National Merit Semifinalist, Senior Caleb Cress, as Homecoming Honors Laker Past and Future

Homecoming Week at Spring Lake High School is a time-honored celebration of tradition, pride, and connection. As alumni return home and current students fill the halls with energy, the district reflects not only on the decades of excellence that paved the way, but also on the bright future being forged by today’s Lakers.

Standing at the intersection of that history and promising future is SLHS senior Caleb Cress, who was recently named a 2025 National Merit Semifinalist—an honor earned by less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide.

Cress's achievement places him among the top academic minds in the country, a testament to years of quiet dedication, disciplined study habits, and the unwavering support of his family and teachers.

"I remember when I first opened the article naming the National Merit Semifinalists for this year and saw my name," Cress recalled. "I was incredibly excited and immediately told my parents, who had encouraged me to take the test in the first place."

Cultivating Curiosity and Diligence

Reaching the upper echelons of national academic recognition does not happen by accident. For Cress, success has been built on a foundation of deliberate learning strategies, including reviewing course content well before it is introduced in class and using repetition to master complex topics.

Yet, as Cress reflects on his high school career, he points directly to the educators who sparked his passion and pushed him to refine his skills.

"During my time at Spring Lake High School, many teachers helped me and pushed me to grow as a student," Cress shared. "Ms. Gannon, my AP Biology teacher, heavily encouraged me to pursue intellectual curiosity—something that I do extensively now. Mr. Mitchell, my AP Stats teacher, demonstrated the importance of diligence and being meticulous with my work. Both of these teachers, along with many others, have helped shape my academic abilities and helped me get to where I am today."

A Renaissance Laker

While his academic resume is elite, Cress represents the quintessential well-rounded student. His leadership and talents extend far beyond the classroom into athletics and the performing arts.

A dedicated musician, Cress has been a fixture in Spring Lake’s music program since fifth grade. Today, he performs across three major ensembles—Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and the Marching Band, where he serves as the trombone section leader. When he isn't holding a trombone or a textbook, Cress can be found on the courts and on the water, competing on the varsity tennis team in the fall and the varsity rowing team in the spring.

Looking ahead, Cress plans to attend a large research university to major in biochemistry on a pre-med track, with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician.

When asked what wisdom he would pass along to the younger Lakers walking the halls of Jeffers, Holmes, and the Intermediate School, his message was simple yet profound:

"The advice I would give younger students is to work hard and take chances," said Cress. "Even a few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I was capable of becoming a National Merit Semifinalist. But through lots of hard work and the willingness to take a chance, I was able to achieve this. Younger students should understand that they are capable of achieving anything if they commit themselves to it."

Calling All Laker Alumni: Share Your Story!

As we celebrate Homecoming Week and honor student leaders like Caleb Cress who carry our tradition forward, we are reminded that the Laker story doesn't end at graduation. Our alumni are out in the world making a difference in medicine, education, engineering, the arts, business, and beyond.

Where has your Laker foundation taken you? Whether you graduated five years ago or fifty, we want to hear about your career milestones, family updates, and favorite memories from your time at Spring Lake.

Please take a moment to update your contact information and submit your story through our Alumni Update & Archival Portal. Help us keep our community connected for generations to come!