Missy Castleman, Dan Bree and Nathan White. Super Achievers DAVID TESSLER MARC BLACKMAN West Bloomfield High School West Bloomfield High School Tessler, salutatorian at West Bloomfield High School, will attend the University of Michigan Honors College. His plans include a year of study in Israel while continuing towards a career in medicine. He is a National Honor socie- ty member, Phi Beta Kappa 1-6 and placed first in the na- tional French examination, has been extremely active in 0 the United Synagogue youth, serving as regional president this year, and he tutors Hebrew. Blackman, class valedic- torian, will attend the University of Michigan,stu- dying engineering. He has been nominated for a U-M Regents Scholarship, is a member of the Debate Club, the National Honor Society, and Phi Beta Kappa. He plays basketball at the Jewish Community Center and loves the Pistons. Academics are balanced by other interests for these high-ranking graduating seniors. RONNA F. HALL Special to The Jewish News y sister's dedication to her stu- dies keeps me going and is my main motivator," says Dan Bree, a graduating senior from Andover High School. Bree's sister, an an- thropology student at the University of Michigan, left a big impact on Andover in the area of drama and athletics. "After seeing what hard work and determination brought to her," adds Bree, "I realized that I don't need to stand out to get noticed. I just need to show what I can do." What Dan does is theater. "In theater I can really make a statement. It is the perfect place to let your feelings out," says Dan. "Performing gives me a real satisfaction." Nathan White, a senior at Southfield-Lathrup High School, says, "My parents have been a real strong factor in my academics. Lots of kids don't have the support I have. My father is very level- headed, practical and pragmatic. He has been my tour guide to life. "The values instilled in me when I was little have paid off. I am not afraid of hard work. It brings self- satisfaction, accomplishment and later financial reward." Gifted students have an in- ner drive. Although most top students have always had their parents' support, they 78 FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1989 have succeeded academically primarily for themselves. Missy Castleman, from Detroit Country Day, describes herself: "I have always been a perfectionist and always do the best I app- ly myself to do. If you know you can do the work and get good grades and then don't, you will be disappointed in yourself. It definitely took a lot of work to do great at Country Day." Bree, White and Castleman are among the outstanding Jewish students from the classes of '89 graduating this month. Each of these students is part of the top ten in each class. "The parents of highly motivated students have sup- ported and nurtured the talent of their children, en- couraged them academically and socially from a very young age," says Jim Wolfe, Andover High School guidance counselor. "That talent has been nurtured by teachers, counselors and friends." It is rare, say educators, that a school will have effec- tive students without effec- tive parents. Likewise, a positive school climate results in high motivation in students and staff. Bree's parents never pushed him on grades, never gave him incentives. "They knew I could do it," says Bree. "I'm used to having things intense and I deal with it pretty well. I never do anything halfway. I never quit, and I won't start anything that I can't finish." White's solution to academic success came from an early suggestion from his music teacher. "When I asked her how long I should practice a piece I was learning, she replied, 'If you can play it, then play it! I just try to do my best and I study some- thing until I know it. When it comes to studying, you can only fool others, not yourself." Self-esteem and competi- tion are also contributing fac- tors for top achievers. Without positive feelings about themselves, children don't grow academically, socially or personally. With high self-esteem they perform wonders. Rachel Francisco, a June graduate of Berkley High School, was exposed to many different things as a young child. Trips to museums, plays, and music have all been a great part of her life. Always a good student, Rachel at 13 gained con- fidence after attending a sum- mer arts program at Interlochen. "I found so many bright people who knew so much about the arts, I really began to fit in;" says Rachel. "I realized that I could set my goals in music and still be the extraverted girl I was in elementary school." For Scott Chupak, competi- tion is a force he thrives on and has given him great satisfaction beginning in the sixth grade when he placed 6th in the state's mathe- JILL KLIGER REVA NELSON Southfield-Lathrup High School Southfield High School Kliger plans to study com- puter science and computer linguistics at the University of Michigan. She has received a U-M Regents Alumni Scholarship and a scholarship award from the Elks Club of Southfield. She holds three letters in skiing, is a varsity debater, a Thespian, involved in forensics, and is the vice- president of Student Caucus and the Physics club. Next fall, Nelson will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in the Honors Col- lege. She has received the Phi Beta Kappa certificate of com- mendation. She has served as president of the Beth Shalom USY, tutors English and math, and taught French in an after-school elementary program. AMY FINKELSTEIN TRACEY COHEN Southfield-Lathrup High School Berkley High School Finkelstein is enrolled at Michigan State University next fall and hopes to study advertising and eventually produce more intelligent com- mercials. She is a member of the Latin club and a Thespian. Cohen will be attending the University of Michigan and plans to study zoology and hopes to earn a doctorate. She is a National Honor Society member, a member of the var- sity track team, has played varsity tennis, junior varsity softball and is part of the ski team.