GOWANDA — The Student Council of Gowanda High School named eight outstanding Panthers as Students of the Month for January.

Honorees are selected based on the following attributes – collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity – otherwise known as The Four C’s. These skills and characteristics are central to the district’s mission and values.

— Jackson Cook for critical thinking: “Jackson’s hard work ethic and dedication to his geometry studies truly set him apart. His exceptional critical thinking skills allow him to tackle complex problems creatively and effectively, consistently striving for excellence in every assignment. Beyond academics, Jackson is a kind and supportive classmate, fostering a positive learning environment for everyone around him. I am proud to celebrate his achievements and contributions to our class!” – math teacher Richard Weber.

— Isabella DeGolier for communication: “Bella is a talented student in the subject of English. She is able to comprehend, analyze, and communicate her knowledge through well-written and thought-out responses. She is a quiet leader within the classroom, and is a positive role model for all students in class. She is kind and thoughtful in her interactions with other students, and is just an overall great young lady!” – English teacher Ms. Shannon Styles.

— MacKenna Furlet for critical thinking: “In English class, MacKenna’s always digging deeper into what we’re learning and bringing fresh ideas to the table. Whether she’s answering questions or asking her own, MacKenna keeps the conversation interesting and makes class a better place for everyone. Her depth of analysis really shows in her writing, too — she’s fantastic at breaking down evidence and connecting it to bigger ideas, which takes her work to the next level.” – English teacher Ashley Wright.

— Zayne Laskey for collaboration: “Zayne is always ready to accept a new challenge and rises to every occasion. He is a reliable student musician and an excellent collaborator.” – music teacher Mr. Jacob Swanson.

— Amelia Pickering for collaboration: “Amelia is part of a great group of friends during Earth Science lab. She and the others consistently get right to work, is not distracted by background noise, and always asks for help when needed. It’s great to see work getting done, I wish I can thank all the members (Shoutout Molly, Emmy, and Hailey). Super job y’all.” – science teacher Jonathan Spiegel.

— Alanson Stafford for critical thinking: “Alanson consistently displays critical thinking in Tribal and Business Law. Not only grasping principles and concepts of business, he has also shown an aptitude to show extended knowledge by taking presented material and expanding on concepts during assigned presentations and projects. His insights and conjectures about the meaning of business ethics and principles applied in real world situations are spot-on. He has shown that not only does he understand the material but the ability to apply the knowledge practically as well.” – Seneca language teacher Tyler Thompson.

— Taylor Tussing for collaboration: “Taylor has been an outstanding example of taking full responsibility for her learning both independently and with partners in Spanish 2. She readily puts forth her best effort every day and collaborates with classmates to connect with the material. She brings an energy that is contagious and continuously uplifts the classroom environment. She has phenomenal Spanish language skills that help fill in gaps when needed. It’s evident Taylor enjoys working together to achieve a common goal.” – Spanish teacher Patti Estrada.

— Ava Valone for communication: “Ava has been outstanding in all of her day-to-day activities. Not only does Ava put effort in all of those, she is always open to sharing answers and providing feedback to the class. Questions that Ava has undoubtedly provided answers to some students who may be less open to the same communication. Keep up the stellar work Ava!” – social studies teacher Timothy Smith.