Synchrony Financial Kid of Character: Luka Novakovic, Northwest Local
NAME – Luka Novakovic
SCHOOL – Northwest Middle School
RESIDENCE – Canal Fulton
AGE – 13
PARENTS – Jennifer and Michael Novakovic
SIBLINGS – Maksim, 11
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – Cross country, basketball, track.
NOMINATION – "Luca is an excellent student and is well known for his positive disposition. He is a member of the school's cross country, basketball and track teams. An avid sports fan, Luca hopes to one day run cross country in college, and work in youth sports for a future career."
PLEASE TELL US WHY YOU PERFORMED THE ACT OF KINDNESS – I try to act the way I have been parented. My parents are strict, but not too strict. They let me be me, but always let me know when I need to dial it back a bit. Because of them, I am not afraid to put in the time with hard work when I need to.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE VIDEO GAME, BOOK OR TV SHOW? – I really enjoy the video games Madden 23 and Pokémon Violet. My favorite TV show is “Cobra Kai.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? – I want to be a cross country coach and potentially train young kids in basketball.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? – No homework. I feel like it causes extra stress and is slightly unnecessary.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND HOW WOULD YOU USE IT TO CHANGE THE WORLD? – I wouldn’t really want a superpower. I feel as though I would want to influence people in bigger, more important ways than being a superhero.
Other nominations
ALLIANCE
Amilyah Lloyd, eighth grade, Alliance Middle School – Amilyah Lloyd is kind, helpful and honest. She leads by example with her kind and thoughtful personality.
Messiah Geiselman, eighth grade, Alliance Middle School – Messiah Geiselman is always willing to help others in his classes and asks his teachers if he can help in any way. Messiah helps to create a positive atmosphere in our building by being friendly and treating everyone with respect.
CANTON CITY
Santanah Yerger, sixth grade, STEAMM Academy – Santanah is a hard worker and is always positive! She displays grit daily in all of her classes.
Landon Bennett, fourth grade, Arts Academy – Landon knows all of his timetables and takes time to help other kids with their work. He always helps put away things without having to ask and is a leader with excellent behavior!
FAIRLESS LOCAL
Savannah Thompson, sixth grade, Fairless Middle School – Savannah is a studious young lady! She is eager to learn, engaged in all class activities, and a role model for other students. Savannah comes to class prepared and strives for excellence in all that she does!
Mikey Ritterbeck, eighth grade, Fairless Middle School – Mikey shows maturity amongst his peers, is responsible and respectful, and has a genuine positive attitude toward school. He is a great role model, is willing to help others, and portrays what a Falcon who SOARs to excellence should be. He works hard in the classroom and also in athletics.
JACKSON LOCAL
Emily Wang, Strausser Elementary – Emily is a wonderful role model for our student population. She always has a smile on her face and is the first to say hello. Emily goes above and beyond to make everyone feel included. Emily is a responsible, conscientious, and hard-working student. In addition, Emily is a member of the fifth grade ROX group and serves as a Polar Bear Helper to younger students in the building.
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN
Summer Brown, eighth grade, Lake Center Christian School – When thinking about a student who is deeply concerned for peers, who loves learning, and who strives to do everything with excellence, Summer Brown comes to mind. She is a kindhearted student who loves all and helps classmates and teachers.
Gage Nelson, fifth grade, Lake Center Christian School – Gage is inquisitive, creative, tenderhearted, and bold in his faith. He includes others, listens to their ideas, and celebrates their gifts, talents, and ideas.
LAKE LOCAL
Isabella Hileman, seventh grade, Lake Middle/High School – Bella is such a wonderful student of character. She also has wonderful, positive self-awareness that allows her to be confident in who she is. With that confidence, enthusiasm and big heart she can bring smiles to all the students that have contact with her. She can recognize when friends need care and compassion. Bella can brighten everyone’s day with her witty personality. Students and teachers can quickly recognize they have a special student in their class because of the way Bella displays her positive character with her enthusiastic personality.
Noah Visger, seventh grade, Lake Middle/High School – Noah allows his actions to speak louder than words. Noah is an outstanding student that constantly displays positive character. If all the students around Noah demonstrated the same positive character and integrity as Noah, we’d have a school filled with positive role models. Noah is kind-hearted, caring and compassionate to teachers and students.
LOUISVILLE CITY
Frehley Cramer, eighth grade, Louisville Middle School – Frehley has been serving as an office worker this year. She greets everyone with a warm smile is always willing to help out in anyway. Her kindness to students and staff is a great example for all!
Isaac Beltz, eighth grade, Louisville Middle School – Isaac is a friend to everyone he comes into contact with, whether it be his fellow students or an adult staff member. His conversations are genuine and kind all of the time. You hear him inquiring and caring about what others have to say.
MARLINGTON LOCAL
Caitlin Imhoff, seventh grade, Marlington Middle School – Caitlin is a great student, a great leader, and is always willing to help others. Her daily actions and behavior serve as a role model for her peers. She often recognizes what needs to be done and how she can help and gets right to it when her work is finished.
Blaize Horn, seventh grade, Marlington Middle School – Blaize is a positive influence and is helpful to students and staff alike. He leads by example and does things the right way.
MASSILLON CITY
Natalie Ryder, sixth grade, Massillon Intermediate School – Natalie Ryder is an exceptional student and role model at Massillon Intermediate School. She is conscientious about her schoolwork but knows how to have fun as well. Natalie enters the classroom every day with a smile. In her free time, she is a talented dancer who, along with her own lessons, teaches young special-needs students the joy of dance. Her teachers feel very fortunate to have Natalie in their class.
Connor Dunn, sixth grade, Massillon Intermediate School – Connor Dunn is an all-around great kid. He’s conscientious about his schoolwork and makes a conscious decision to do the right thing, even when it is hard. He participates and contributes to rich classroom discussions and is also a talented athlete. Connor works toward earning his Tiger stripes daily!
MINERVA LOCAL
Alexis Celaya-Keister, eighth grade, Minerva Middle School – Lexi worked super hard to get all A's this nine weeks and accomplished her goal. Lexi is a huge help in science class and a pleasure to have in class. She shows up every day with a smile on her face and a great attitude.
Joshua Davidson, eighth grade, Minerva Middle School – Josh is a very respectful and responsible student. He always greets me in the hallway and is friendly with his classmates. He is a leader in the classroom and participates in class discussions. Keep up the great work, Josh!
NORTH CANTON CITY
Niccola Bressi, eighth grade, North Canton Middle School – Nicco is a very conscientious young lady. She is quiet but does all the things that is admirable in a student at North Canton Middle School
Nathan Tinkler, eighth grade, North Canton Middle School – Nate is an outstanding young man. He recently has taken a new student who came from Colorado but is of Vietnamese descent and has made sure he is welcomed.
NORTHWEST LOCAL
Brooke LaDow, eighth grade, Northwest Middle School – Brooke is a hard-working and pleasant young lady. Her teachers greatly appreciate her dedication and excellent work. She enjoys horseback riding and volunteers at the barn at Camp Y-Noah. Brooke is the youngest of two children and is considering a career as a dental hygienist when done with college.
Luca Novakovic, eighth grade, Northwest Middle School – Luca is an excellent student and is well known for his positive disposition. He is a member of the school's cross country, basketball and track teams. An avid sports fan, Luca hopes to one day run cross country in college, and work in youth sports for a future career.
PERRY LOCAL
Savannah Pierce, fourth grade, Lohr Elementary – Savannah has been a role model throughout her time at Lohr Elementary. She works hard in the classroom, and she is kind to others.
Kenny Chaney, seventh grade, Edison Middle School – Kenny is always eager to learn and has a positive attitude. He is creative and knowledgeable, but best of all, he is a good example to all around him.
SANDY VALLEY
Charlotte Downes, seventh grade, Sandy Valley Middle School – Charlotte demonstrates kindness towards her classmates each and every day. She is a member of 4-H, Student Council, Science Club, Leo Club, SAAD, NASA Capstone, and plays soccer. In addition to her clubs and activities, she makes time to listen and help people when she’s needed. In her free time, she enjoys reading and making jewelry. Charlotte is a hard worker who is committed to her academics and activities, and, in the future, she hopes to be a scientist for NASA.
Hudson Woods, seventh grade, Sandy Valley Middle School – Hudson Woods is a Kid of Character for being kind and helpful towards others. Hudson is a SVMS Student Council member and plays baseball and golf. One of his strengths is his creativity because he enjoys creating games and building projects, so it is not surprising that he aspires to become an architectural engineer. Some of his hobbies include skiing, snowboarding, and playing Sonic 2. If he could change one thing about this world, it would be for everyone to get along.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Bridget Robertson, eighth grade, St. Thomas Aquinas – Bridget is respectful, a good friend, and always engaged in activities for school. She demonstrates leadership and responsibility.
Landon Stanek, eighth grade, St. Thomas Aquinas – Landon is kind, responsible, and respectful young man. He is well liked by his classmates and teachers. Landon is a leader for his class.
STARK COUNTY CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Colleen Robertson, fifth grade, Regina Coeli Catholic School – Colleen Robertson is very helpful to her peers and adults in the building and has a great attitude and is always ready to learn! Colleen is a very active member of Kids Who Care, the service club at Regina Coeli School. Colleen will be going to St. Thomas Aquinas this fall, and Regina Coeli is very lucky to have her here.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Synchrony Financial Kid of Character: Luka Novakovic, Northwest Local
