BELLE — Maries County R-2 Board of Education on Dec. 16 recognized Students of the Month, Belle High School Student Spotlight, and the Student Athlete of the Month.

Belle Elementary Student of the Month (BES) was Lyric Lenaman, who was nominated by two different teachers in the building. BES Principal Bobbi Robertson read his nomination letters.

Lyric is a great student. He tries hard, has a smile on his face, and is polite. He is kind and tries to be a friend to everyone. I enjoy having Lyric in my class,” said his teacher, Kim Daugherty.

“Lyric was nominated for the Belle Elementary Student of the Month because of his positive attitude, kind heart and hard-working nature. Lyric is a delight to be around and is always smiling and ready to say hello to anyone he passes by. He always keeps a cheerful attitude, even when things may be hard for him. He works hard and doesn’t give up on the tasks that are assigned to him. These are traits displayed in all areas of our school, both inside and outside of the classroom. He is always very grateful for anything that he receives from teachers and friends. These are just a few reasons why Lyric is a perfect winner for our Student of the Month,” said Heidi Krause, BES counselor.

Garit Trainor was the Bland Middle School Student of the Month.

“Garit is the eighth-grade Student of the Month. He earned a positive behavior sheet from Coach Meagan Fisher. Coach Fisher says Garit is respectful, responsible and is a learner. Garit is always polite and respectful. He comes to class with a positive attitude and never complains about anything or anyone. He works hard, and it is very appreciated. This is why Garit should be the BMS Student of the Month,” Bland Middle School Principal Mandy Seaver read.

Belle High School Student Spotlight is Ryan Wisdom, nominated by Erin Bonham, math teacher.

“I nominated Ryan Wisdom because he is a good kid to have around. If you need something done, he is happy to lend a hand. He almost always has a smile on his face and is always thinking of others. For these reasons, I think he is deserving of Student of the Month,” Bonham wrote.

The Student Athlete of the Month is Kooper Elrod.

“Belle High School is proud to recognize Kooper Elrod as our Athlete of the Month. Kooper is a standout example of what it means to be a true student-athlete — demonstrating strong character, dedication, and leadership both on the court and in the classroom.

“Over the past few years, Kooper has shown remarkable growth. Through hard work, determination and consistent effort, he has progressed from JV to Varsity, ultimately earning a starting position and becoming a key contributor to the varsity basketball team. His commitment to improving his skills and understanding his role has made him an invaluable part of the program.

“Kooper brings positivity everywhere he goes. Whether he’s on the floor making plays or supporting his teammates from the bench, he consistently encourages those around him and helps build a strong team atmosphere.

“Coach Jeff Schultz says, “I would like to nominate Kooper Elrod for Athlete of the Month. Kooper came up big for us in the Vienna game with a game-high 24 points off the bench. He has continued to improve with every game and has earned a starting spot. In addition, Kooper has been nothing but positive and shows up for everything we have when it comes to sports. I know Kooper works a job also and juggles his schedule to make sure he is there when I need him. He has been nothing but a joy to coach at this point of the season.”

Athletic Director Randis Sanders congratulated Elrod on being named Belle High School’s Athlete of the Month.