NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB) — Daniel Dietz was 11-years-old when he picked up a yo-yo and discovered he had a real knack for it. Dietz soon started performing at events and making money, a lot of it.

Dietz is now ranked number one in Massachusetts and fourth in the country for yo-yoing. He’s sponsored by the company, One Drop Design, has a yo-yo named after him, and he wants to start a yo-yo company of his own one day.

At this point, he’s made a total of $40, 000. But it hasn’t gone into his pocket. It’s gone to Smile Train. The organization fixes children’s cleft pallets all around the world for free. He found out about the group from a brochure in the mail.

“Everyone was like, you should put your tip jar out and you can make a lot of money every time  yo-yoing. And I’m like an 11, 12-year-old kid. I don’t really need like that much money. And I got the brochure around the same time. I kind of wanted to do yo-yoing for an organization. Then, I kind of saw the kids with cleft pallets and that really got to me.”

Guidance Counselor Fred Itterly was the one to nominate Dietz.

“This guy really is putting together yo-yo, community service, competition and the person who he is in a way that’s so unique for me,” said Itterly. “I’ve never seen anyone like this before.”

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — It’s not surprising that Guidance Counselor DeYandre Wilson has nothing but good things to say about Student of Character Kaila Barnett.

“She’s just an exceptional young lady,” said Wilson. “She’s one of those people that you can come in and have a bad day. Then you see her and it makes it all better and you remember why we do what we do in the first place.”

Just a few years ago, though, Barnett was anything but a teacher’s dream. She herself explained how she had a poor attitude, disrupted class and simply didn’t   listen. But then, who can say for sure why, she did finally listen to a few words from a teacher named Miss Thomas.

“She set me aside one day and said, you know what, you’re going to be somebody and you don’t need to do any of this to get attention,” said Barnett. “You don’t need to bad mouth people. You don’t need to stop doing your work just so that you can get attention, the bad attention. Every student, every person., wants attention. It’s either bad or good. But what kind of attention do you want? And as of now, I want the good attention, not the bad.”

She’s received a lot of that good attention when she became a Certified Nurse Assistant at age 16. With the minimum age usually 18, she had to convince educators she could balance that course load with her high school work. She plans to go on in medicine to be a traveling practitioner and work with people with Alzheimer’s.

“People like to throw people by the wayside when you lose your mind,” said Barnett. “But I think there’s still something in there. Like how did you lose your mind? I want to know why. how does that happen? Of course, I want to research that and figure out if there’s a better medication for them.”

“She’s so driven and she’s so focused on what it is that she wants and what she wants to do for people,” said Wilson. “She’s definitely prepared.”

“Commitment to the game is incredible,” said her coach, Noel Carvalho. “It separates her from the other kids. Her ability to make other players around her better athletes, student athletes, is a great thing.”

“I definitely take all my anger, everything that I have inside of me, I just put it on the field and leave it there,” said Werbicki.

Off the field, Werbicki’s all smiles, especially when she’s helping out students with special needs.

“My brother has a learning disability that he got from food allergies and probably more things that we don’t know about,” said Werbicki. “And slowly he’s getting better.”

“Seeing my mom over the years helping him just made me want to help kids like him.”

Guidance Counselor Donna Hall Adams said Werbicki was very clear from the start about wanting to work with special needs kids as a career. And knowing her better now, she knows she’s made the right choice.

“She’s very caring.” said Adams. “Always happy. Always pleasant. Definitely always willing to help out anybody anytime, whether it’s a student, a teammate or a teacher.”

Werbicki’s dream is to open a daycare that brings together kids with and without special needs. She believes the experience would be a lesson in itself.

“They’re people just like me and you,” said Werbicki. “They just learn differently.”

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WGGB) — Running for a touchdown into the end zone. It’s a familiar place for East Longmeadow High School senior Anthony Vega. He’s also talented on the basketball court and on the baseball field. To always cheer him on in the stands are his parents and his siblings. But Vega’s hard work doesn’t stop here.

“Definitely a big part about playing sports is you gotta do what you gotta do to get grades,” said Vega.

There are many students who excel in both academics and sports. What sets Vega apart is that he also finds the time to help kids get to the same place he is. He coaches pee-wee up to eighth grade players in baseball, basketball and football.

“Talent starts young and if you help them when they’re young, then they’re gonna get better when they’re older,” said Vega.

This includes academics. His lesson to the younger kids is straightforward.

“To keep up your grades and you’ll excel in college and excel in life,” said Vega.

And speaking of college, Vega is thinking about Westfield State University and a major in either criminal justice or math.

MONSON, Mass. (WGGB) — Monson High School Athletic Director Sarah Shaw has known and admired Merissia Phipps for years. She watched as Phipps captained her soccer team to a number of championships. She also watched how Phipps stepped up for others in the face of disaster, the June 1st tornado.

“It felt like we we’re getting hit by a train,” said Phipps. “You could hear the wind blowing and the windows breaking, just everything coming down. After the tornado, we opened up our eyes. We were all covered in oil, water, the insulation.”

Phipps’ home was leveled but that didn’t stop her from going to help her neighbors clear their yards, find their things. Even when she did look through the rubble of her house that day, it was in part for the sake of her teammates.

“Here’s her house in complete ruins,” said Shaw. “Nothing left of it. Absolutely nothing left of it. And she was trying to find what she needed. So, she wouldn’t let her teammates down to get to her soccer game. So she could play that day.”

Phipps doesn’t just go all out for her teammates either.

“Merissia’s always been a student that has stood up for those that maybe weren’t comfortable with standing up for themselves,” said Shaw.

This is especially true when it comes to special needs students.

“People don’t take them seriously sometimes,” said Phipps. “And I know from experience with working with these kids that some of them are smarter than regular kids who don’t have learning disabilities and i don’t think people know that.”

Phipps plans to study special education at American International College and then work with special needs kids.

“She’s really learned to balance her, balance family, balance her academics and her athletics,” said Shaw. “It’s amazing. And then throw a disaster in the middle of it.”

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB) — Faith, values, academic excellence, service and leadership. These are the guiding principles at Holyoke Catholic High School. And in her quiet, but determined way, Kelsey Barton is showing the community outside the school what these principles are about.

“When we see a student go out and embody what Holyoke Catholic is teaching and bring their talent again out into the community and help others, that’s a great reflection on the school, but more importantly, it’s a great reflection on the student,” said Holyoke Catholic High School Guidance Counselor, Jessica Randall.

Barton gives her time to a number of charities. Last year, she raised money for the Brightside Angel Program. She also has volunteered for the March of Dimes.

A family she met inspired here to it. The organization helped that family get intensive hospital care for one baby born with a rare blood disorder and another born at  25 weeks.

“He had very low expectancy and his organs weren’t fully developed,” said Barton.” And he was put on March of Dimes and now he’s running around and a happy little kid. Just seeing those kids and what March of Dimes did for them, I just wanted to help in whatever way I could.”

And she helped in a big way. The school team she organized for the March of Dimes campaign last year raised the most of any team in Western Massachusetts.

Barton’s greatest inspiration by far was her grandmother who recently died,

“She worked with the Chicopee Visiting Nurses so she cared for all different sorts of people and she did it because she loved it. She was a very selfless person and very inspiring,” said Barton.

These are the same words people use to describe Barton now. Her grandmother would certainly be proud.

TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WGGB) — Since she can remember, Alicia Hathaway knew she wanted to be a nurse. And she decided recently, she wanted to do it by taking care of babies.

She was at the hospital to support her pregnant friend when she gave birth to a still born baby.

“After that, it just solidified my decision to want to help bring babies into the world and help make sure they survive or do whatever I can to help that,” said Hathaway.

When Hathaway goes to college in the fall, she’ll be the first in her family. The program Upward Bound works with teens in Hathaway’s situation.

It helps students academically to get to college and even helps them fill out college applications. Sharon Gralnick, Assistant Director and Franklin County Academic Advisor, Northfield Mount Herman Upward Bound said Hathaway has a remarkable dedication.

“She’s also the person in school that everybody looks up to I think,” said Gralnick. “That’s what I see here when I’m here. I think she’s just a positive person and sort of spreads her love to everybody.”

Another inspiration for college has been Hathaway’s mother. She started a family at a young age. And because of sacrifices she had to make for Hathaway and her siblings, she doesn’t want to let her down.

“She’s extremely excited for me,” said Hathaway. “Before she went into the hospital, she was looking in the mailbox everyday for college letters for me.”

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB) — Walking through the mall, the average teenage girl looks at the clothes, but that’s not always the case with Kristin Lapointe.

“I see like tables or like the racks and  I’ll just look at the welds,” said Lapointe.

When she was just a freshman, Lapointe took a class in the metal fabrication and joining technologies shop at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. She found her calling as a welder.

When we met her, she was working on her senior project, an intricate table she also designed. But don’t think this is all she knows.

She is also a top student in academics. Chicopee comprehensive is a model in that it has both strong technical and academic programs. Lapointe plans to take all of this to college where she’ll study engineering.

Kenneth Widelo oversees all of the technical programs at the high school.

“The one thing with Kristin that I always say is she wants to become a welding engineer and she’ll probably be the only welding engineer that not only will be able to design the bridge but also fabricate it,” said Widelo.

When it comes to welding, Lapointe knows that as a women, she’s in the minority. But it doesn’t matter.

“It’s what I want to do,” said Lapointe. “It’s not gonna stop me just because I’m a girl. To any girls, don’t be afraid of choosing shops. There are no boy trades. Do what you what you want to do. Do what makes you happy. You may like it.”

“In ten years, she’ll be the most successful engineer that I’ve known in my tenure as current technical education director,” said Widelo.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The New York Giants are ready to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl and coach Tom Coughlin expects to have his full roster ready to go in Sunday’s game

In his final news conference before the game, Coughlin said Friday that running back Ahmad Bradshaw is expected to practice for a third straight day and every player on his 53-man roster wants to play.

Coughlin is relishing the chance to coach in the Super Bowl again, four years after the Giants beat the Patriots in 2008.

The 65-year-old also has enjoyed this ride. His team has won five games in a row to get to the championship game after falling to 7-7.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB) — To say someone has a giving heart sounds trite. But that is truly what Chicopee High School senior Amanda Baltazar is about.

“It’s her demeanor. It’s her passion for helping others,” said Keith Poulin, Chicopee High School Guidance Counselor and senior class advisor. “There are two class advisors, Ms. Lesser and myself. And it’s been an ongoing thing for four years now, the two if us have been trying to keep up with her and all of her plans and activities.”

Many of the activities Baltazar has spearheaded during her four years as class president have been for charity. This includes organizing a food drive and founding a toy drive called Haley’s Project in honor of classmate, Haley Wroth.

“When she was younger, she was diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder and spent a lot of time in hospitals and she always thought it wasn’t very pleasant,” said Baltazar. “So, she wanted to make a difference and make it pleasant for children so their time would be happier.”

In just four years, Baltazar, Wroth and others have raised five thousand dollars in donations for Haley’s Project. It’s paid for countless toys, games and dvd’s for Shriner’s Hospital and Baystate Medical Center.

As for the future, Baltazar is inspired by something many kids have to deal with, braces.

“I never had good teeth,” said Baltazar. “So, when I got braces, I never used to smile. But now I smile all the time. So, that made a really big impact on me.”

So big of an impact that she plans on bringing smiles to the faces of people for the rest of her life as a dentist.

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WGGB) — Cathedral High School senior Destinee McNally shines as a student. But to see her shine her brightest., to truly understand her character, you need to see what she does at home taking care of her brother, Christian.

“He was actually born having seizures,” said McNally. “And at two months old, he stopped breathing and that caused him to start bleeding in the brain. And he slipped into a coma from about a year and a half. He hasn’t been able to talk or to see or walk since then.”

Her part time time job as his personal care assistant involves everything from helping with medications to bathing. All of this is something Guidance Counselor Patricia Gregory didn’t know about until recently. Most people still don’t.

“She’s quiet by nature and reserved,” said Gregory. “She was never flamboyant about this or boasting or even upset because she couldn’t be involved in things. This was her life. She’s kind of celebrated the fact that she appreciates everything and that’s come from not only living with, but taking care of her brother all her life.”

McNally finds an escape in art. A recent painting she did based on the movie poster for the Little Mermaid is hung in one of the schools hallways. It stands out among all of the other posters done by students.

But she doesn’t want people to think she’s looking for some escape, that her brother is any kind of a burden. In fact, he’s inspired her to take care of others. She plans to go to college to be a nurse.

“I love my brother, I love what I do. And I wouldn’t change it for the world,” said McNally.

HATFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Like other students of character, Alyssa Klepacki stands out for many reasons.

She’s a top student, co-editor of the yearbook, and senior class vice-president. But one of the most unique things she’s a part of is the Farmers Rally to Enhance Student Health. Klepacki coordinates food donations for school lunches from Hatfield area farms like Nourse and Golunka’s.

“It’s fresh and it keeps our farms in business,” said Klepacki.

Klepacki’s also active in cancer awareness. Her second cousin died several years ago of cancer leaving a family behind. Going through this sad time inspired her to be a part of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life since she was a freshman.

Klepacki said, “It’s a very good experience because you see the people around you and you see them fighting. Just seeing them, so strong makes you want to be stronger and make you give back as much as you can.”

Klepacki hasn’t decided on a college major. She’s thinking about something in business.

“I like this area,” said Klepacki. “Maybe if I could go to college and come back and work around with farms and produce.”

“I know she’s going to get into a good school,” said Smith Academy Guidance Counselor. Casey Pescitelli. “I’m more excited to see what Alyssa does in four years, five years. I know this isn’t the last we hear about her. I know she’s going to do great things.”

“They’ve always taught me to be kind to other people and open to talking to anybody because you don’t want to close any doors,” said Ross Kellogg.

Being picked as vice president of the national honors society is proof of Kellogg’s curiosity and hard work. Being chosen as vice president of the class of 2012 is proof of his friendliness.

Kellogg likely has a big future ahead of him. But he said sometimes thinking about how to get there can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why Kellogg likes playing soccer, track and basketball.

“My coach always likes to say, be in the moment,” said Kellogg. “And that’s what it’s like being on the court. I don’t have to worry about the future. It’s right then and there.”

Principal Martha Barrett who nominated Kellogg for Student of Character said she doesn’t see a student like him come along very often.

“I think what is most important about Ross is he doesn’t do it for particular personal gain,” said Barrett. “A lot of kids will do things, community service, because they need it for a college application or they need it for an award. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. That comes from within. You can’t fake that.”

*****

Student of Character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, MassLive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market, and Country Bank. In the spring, one of the students will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to AIC, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market, and a savings bond from Country Bank. All of them are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to AIC.

HATFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Smith Academy senior Alyssa Woodward juggles academics, athletics and charity work, work inspired by a personal loss. Art teacher Julie Muellejans has known her since the 5th grade.

“In Alyssa, what I see is the ability to go beyond what’s asked of her,” said Muellejans.

“I see her walking in ready to take action whether it’s cheering, academics, yearbook editor, she’s on the spot,” said Muellejans.

Not only is Woodward motivated for her own sake, she’s also able to motivate others. As captain, she helped lead the field hockey team to the Western Mass finals. Since the 8th grade, she’s been a team captain for Relay for Life, bringing together other students to raise money for the American Cancer Association.

“When I was four-years-old, my aunt died of cancer,” said Woodward. “And seeing my family suffer, I wanted to help others so that other families don’t have to go through that.”

A personal loss turned into something positive. Woodward, it seems, tries to look for something good, some lesson in everything and everyone.

“What’s different about us is what helps us with each other,” said Woodward. “We can learn from others by what’s different about them.”

Woodward plans to be an elementary teacher.

*****

Student of Character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, MassLive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market, and Country Bank. In the spring, one of the students will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to AIC, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market, and a savings bond from Country Bank. All of them are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to AIC.

HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) — Victoria Quill from Hopkins Academy in Hadley was chosen as a Student of Character in part because of how she guides younger students. When we met high Quill, she was taking a break from a peer mentoring workshop. It said a lot about her.

She’s a successful student at one of the top public schools in the state. And knowing high school can be challenging academically and socially, she mentors 7th and 8th graders. And when they get to high school, she continues to be a guide for them.

“I just want our school to be a place where everybody’s comfortable and enjoy learning and they’re not scared to come school,” said Quill. “If they’re ever worried about their grades, I just tell them, do what they want to do. Like if they enjoy learning and maybe aren’t doing as well as they wished, as long as they’re still enjoying doing it, they’re probably still going to get something out of it.”

It seems like a future career in counseling is there if Quill wants one. But she wants to take a different path, business.

Her dream is to open up her own small cafe with sandwiches and other food. In fact, a part-time job for the last few years at a small restaurant is what opened her eyes to the business world.

The Flayvors Restaurant at Cook Farm in Hadley specializes in homemade ice cream using milk right from the cows on the farm. And if you’ve been there, you may have even had some made by Quill.

“I just learned so so much,” said Quill. “It’s just something that I feel really comfortable with. How I feel comfortable in school, I feel really comfortable there.”

Quill says she might even sell ice cream at her future cafe. In any case, she has a sweet future ahead of her.

*****

Student of Character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, MassLive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market, and Country Bank. In the spring, one of the students will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to AIC, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market, and a savings bond from Country Bank. All of them are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to AIC.

This week’s Student of Character is senior Emilee Arkoette from Gateway Regional High School in Huntington. She was chosen not just for their commitment to their own education but for their dedication to helping others.

On the honor roll, the soccer team and the cheerleading squad, Arkoette is driven. But her passion is in room 111 where she works with students in the developmental learning program. It’s something she’s wanted to do for a long time and in fact, she plans to become a special education teacher.

“I always wanted to be one when i was a little kid,” said Arkoette. ” My mom has always worked with special education kids. So, i’ve also looked up to her.”

Special education teacher Lauren Smith nominated Arkoette for Student of Character. She says Arkoette’s already well on her way to being a teacher.

“She is like having another adult in the room,” said Smith. “I don’t even consider Emilee a kid when she’s working in here for her community service. She’s another staff member. She works with the kids. She takes initiative to figure out what they’re stuck on and helps them do what they need to do.”

Arkoette also goes the extra step beyond the basic classroom work as part of the buddy social group. She watches movies with these students and also has lunches with them. Any time with them she says is inspiring.

“Everyday, they give you something to take home,” said Arkoette. “They’re all unique. And it’s just a good feeling to be able to to not just do it for yourself but also for them.”

Student of Character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican and MassLive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market and Country Bank. In the spring, one of the students will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to AIC, a new laptop from Big Y and a savings bond from Country Bank.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — This week’s pick for Students of Character is Patricia Chavez, a senior at Springfield Central High School. While she is blind in one eye and has decreased vision in the other, she has persevered through the challenges when others in the same situation might have given up.

On her clarinet, Chavez hits a lot of high notes as a member of the marching band, jazz band and the concert band. Band director Ray Dandurand was one of two teachers to nominate Chavez.

“She has to read left and right, up and down and then take direction from me, move her fingers and breath and be successful,” said Springfield Central High Band Director, Ray Dandurand. “And she does it with class.”

Chavez also plays basketball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, excels in academics, and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Born with the vision problems, doctors expected her to spend her life in a wheelchair.

“Because I wouldn’t be able to walk around because I couldn’t see or my depth perception would be so bad that you look at a table and you think it’s right in front of you and it isn’t,” said Chavez.

With the urging of her parents, Chavez set out to prove the doctors wrong.

“That’s probably when i first picked up my first basketball,” said Chavez. “I said, hey look, I want to do this.”

English teacher Rebecca Rowland also nominated Chavez. Chavez wrote an essay in her class in which she likened herself to a black cat. Part of her message was that perceptions can be deceiving.

“It was a moving piece,” said Rowland. “It was inspirational. And I just find her to be an inspiration not only for her peers but also for the faculty, the teacher.”

Chavez plans to go to college to become a veterinarian.

Student of character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, Masslive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market and Country Bank. Students are nominated by their teachers and principals in the fall. All of the students are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to American International College. But in the spring, just one of them will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market and a savings bond from Country Bank.

Throughout high school at White Oak in Westfield, he volunteered at the Therapeutic Equestrian Center, was captain of the basketball team, worked a part-time job, and earned a 3.9 GPA. He accomplished all of this while persevering through a learning difficulty.

“In my case, I have to work that extra mile because if I don’t, then I can’t really succeed,” said Scammon in 2009. “I’m gonna struggle. So, I always have to work harder to succeed”

That determination has continued at American International College where he is on a four-year full-tuition scholarship. He’s now in his junior year.

“You really get a sense of family atmosphere in the classroom, on the campus,” said Scammon. “And I love it everyday.”

Scammon speaks fondly of his family and teachers who have supported him along the way. And he wants to return that favor for the rest of his life. He’s majoring in liberal studies. He plans to work with kids at the Y or in Special Olympics to show them they can overcome personal obstacles just he did. 

“Helping to show them that there’s someone there to support them whatever they need, whatever they want,” said Scammon. “And really showing the community that you can make a difference.” 

Student of Character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, Masslive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market and Country Bank. Students are nominated by their teachers and principals in the fall. All of the students are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to American International College. But in the spring, just one of them will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market and a savings bond from Country Bank.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — It’s the time of year for our series, “Student of Character”. One high school student from the area is chosen each week because of their perseverance, commitment to the community, and strong character. 

We begin by checking how one of our past honorees is doing in college. When we first met Maggie Pratt, it was 2010 and she was wrapping up her senior year at Tolland Regional High School in Southwick. Hard work in school earned her that year’s top Student of Character prize, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to american international college.

“It’s such a small school and such a close community,” said Pratt. “I’ve talked to students who have gone to larger schools and they’re just a number. But here, you really get to know all the faculty. You get really close to everyone on campus.”

Pratt is by all accounts still a student of character. She joined the Lions Club on campus, played on the school’s division two winning rugby team. And as a resident assistant, she mentors freshman.

Pratt’s path in life also reflects a key aspect of a student of character, perseverance in overcoming obstacles. She worked through a number of painful sports injuries in high school with the help of physical therapists. Now she’s majoring in physical therapy so she can do the same for others.

“There’s a lot of different options right now for physical therapists,” said Pratt. “The one that I’m leaning toward is maybe going off and helping soldiers that are coming back and with rehab, maybe veterans who have been dealing with injuries from the war.”

Student of character is sponsored by ABC40, The Republican, Masslive.com, American International College, Big Y World Class Market and Country Bank. Students are nominated by their teachers and principals in the fall. All of the students are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to American International College. But in the spring, just one of them will be awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college, a new laptop from Big Y World Class Market and a savings bond from Country Bank.