For the Reporter

The Auburn School District Board of Directors will recognize Joseph Morse, a fifth-grader at Lea Hill Elementary School, for being an outstanding student at 7 p.m. Monday in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

Morse has attended Lea Hill since the first grade. He is a great student with exemplary behavior, a natural leader and athlete and popular with his peers because treats everyone with respect.

Principal Ed Herda said, in addition to all of these qualities, Morse has a tremendous strength of character. He experienced a life-changing loss during his elementary school years. Despite that loss, Morse continued to come to school and learn every day. He continued to compete on the soccer and football fields.

“In my seven-plus years as principal of Lea Hill, I’ve been inspired time and time again by my students. However, no one has served as more of an inspiration to me than Joe Morse,” Herda said. “I’m very proud of Joe.”

Joanne Spear, Morse’s second-grade teacher, said what really stands out about Morse is his kind manners and cheerful personality.

Morse’s favorite subjects are math and art. He participates in Ultimate Frisbee and was in music club for three years. Outside of school, Morse likes to create websites and draw. He wants to be a mechanical engineer or lawyer.