Student of the Month is selected by the staff of the Ballard R-2 School District using the following criteria: attendance, attitude towards others and school, behavior, leadership, and improvement in or maintenance of good grades. This month's special theme included qualities of kindness and dependability.
The Student of the Month for February is Senior, Sydney Claiborne, the daughter of Rusty and Sandra Claiborne. Sydney currently participates in National Honor Society, Pep Club, serving as Class Secretary, girl’s volleyball manager, working toward A+ scholarship, and reporting for the FFA. Outside of school, she is currently employed as a retail merchandiser and loves hanging out with friends. Her future plans are to go to State Fair Community College in Clinton, MO and then to UCM for a degree in Education.
The Ballard Staff has said: "Sydney is a respectful, hard-working, and responsible student. She has a positive nature about her and spreads it wherever she goes. She treats classmates, teachers and staff with respect by valuing each as an individual, respecting differences and valuing the work that others do. She is committed to success and works to the best of her ability. Sydney is an exceptional young adult!" and “I had the pleasure of getting to know Sydney as she spent the first semester as my teacher's aid in 1st and 2nd grades this year. I knew she was friendly. I knew she was fun and usually smiling. I learned that she is also very kind.
She has a giant heart; the kind that we need more of in this world today. She was willing to help however I needed. The biggest indicator of her personality is how the students in my class loved her! Sydney is a compassionate, kind, funny young woman. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to know her better.”
Sydney’s inspirational statement is: “You only get one life, so live it to the fullest!”
For Sydney's hard work in school, she is receiving a certificate of recognition from the Adrian Optimist Club and $20.00 in Adrian Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Bucks.”
