Ashley Helfers and Katy Lanae Ashpole have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian for Wawasee High School Class of 2014. The two students will speak at graduation ceremonies Saturday, June 7.

Ashley Helfers

Katy Ashpole

Helfers is the daughter of Jeff and Michelle Helfers, Leesburg. She plans to attend Purdue University majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences. During her high school career she has been a member of the Academic Super Bowl team, Thespian Society, National Honor Society, student council, FFA, 4-H, Junior Leaders and her church youth group.

Ashpole is the daughter of Ken and Gina Ashpole, Leesburg. She plans to attend Manchester University to major in psychology. Ashpole has been active on the girls tennis team for four years, volleyball for two years and boys tennis manager for two years. She is involved in drama, and student council serving as president, a member of the Warrior Leadership Committee, National Honor Society, in which she is president. She is also a member of the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy.

Wawasee High School graduation ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, in the school’s main gymnasium.

Yesterday, the Indiana Department of Education released graduation rate data for the 2012-2013 school year.

Locally, graduation rates did not fare so well. Out of eight area high schools, only two showed an improvement in overall graduation scores, with the other five showing notable declines and one school showing no change.

Tippecanoe Valley High School, which had a cohort size of 128 students had a total of 97 students graduate making the 2013 graduation rate 75.8 percent compared to the 77.8 percent graduation rate in 2012 and the 84.4 percent graduation rate reported in 2011.

Wawasee Community High School also saw a decline in graduation rates with a cohort size of 229 students and a total of 196 students graduating. The graduation rate for Wawasee was 85.6 percent compared to 91 percent in 2012 and 91.7 percent in 2011.

Warsaw Community High school was among the five schools to see a decline in graduation rates as well. The school reported a cohort size of 517 students with 452 students graduation, making the graduation rate 87.4 percent. The 2012 graduation rate is reported as 93.8 percent and the 2011 graduation rate was 85.5 percent.

Whitko High School shows an improvement in graduation rates reporting that 126 of 138 students graduated in 2013. The 2013 graduation rate is 91.3 percent, a significant improvement to the past two year’s graduation rates of 86.3 percent and 80.7 percent.

Triton Jr. Sr. High School saw a decline this year in graduation rates this year as well. The school reported a cohort size of 59 students with 53 graduating making the 2013 graduation rate 89.8 percent. The 2012 graduation rate was 93.8 percent and the 2011 graduation rate was 85.5 percent.

NorthWood High School was the second school to show an improvement in graduation rates this year. The school reported a cohort size of 235 students with a total of 208 graduates in 2013. The graduation rate is 88.5 percent, up from 85.1 percent in 2012 and 85.8 percent in 2011.

Lakeland Christian Academy, which reported a cohort size of 33 students, had all 33 students graduate. The 100 percent graduate rate is the same as last year’s rate which was also 100 percent. Graduation rates for years prior was not provided by the IDOE.

Manchester Jr. Sr. High School showed a decline in graduation rates as well. Though only 4 of the 95 students reported in the cohort group did not graduate, the 2013 graduation rate of 95.8 percent fell this year from the 97.8 percent reported in 2012 and the 96.4 percent reported in 2011.

Statewide, the IDOE reports that the data show that the state’s non-waiver graduation rate was 81.72 percent, up from 80.46 percent in 2012. The overall graduation rate for all schools was 88.6 percent, only slightly lower than the prior year’s rate of 88.7 percent.

According to the IDOE, non-waiver data is important for federal reporting requirements, as well as providing a more full picture of the number of students that are successfully passing their end of course assessments.

In addition to releasing statewide data, the Department released a wealth of other data, including graduation rate by school and school corporation, public and non-public schools, as well as graduation rate by race and ethnicity.

“There is some encouraging information in this release,” said Glenda Ritz, Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. “While the overall graduation rate is largely the same as it was in 2012, when you dig into the data it becomes clear that more of our students are graduating without a waiver and passing their end of course assessments.  This is a crucial step in ensuring that our students graduate from high school both college and career ready.”

For further information on graduation rates, click here.

Ashley Helfers

Ashley Helfers, a senior at Wawasee High School, was named as one of 36 Indiana Academic All-Star Regional Honorees through a program produced by the Indiana Association of School Principals. Helfers was honored at a banquet April 16 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

Academic All-Star distinction recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom first and foremost, but who also are actively involved in their schools and communities and take on leadership roles in those activities. The program is produced by the association of principals with support provided by Earlham College, Franklin College, Marian University, Indiana University Bloomington and Purdue University, along with corporate partners BMO Harris Bank, Herff Jones, IndyStar.com and Inter-State Studios.

Each nominated student submits an essay recognizing his or her most influential educator. Academic All-Star Regional Honorees, in addition to Indiana Academic All-Stars, were selected from a field of 253 outstanding nominees from the state’s private and public accredited schools.

The program salutes academic excellence in the same manner student athletes traditionally are honored. By providing a showcase for academically talented seniors, the sponsoring organizations hope to give academic achievement the prestige it deserves, motivate students to recognize the value of academic excellence, provide students with an incentive for academic achievement and promote a positive image of Indiana’s young people.

Each public and private high school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education may nominate one senior for consideration as an Indiana Academic All-Star. From these nominees, a selection committee chose the regional winners (representing five regions in Indiana) and the Indiana Academic All-Stars. Selection of a school’s nominee is based upon a mathematical formula combining the SAT or ACT composite score and the seven-semester grade point average, academic achievements and honors, academic courses and academic extracurricular activities and other extracurricular activities, community service and leadership qualities.

Helfers was also presented a $1,000 scholarship from Purdue University. The daughter of Jeff and Michelle Helfers, Leesburg, she plans to attend Purdue majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences. She is the valedictorian for the Class of 2014 at Wawasee and has been a member of Academic Super Bowl, Thespian Society, National Honor Society, student council, FFA, 4-H, Junior Leaders and her church youth group.

SYRACUSE – The Wawasee High School athletic department is hosting its annual physical night Monday, May 12, in the annex gym at Wawasee High School.

Physicals are $25 per person and will be given for anyone who wishes to participate in athletics in the 2014-15 school year. Physicals will be given at 6 p.m. for children currently in grades 5-8, and at 7:15 p.m. for children currently in grades 9-11.

A physical is required to be on file with the host school for anyone that wishes to participate in a sport. The physical must be given after April 1, 2014.

Participating physicians include Dr. Larry Allen, Dr. Dean Jansen, Dr. Tom Krizmanich, Dr. Emma Long, Dr. James Mulry and Gary Trowbridge, PA.

Physical forms will be available at the door the night of the physicals, forms can be picked up from any of the schools, or are available online at www.wawasee.k12.in.us/athletics

Questions can be directed to Wawasee High School Athletic Director Steve Wiktorowski at (574) 457-3147 or swiktorowski@wawasee.k12.in.us

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

Wawasee High School received recognition from a well known national magazine and it’s the kind administrators can point to with pride. U.S. News & World Report’s latest “America’s Best High Schools” rankings gave Wawasee a silver medal.

Wawasee was one of only 41 schools statewide to receive a silver medal, was ranked 37th in the state by U.S. News and World Report and 1,930th nationally. To determine the rankings, U.S. News and World Report teams up with Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research, a behavioral and social science research organization. First it is determined whether the students in each school performed better than statistically expected for the average student in the state.

Reading and math results on state tests were analyzed and then the percentage of economically disadvantaged students was factored. For schools making it past this step, analysts looked at whether the school’s most disadvantaged students — black, Hispanic and low income — were performing better than average for similar students in the state. Schools passing this part of the test had their test data for advanced placement and-or international baccalaureate programs analyzed.

According to the statistics found on the U.S. News & World Report website, of Wawasee’s total enrollment of 945 students, 12 percent are minorities and 37 percent considered economically disadvantaged. Seventy-seven percent are proficient in English testing results and 98 percent proficient in algebra.

“It is an honor to receive a silver medal ranking for Wawasee High School,” said Mike Schmidt, principal of the school. “Our teachers and staff work very hard to promote our 90-25-90 school goal to incorporate all students. We have challenged our students to achieve at a high level. We have talked with them about their future story and utilizing their high school experiences to reach those goals.

“We have placed a major emphasis (as you will find on our website) on this vision: Every capable student will graduate from Wawasee High School with college credits or a professional certification. We have made a lot of changes in a short period of time to create opportunities for students so they are successful in college or in the work world.”

Junior students involved in the building trades program of the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative include, in front from left, Nathan Katzer, Zachary Cockrill, Andrew Zartman, Michael Turner and Maclain Herr. In the back row are Kyle Smiley, Timothy Cramer, Nathan Horn, Bailey Hershberger, Leonard Kline and Dominik Sanderson. Not present for the photo were Jorge Castro and Andrew Nicolai.

Senior students involved in the building trades program of the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative include, in front from left, Derek Charles, Brandin McCulloch and Brandon Rocha. In the back row are Nathan Hare, Rodrigo Hernandez, Jamison Bolt, Dylan Steele and Terrance Farmer.

Students in the building trades program of Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative were honored during the annual banquet Tuesday evening in the Wawasee High School cafeteria. Building trades is one of the several programs offered by the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative.

A house was built this year for Ken and Cheryl Manning on CR 300 East.

Longtime building trades instructor Ed Waltz recognized each of the students and gave brief remarks about each one, though two were unable to attend the banquet.

There are 21 juniors and seniors in building trades in the current academic year and Waltz noted that number is projected to increase to 26 next year. Depending on whether they are in their first or second year of the program, students were presented jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies or T-shirts.

Curt Hursey, president of the building trades advisory committee, noted some of the building trades programs in the surrounding area are struggling now, but the Wawasee program has remained strong due to the support of the advisory committee and school administration. He said students learn valuable skills they can use the rest of their lives even if they choose a career other than building.

At the end of the program, a short Power Point presentation showed photos inside and outside the project house.

Senior building trades students this year include Nathan Hare, Brandon Rocha, Dylan Steele, Jamison Bolt, Derek Charles, Terrance Farmer, Rodrigo Hernandez and Brandin McCulloch. Hernandez was named the Outstanding Senior.

Juniors are Jorge Castro, Timothy Cramer, Zachary Cockrill, Maclain Herr, Bailey Hershberger, Nathan Horn, Nathan Katzer, Leonard Kline, Andrew Nicolai, Dominik Sanderson, Kyle Smiley, Michael Turner and Andrew Zartman.

Prior to the recognition of the students, a meal was catered by Dan’s Pies with assistance from culinary arts students of Wawasee High School.

An open house will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 4. More details will be released later.

From left are art students Samantha DeLaFuente, Nate Cook, Adam Herendeen, Stephanie Camargo, Amber Mock, Ruby Minnick, Alyssa Torres and Kassidy Scholl. Not pictured are Deea Coy, Mary Schwartz, Ali Ousley and JJ Gilmore.

As noted by Geoff Walmer, assistant principal of Wawasee High School, this was a good example of how beneficial a field trip can be for high school students.

The high school art appreciation class and Art Club visited Chicago recently to attend the Art Institute. They were particularly intrigued by Pablo Picasso’s painting “Old Guitarist.”

After doing research on sidewalk drawing/artwork, it was decided the project could be accomplished in front of the main entrance of the school. Students sketched the idea out and then filled in the colors and shaded the final image, approximately 8 feet by 16 feet in size. Unfortunately, heavy rains fairly quickly wiped out the drawing.

Bill Eby, WHS art teacher, said the students found the project challenging and rewarding and came away with a better appreciation for the arts.

A 2007 graduate of Wawasee High School in Syracuse is in the ICU in critical condition following a mowing accident that led to a near drowning in Fort Wayne.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the accident that happened at approximately 12:03 p.m. today.

Robert Houser Jr., 26, now a resident of Fort Wayne, was mowing grass for a landscaping company in the West Chester Lakes Subdivision when the accident happened. Indiana Conservation Officers say Houser was operating a riding lawnmower near the edge of a retention pond when the mower slid down the embankment and into the water. Houser was pinned underneath the tractor, under the water.

Although his co-workers discovered him and were able to free Houser, it was not known how long he had been under water. The co-workers called 911 and began CPR under Fort Wayne Fire Department personnel arrived and took over rescue efforts.

Houser remains in Lutheran Hospital in critical condition.

The annual Wawasee High School Sophomore Class chicken barbecue fundraiser will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday. The chicken will be prepared by Nelson’s.

Proceeds from the event will help the class of 2016 raise money for their prom and graduation.

Tickets are $6 per chicken half and $3 for potatoes.

The chicken barbecue and pitatoes will be sold at the main entrance of Wawasee High School, 1 Warrior Path Building 1, Syracuse.

Wawasee High School will hold its 46th annual Honors Program at 7 p.m. May 28, in the school auditorium. During the program, many school awards and scholarships will be presented.

Seniors receiving an Indiana Academic Honors Diploma, an Indiana Technical Honors Diploma, graduating with distinction, highest distinction, and the valedictorian and salutatorian will also be recognized.

Parents are encouraged to attend and the public is welcome.

Sophomore Mia Warstler’s drawing “Large Eyes” will be among the many pieces of artwork on display at the annual art show at Wawasee High School.

The annual art show at Wawasee High School will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 31.

Artwork will be displayed in the surge area near the auditorium of the high school and seniors will have their work on display in the Learning Resources Center. Drawings, paintings, ceramics, digital and darkroom photography and 3-D sculptures will be displayed.

For more information, call the high school at 574-457-3147.

Wawasee High School held the induction ceremony Monday evening in the high school auditorium for those students being inducted into the National Honor Society. A total of 19 students were inducted.

Drawing by Bre Robinson.

A colored pencil self-portrait by Bre Robinson won Best of Show at the annual art show at Wawasee High School during the weekend. The show featured hundreds of drawings, paintings and more of various types by WHS students, as well as art teachers Bill Eby and Brian Whirledge.

(Photo by Keith Knepp)

Wawasee High School held its 46th annual commencement exercises Sunday in the school gymnasium. Approximately 189 students heard their names called by WHS Assistant Principal Geoff Walmer prior to crossing the platform to receive their diplomas from principal Michael Schmidt.

Following the welcome and introduction by Wawasee Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington, the packed gymnasium was welcomed by Senior Class Vice President Lydia Katsaropoulos and led in the National Anthem by Wawasee’s Vocal Motion show choir.

After the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” processional of the graduates, the invocation was offered by graduating senior Amanda Bradley. She was followed onstage by classmate Stephanie Camargo who introduced class salutatorian and Senior Class President Katy Ashpole, who delivered an address to the gathered crowd.

Vocal Motion, which included several graduating seniors, performed “When You Believe,” followed by the introduction of valedictorian and speaker Ashley Helfers by Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer Dorinda Brito.

Once the diplomas were issued by Schmidt and Walmer, Ashpole led the Class of 2014 in the traditional turning of the tassels.

The graduation continued with a candle lighting ceremony led by Dr. Joyce Dubach and the singing of the “Wawasee High School Hymn.”

Graduate Dylan Houser offered the benediction before the recessional led the Wawasee High School Class of 2014 to the parking lot for a tossing of their mortarboards.

StaceyPageOnline.com is putting together a special video for all 2014 area high school graduates. Email photos of graduation ceremonies and your favorite graduate to stacey@staceypageonline.com no later than 8 a.m. Monday, June 9, to have them included in the video.

It has been said today’s school aged students are too often “wrapped up in their own little worlds.” But if given the chance to prove otherwise, they can prove they do care about others and want to serve the community as the Wawasee school board heard during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening in Syracuse.

Wawasee High School students Jada Antonides, Justin Ciriello and Courtney Linnemeier, who each just completed their junior years, gave a presentation to the school board on their community service project for Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy. Their project with the Special Olympics of Kosciusko County was rated the number one project overall this year for KYLA.

The three students began organizing a fundraiser in November to have two Special Olympics teams scrimmage each other for five minutes during halftime of a boys basketball game Jan. 10. Very few people left the gym during halftime and the crowd was loud in cheering for both teams. A total of $1,385.51 was raised that evening.

Each of the three students said the community service project not only gave them a better appreciation for Special Olympics, but it also challenged them to be leaders in a not so controlled environment where their peers were not present, it opened their eyes to see the world through a different perspective and it pushed them out of their comfort zone.

A group of three Milford School students also showed they care about the community. The Make an Impact project was chosen for Milford Middle School for the first time this spring. Students in grades five through eight chose a topic and developed a project to make an impact. Teacher Mary Brower said the project was student driven and community organizations were brought into the gym one day. “We let the students decide where their passions are and where they wanted to make a difference,” she said.

For the last five days of school, “the books were put away” and Make an Impact was focused on, Brower said.

Students Adriene Gill, Amy Beer and Clara Hardy organized the “clothes with a cause” project. They were inspired after hearing about a student who said they had no money to buy a shirt for their eighth grade graduation. The three researched poverty statistics for the state and county and were surprised when they found out how many families in the county are considered at the poverty level.

A clothes drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Syracuse Community Center. One person can purchase up to five items of clothing for 50 cents.

Also at the board meeting Tuesday, the board heard from Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for Wawasee schools, the ECO Challenge summer camp for at-risk students is underway at the high school and running smoother this year after some difficulties in its first year last year. A total of 24 students signed up for the camp. The board also approved a $10,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation for ECO Challenge.

Summer school reading classes are being offered for grades one to three in the elementary schools, Goshert noted, and are considered category one classes the state will fund.

The new ticket booth will make Wawasee’s Warrior Field one of the most appealing stadiums in the Northern Lakes Conference. (Image provided by Wawasee athletics)

SYRACUSE – There will be some welcomed changes to the fields and gyms at Wawasee High School at the start of the next school year.

Construction and renovations will begin this summer that will offer a fresh look to most of the athletic complexes at 1 Warrior Path. Last year the softball team received a nice addition to its program as the ladies played the past season in new dugouts on both the varsity and junior varsity fields. This year there are plans for new additions that will benefit every program.

The spectator gymnasium will be shut down the next few months as the ceiling will receive some cleaning and a paint job, but there will be several new additions to the Hardwood Tee Pee as well.

Wawasee will be installing new baskets in both the spectator and annex gymnasiums. The new baskets, as well as new lights and a improved sound system will provide fans with a better experience at games. Some spring coaches and athletes can share a smile as new batting cages will also be added in the upper level of the gym. New murals will be painted in the hallway by the weight room and annex gym by local artist David Butler. Finally, the gym will be getting air conditioning, a change that is sure to be welcomed by visitors as well as Wawasee fans.

Things will be looking different outside the walls of Wawasee High School as well.

A new concession stand and ticket gate is scheduled to be constructed between the varsity soccer field and tennis courts this summer. The soccer programs will also receive some other nice additions by getting a new sound system for Warrior Field, the previous concession stand is slated to be lifted and turned into an announcer’s booth. Wawasee also expects to replace the current bleachers with new ones that will allow fans to see more of the action on the field.

The biggest change, however, will be happening across the parking lot at the football field. Warrior Field will be getting a new gate to welcome its football and track fans as well as new restrooms and a concession stand.

The gate will be constructed at the northeast corner of the complex, formerly where fans with season passes would enter. Upon entering fans can find the new restrooms and concessions to their right. The new entrance for the football field will put Wawasee up to par with NorthWood, Concord and Warsaw, all three of which have added beautiful entryways to their respective football fields in recent years.

To help add to the new ambiance at Warrior Field, the Wawasee athletic department is giving fans an opportunity to, “demonstrate their Warrior pride” with the Warrior Way Walkway.

The walkway will be made of bricks that can be purchased through the athletic department. A 4” x 8” engraved brick can be created and installed for a minimum donation of $50. Wawasee can also do an 8” x 8” engraved brick for a minimum donation of $100. Any donations of $500 or more will get a large brick plus their name on a permanent outdoor donor plaque.

The funds collected for from the brick campaign will go towards purchasing a full-color LCD message board that will be placed outside of the stadium, facing the school. The message board will be used to promote all Wawasee teams and sporting events.

The board will be used to promote upcoming games, show highlight clips, display scores as well as publicize team and player accomplishments. Order forms for the bricks can be picked up at the athletic office and must be turned in by July 1.

All renovations and additions are scheduled to be completed by October.

Brian W. Gabbard, 42, of Ligonier, passed away on June 28, 201,4 at home. He was born Oct. 7, 1971 in Goshen, to Sidney and Pam (Kring) Gabbard. He was engaged to Trina Wicker.

He attended Wawasee High School. He was employed at Silgan Plastics in Ligonier.  He enjoyed ATVs, fishing, music and basketball.

He is survived by his fiancée, Trina, of Ligonier; four Sons: Anthony and Andrew Gabbard of Ligonier, Alexander and Zachary Gabbard, of New Paris; a step-son, Issac Wicker of Ligonier.  A granddaughter, Addison, also survives. Brian’s father, Sidney Gabbard, of Cromwell, is surviving.  Also surviving are his fiancées parents, Vivian & Talton Wicker.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Pam Gabbard.

A time of visitation with the family will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday July 1, 2014, at Yeager Funeral Home, 1589 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, IN 46767. A funeral service in his honor will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Sparta Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be given to Riley Children’s Foundation, 300 South Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

From left are Tracy May, coordinator of Wawasee High School’s ECO Challenge; Dale Kovarik, Shopko store manager; and Stacey Anderson, development manager with CAPS.

Two area causes received $250 donations from Shopko in Syracuse Tuesday morning.

The first to receive a donation check was Tracy May, with the Wawasee High School’s ECO Challenge team. This group seeks to provide at-risk students the opportunity to gain additional high school credits in order for them to graduate on time, and stay on track. ECO Challenge is a six-week course offering career-related classes during the summer.

Next to receive a check was Stacey Anderson on behalf of Child and Parent Services in Elkhart. CAPS works in the community by offering programs to help prevent child abuse from happening. The organization is funded partly by the United Way, local and state grants and fundraising events.

Online registration for the Wawasee Community School Corp. began Tuesday, July 29. To register in person at Wawasee High School, you can do so from noon to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, and Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the learning resources center of the high school.

There will be computers for you to complete the online registration and assistance provided if needed. You will be able to purchase Warrior Cards from athletics, fill out free and reduced price lunch applications, purchase yearbooks and put money in your child’s lunch account.

Extra guided tours will be available from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 4, and noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the high school. These will last approximately 30 minutes and be led by students. Call 574-457-3147 for an appointment if interested in one of these tours.

The freshman orientation meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in the high school auditorium. Due to construction there will be no air conditioning in the auditorium so please dress accordingly. There will be a short meeting in the auditorium and then tours will be given and students will be able to locate and open their lockers.