Insurance agency sponsors valedictorian

NEWTON — The Mitchell Insurance Agency, a full-service independent agency offering personal, commercial and special package insurance, recently awarded Scholar Athlete, Soleil Schatteman — a senior at Sussex Technical School who already has been named valedictorian of the 2012 graduating class — with a scholarship for outstanding academics, athletics and community involvement. For 15 consecutive years, the Mitchell Agency has been participating in the annual United Way Sussex County Scholar Athlete Program, which recognizes one student athlete from each of the county’s 11 high schools. Each awardee receives a scholarship ranging from $500-3,000, and has the opportunity to earn additional monies through a judging process that includes public speaking engagements and high school career portfolio. This year the Mitchell Agency is sponsoring the Vocational-Tech Award. Soleil was deemed most deserving of the scholarship by teachers, coaches and school administrators at Sussex County Technical School. Soleil, who is enrolled in the school’s 2012 engineering program, is first in her class of 140 students and has earned high honor roll each year. She also has served as President of the Spanish Honor Society for four years and Vice President of the National Honor Society for two. Soleil’s athletic accomplishments are also outstanding. She played varsity soccer, basketball and track for four years, and served as captain of all three teams. In basketball, she was named First Team All-League in 2010-2011 and Honorable Mention in 2009-1010. In track and field in 2011, she advanced to the Meet of Champions for pole-vaulting and set the school record in the 100-meter high hurdles and pole-vaulting. Equally impressive was her list of extracurricular activities. She was a member of SkillsUSA for four years, a member of the Math League and Key Club for two years, and a SADD member for one year. She took part in the 11th International Human Powered Submarine Race — where she and a group of 15 students designed, built and launched an actual submarine at Carderock Naval Base in Maryland — and is involved with charity work, including participation in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes and The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. “The Mitchell Insurance Agency has been doing business in Sussex County for over 50 years and is always pleased to recognize and support youth development and educational programs in our local community,” said Keith Mitchell, President of The Mitchell Agency. “We are proud to sponsor Ms. Schatteman and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.”