JUNE 7, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
McNary senior honored for making U-turn
By MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Since 1994, the Salem-
Keizer School District holds
the Turnaround Achievement
Awards every year to recognize
middle and high school
students that demonstrate
effort,
commitment
and
perseverance in the face of
adversity — recipients of this
award show improvement in
their academics, as well as their
attitude and behavior.
One student from each
middle and high school in the
district is selected for the award.
When it came time for assistant
principal
Susanne
Stefani
to nominate someone from
McNary High, Melissa Morgan
was the name that stood above
the rest.
“Melissa was one that
jumped out in our minds as
someone who has really turned
around,” Stefani said. “She may
have not had a solid start here,
but she always had staff that
believed in her and somehow
stepped through it.”
“She just decided that it was
time to grow up.”
On Tuesday, May 7, Morgan
was
offi cially
recognized
as
McNary’s Turnaround
student award winner during
a ceremony at the Keizer
Community Center.
“When I fi rst got the award I
had a mix of emotions. I didn’t
feel like I deserved it. I felt like
there’s other kids out there
that have been through worse,”
Morgan said. “After receiving
the award and thinking on
it, I started thinking of all the
stupid stuff I’ve done and then I
thought about myself now and I
see the difference that everyone
else sees.”
Stefani
and
Morgan’s
fi rst interaction came in the
discipline offi ce when Morgan
was a freshman. Though their
relationship might have gotten
off to a rocky start, Morgan has
developed a great rapport with
her assistant principal.
“Having Susanne in my
corner this year really pushed
me to try and be my best
because she’s never scared to call
me out when I mess up. I truly
appreciate all the support she’s
given me,” Morgan said.
Along with improving her
academics, Morgan has also
been in the McNary girls
basketball program for the
last three years. This season
was her Morgan’s fi rst year on
the varsity team — which she
credits as playing a big role in
her in her turnaround.
“Being
involved
with
basketball and these girls helped
me out more than words can
describe. They are my family
and I’ll always hold them in
my heart,” Morgan said. “The
girls were always there for
me and never gave up on me.
They supported me through
everything and never judged
my past.”
“The girls always made sure
I was doing good in my classes
and in school. They helped calm
me down if I was ever angry
and wanted to yell at someone.
They helped mold me into the
person I am today.”
But arguably the most
important thing she did all year
wasn’t in the classroom or on
the basketball court.
Back in December, Morgan
was riding with some of her
teammates back to school
after attending a breakfast at
Willamette University. The
girls stopped at Dutch Bros to
get coffee, but on the way back
to the school, Morgan spotted
a special needs student at
McNary that looked to be in a
potentially dangerous situation.
“While I was looking at
her, I noticed a guy walking
behind her and he grabbed a
shirt and put it around his head.
I remember thinking like ‘what
the heck’ and then I just got this
weird feeling that something
wasn’t right,” Morgan said.
As the man was approaching
this student, Morgan and her
teammates sprung into action
by driving up to the student and
yelling for her to get in the car
just before the man reached to
grab her.
“I got really nervous because
he was reaching towards her to
grab her, so I yelled for her to
get in the car,” Morgan said. “I
remember putting my car keys
in my knuckles and unbuckled
(the seat belt) and was ready to
jump out of the car and help
her if he did grab her.”
Morgan and her teammates
got the student safely back to the
school, where they immediately
told offi ce staff what had just
occurred.
“We got the police on it
and they ended up confronting
him,” Stefani said. “He did have
convictions and was a scary dude
… We just were complementing
M emorial C enters ◆ C remation & B urial
KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings
the girls for making that call in
the moment and choosing to do
the right thing.”
Morgan has defi ed the odds
to be a success both inside and
outside of school, and it has
been easy for the McNary staff
to take notice.
“Remarkable doesn’t even
begin to describe Melissa. I have
simple
cremation
simple direct
burial
traditional
funeral
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has accomplished during her
time at McNary. I will for sure
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but I know that she will use
her powers for good and will
infl uence others with her
sparkle.”
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WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
KEIZER CLEAR LAKE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
a member of Open Door
Churches of Salem-Keizer
REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor
Services are Sunday at 10 am
(Nursery & Sunday School for Children)
7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
9:00 am
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
and
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Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
9:30 am
& 11:00 am
Sunday
Worship
Services
SUNDAY
SERVICES
4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507
www.FLCkeizer.org
Sunday School - 9:00 am
Worship Service -10:00 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA
Pastor Linda Matz Easterling
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
www.KeizerChristian.org