Kiwanis honors May student of the month
For the month of May, the Kiwanis Club of Ashland recognizes Josh Houghton as its Student of the Month. A senior student from the Ashland High School is honored each month during the school year.
Josh is the son of Ed and JoAnn Houghton. In preparation for his college career, Josh has demonstrated leadership skills throughout his AHS career, serving as president of the Chamber Choir and co-student body president this year, junior class president last year and fourth vice president of his freshman class. Josh has also been on the honor roll all four years at AHS. His GPA is 3.82.
Josh has received many honors and awards while at AHS, including English 9 Student of the Year and letterman in track and field, choir and theater.
He has been a state qualifier for "Duo Musical," "Solo Acting Experienced," "Solo Musical" and "Solo and Ensemble Comp (Baritone voice)" and was state champion in "Duo Music," "Solo Music" and "Solo Acting" — all during his senior year.
Some of Josh's AHS activities include the "Rashomon" play, "Mame" musical "Mame" and the plays "Ah, Wilderness," "Rashomon," "Guys and Dolls," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Beauty and the Beast."
In his spare time, Josh was on the junior varsity cross country and varsity track and field teams and took ballet, ballroom, tap dance, voice and cello lessons. This year, Josh was in the International Thespian Cast of "Hairspray" and also seved as a peer companion for Autistic Teenagers.
During his AHS career, he was in the Regional Acting Competition and State Acting Competition, and he was a Fresh Start counselor. His AHS club memberships include four years in Drama Club, two years in Global Communications Corps, three years in Natural Helpers, one year in the Gay Straight Alliance, four years as an inducted member of the Thespian Troupe 4630 and three years as an inducted member of the National Honor Society.
Following graduation, Josh is planning to attend either Emerson College or Marymount Manhattan to study musical theater or theater arts.
The Student of the Month receives an award certificate and a $50 savings bond. In May, two of the nine monthly winners for the current school year will be further honored with the $1,000 Tommy Laird Kiwanis Scholarship.
This school year's nine students of the month were:
September, Cheyenne Peters
October, Jesse Javna
November, Leanna Faudree
December, Andrew Cataldo
January, Collete Paré-Miller
February, Mathew Miner
March, Edwin Lee
April, Isabella Thorndike
May, Josh Houghton
