ASHLEY, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Getting good grades is the obvious goal of students everywhere, but a Luzerne County girl has taken that task to a much greater level.
Put a book in Maci Dudeck's hands, and she is totally in her element. The 14-year-old from Ashley is an avid reader. How avid? Just ask her father.
"I think 138 books in one school year. She read all the classics, loves Greek mythology," explained Alan Dudeck, Maci's father.
All that reading might explain, in part, all the learning she has done to date. The seventh and eighth-grade science teacher at Bear Creek Community Charter School sure took notice of Maci's abilities.
"One thing that makes her stand out is her desire to succeed in everything that she does. She's not a kid that's just going to stand by and do what she has to do just to get by in school. She always goes above and beyond," said seventh and eighth-grade science teacher Shelby Kresge.
Bear Creek Community Charter School nominated Maci for the prestigious President's Education Award. The award recognizes students graduating from elementary, middle, or high school for their achievements and hard work.
12-year-old helping kids in her community
"She really wants to make sure that she's understanding what she's learning, and she also encourages others around her to do the same, which I think is rare in a kid these days," shared Kresge.
While many students nationwide are nominated for the President's Education Award, far fewer actually receive it.
"Overall, I wasn't expecting to get it that much. I didn't know they were going to hand out the award," said Maci.
But as Maci was finishing eighth grade at Bear Creek before enrolling in Wilkes-Barre Area High School's STEM Academy, she and her family got quite a surprise.
"We didn't know until they called her name up on stage. We had no prior knowledge of it beforehand," said Alan Dudeck, Maci's father.
Maci proudly held the certificate naming her a President's Education Award recipient.
"It makes me very happy that I did get it. Just proud in general. Very grateful for it, too," shared Maci.
Miss Kresge considers Maci a most worthy honoree.
"She is a quiet leader. You never have to worry about Maci doing the right or the wrong thing. She's always going to make the right choice," said Kresge.
In the past year, Maci has taken up another interest: Playing the violin.
"It's just an instrument that I always thought would be cool to play. I thought it might be simpler, but it really isn't as simple as I thought it was. There's a lot to it," explained Maci.
Known for excelling in creative arts and creative thinking, it's just one more thing Maci will set out to master.
"The ideas that she would put into place for things that she created really impressed me, and I hope that she continues to go down that path," shared Kresge.
Maci will begin ninth grade at Wilkes-Barre Area High School on September 4. She says someday she plans to pursue a career working with animals or doing something science-based, or maybe even something in the legal profession.
Here's to you, Maci.
If you have a kid you think should be featured on Heres To You Kid!, send in a nomination online.
