The Portage Exchange Club recently welcomed two outstanding Portage High School students as its December Students of the Month.
Senior Sarah Reber is a member of the speech team, Student Council and French club. She won her first Speech Team competition with an original humorous speech entitled “Facebook Anonymous.” She is vice-chairman of the Portage Youth Commission, which helped 35 elderly or disabled people by raking leaves this fall. She is active in her church’s youth group and helped pass out water to participants in the July 4th parade. She maintains a 3.4 GPA.
Reber plans to attend Purdue University to major in business and hopes someday to run her own business in Chicago, perhaps a restaurant.
Sophomore Matt Bliss has a 4.33 GPA. He is a member of the speech team, swim team, German club, Saga and recycling club. He also serves on the Student Court. He plays piano and guitar and writes his own music. On Speech Team, he specializes in Broadcasting. This includes four categories for which he must prepare: Breaking News, Original Commercial, Editorial and On the Spot.
Bliss has not decided on a college yet, but he is leaning toward majoring in math and physics or philosophy. He plans to continue his work in music.
Photo: (left to right) PHS Assistant principal Andrew Halaschak, Sarah Reber, Matt Bliss and Portage Exchange Club president Joan Hasse-Rodriguez