal parts hard-working and humble. He’s gone above and beyond to help boost school spirit, especially among his grade level peers, and that’s indirectly had a positive influence on our younger students. He’s taken initiative to be a leader through different student council-led spirit week events and activities. Mason has showcased his hard-working nature and positivity as a supportive teammate through a variety of school-sponsored sports. He’s taken knowledge learned through last year’s CTE Graphics/Marketing program and channeled that toward design improvement projects within our school building. He’s shown what it is to be a kind, yet strong leader to those younger than him and many students look up to him for that reason. He will be really missed in Chassell once he graduates, but we know he will carry on his best traits into the rest of his life and have a positive influence on many.
Outstanding Education Employee Award - Mark Ware
Mr. (Mark) Ware has been teaching in Chassell since 1997. Through a variety of grade levels of middle and high school English, electives like Psychology, Drama, and Nature Skills, Mr. Ware's ability to reach and inspire students has been an asset to Chassell through parts of four different decades. Through all of the new challenges we’ve faced through recent years of education, he has brought a sense of calm and dedication to our school that’s only bolstered our resilience. Even more recently, he’s proudly taken on extra-curricular roles that 1997 Mark might never believe he ever would. Between Quiz Bowl, E-Sports, Student Council, and more recently Robotics, Mr. Ware has pioneered or assisted in building more positive pathways for students.
We’ve procured a direct quote from one of Mr. Ware's social media posts where he reflects on his time helping to coach Chassell’s team at a recent Robotics competition. He notes, “While I have never been much for being into competition or on a ‘team,’ this group has shown me I can still grow and try new things. I am lucky to be a part of a great school with an amazing staff and, more importantly, students that teach me new things every day.”
School Service Award - Kellan Heikkila
Mr. (Kellan) Heikkila has carved his way down a unique path that’s helped out our school immensely over the past two years. In the spring of 2022, Mr. Heikkila graduated from Michigan Tech with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to his time at MTU, he spent the previous 13-plus years as one of Chassell’s finest artists, quiet leaders, friends, and academically brilliant students, having been a Panther since preschool.
Roughly two years ago when faced with some unique staffing needs, we learned of Mr. Heikkila's interest in stretching his aspirations to include leading and inspiring the next generations of Panthers. He’s been a significant asset to our school as a result. He’s taught a variety of math and science courses already, utilizing his interest and content mastery of science, technology, engineering and math. He’s worked hard building his teaching background and working on areas of growth as one of Michigan’s first cohort participants of the Talent Together teaching program.
The list goes on with how grateful we are for Mr. Heikkila, who embodies school service. He’s carried sheer grace through each challenge and is one of the kindest, warm-hearted, true team players you will ever meet.
Congratulations to all of this year's CCASB awards recipients, and Go Panthers!