Wawasee High School students inducted into the 2014 Academic Hall of Fame included, in front, from left, Danielle Miller, Katy Ashpole, Ashley Hoover, Stephanie Camargo, Dorinda Brito, Melodie Jones and Ashley Helfers. In the second row are McKenzie Hare, Kyler Love, Hunter Gaerte, Lydia Katsaropoulos, Kylie Fleming, Zoe Abrams and Kaine Pierce. In the third row are Jake Sumpter, Zachary Sapp, Joseph Bornman, Austin Yoder, Samantha Prins and Stacie Carr. And in the back row are Kevin Carpenter, Kody Carpenter, Quinn Crough, Brett Ward and Joshua Collins.
Before they have even graduated from high school, 25 Wawasee High School students are in a hall of fame. More precisely, the Wawasee High School Academic Hall of Fame.
The 25 senior students were officially inducted during a banquet Saturday evening in the cafeteria of the high school. In order to be eligible for the Academic Hall of Fame, students must have a 10.0 grade point average on a 12 point scale through the first 11 trimesters of high school.
Geoff Walmer, assistant principal of WHS, encouraged the students to think about their last four years in high school and even prior to that. He said each student has a God-given ability and they should be thankful for those abilities.
Walmer noted students have had support from family, friends, teachers and others. “Continue to use those people who have pushed you and challenged you,” he told the students, adding there will be hard times along the way and the choices made may not always work out for the best in the short term.
He said it is not only an honor for each student to be recognized for academic excellence, but it is also an honor for the educator they chose as having the most influence on them.
Each student was recognized individually at the banquet and had their photo taken with the educator they chose as having the most influence on them. Prior to the recognition, a meal was catered by Dan’s Pies with assistance from culinary arts students of WHS.
Following is a list of the students inducted into the hall of fame, along with the names of their parents, the college they will attend and major and the educator they chose.
2014 Academic Hall Of Fame Inductees
Zoe Abrams, Alan and Kelly Abrams, Indiana University, undecided major, Lauren Allen
Katy Ashpole, Ken and Gina Ashpole, Manchester University, psychology, Stephanie Szynal
Joseph Bornman, Shawn and Melissa Bornman, Purdue University, chemistry, Melissa Bornman
Dorinda Brito, Joel and Teresa Brito, Indiana University, premed (biomedical science), Sara Harrison
Stephanie Camargo, Ruben and Maria Camargo, Manchester University, social studies education, Debbi Collins
Kevin Carpenter, Lori Carpenter, Purdue University, undecided major, Allen Coblentz
Kody Carpenter, Lori Carpenter, Grace College, business management/marketing, Phil Mishler
Stacie Carr, Crystal Carr, Valparaiso University, political science, Kim Jones
Joshua Collins, Debbie and Rick Collins, entering workforce, Terri Blauvelt
Quinn Crough, Jason and Brandi Crough, college undecided, telecommunications (game design), Mike Casey
Kylie Fleming, Bambi Lehman, University of Indianapolis, physical therapy assistant, Mariah Roberts
Hunter Gaerte, Amy and Jeff Gaerte, Manchester University, education, Ryan Edgar
McKenzie Hare, Rob and Amanda Hare, Manchester University, music education, Barb Bean
Ashley Helfers, Jeff and Michelle Helfers, Purdue University, speech, language and hearing sciences, Cyndi Thornburg
Ashley Hoover, Sharon and Patrick Hoover, Ball State University, undecided major, Connie Meadows
Melodie Jones, Gabriel Jones and Heidi Smith, Ball State University, English education, Mike Casey
Lydia Katsaropoulos, Stella Zondervan and John Katsaropoulos, IPFW, dental hygiene, Mike Schmidt
Kyler Love, Steve Love and Lisa Welty, IPFW, premed, Sarah Holsopple
Danielle Miller, Allen and Traci Knapp, IPFW, undecided major, Kristen Records
Kaine Pierce, Paul and Sandra Pierce, Anderson University, music performance, Dr. Joyce Dubach
Samantha Prins, Rick and Stacie Prins, Ivy Tech, elementary education, Kathy Close
Zachary Sapp, Dustin and Barbara Maggert, Indiana University, criminology, Julie Baird
Jake Sumpter, Mark and Tracy Sumpter, Butler University, pharmacy, Hans Griepentrog
Brett Ward, Brandy Ward, Purdue University, undecided major, Kris Brady
Austin Yoder, Gene and Loretta Yoder, Grace College, biology, Jerid Stoffel