Wawasee High School students inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame included, in the front row from left, Tessa Freel, Brittney Jackson, Keyanna Clevenger, Tiffany Koble, Olivia Long, Adriene Gill, Kyndall Fisher, Hope Beer, Kendall Wrage and Ashley Halstead. In the second row are Kellishandra Mendoza, Amy Beer, Rosalie Garro, Megan Bray, Jacqueline Tucco, Aileen Wolken, Isaiah Metcalf, Hannah-Marie Lamle, Elizabeth Brugh, Zachary Hunter and RaeLynn Yoder. In the third row are Jacob Garcia, Trevor Price, Clayton Hicks, Lacey Helfers, Amanda Foy, Alyssa Koch, Ryan Edington, Forrest Holsten, Jake Cowan, Jade Baugh and Jamie Slabaugh. In the back row are Anthon Anker, Zachary Avery, Meghan Beer, Kevin Weikart II, Kabrea Rostochak, Zakary Linnemeier, Jairus Boyer, Eric Yankosky, Brianna Haessig and Blayne Faught. Not pictured is Amanda Mall.
SYRACUSE — Public education has changed much in recent years, but academics are still important and students must go beyond the norm to earn academic honors.
Wawasee High School held its annual Academic Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday evening, April 26, in the cafeteria and 43 more students earned the prestigious honor of being inducted into the hall of fame. The class of 2018 will be remembered for years to come in the form of a group photo displayed near the entrance of the high school.
During his welcoming remarks, John Szynal, math teacher at WHS, noted students inducted into the hall of fame “didn’t just show up; you did more than is expected to earn this.”
To earn hall of fame status, students must have a grade point average of at least 10.0 on a 12 point scale by the end of their 11th trimester.
Each student was recognized by Steve Perek, assistant principal, and had their photo taken with principal Kim Nguyen, as well as with the teacher or staff member they chose as having the most influence on them.
The evening also included a catered meal by Dan’s Pies with assistance from WHS culinary arts students.
Following is a list of the students inducted, along with the names of parents, the college the student will attend and their major and also the teacher, staff member or administrator they selected. A few of the teachers are now retired.
Anthon Anker, Steve and Cherri Anker, Purdue-Fort Wayne, mechanical engineering, Kristi Harris
Zachary Avery, Beth Cabeen, Purdue-Fort Wayne, computer science, Wade Wirebaugh
Jade Baugh, Justin and Amanda Baugh, Grace College, health science (pre-chiropractic), Jennifer Kramer
Amy Beer, Randy and Deb Beer, full-time nanny, Joyce Dubach
Hope Beer, Brent and Pam Beer, Lafayette Ivy Tech, dental assisting, Sarah Holsopple
Meghan Beer, Kevin and Laurie Beer, Purdue University, athletic training and science, Anne Mangas
Jairus Boyer, Jeff and Jodie Boyer, Taylor University, elementary education, Taylor Burkhart
Megan Bray, Rodney and Jennifer Bray, Grace College, elementary education, Cherie Sweatland
Elizabeth Brugh, Jeff and Lisa Brugh, University of Indianapolis, exercise science, Cheryl Miller
Keyanna Clevenger, Heather deSomer-Griffith and Buster Clevenger, Purdue-Fort Wayne (ROTC), psychology, Ed Waltz
Jake Cowan, Jeff and Kari Cowan, Cornell University, investment banking/multinational finance, Jennifer McKinney
Ryan Edington, Tom and Michelle Edington, Indiana University, finance, Vince Beasley
Blayne Faught, Bryan Lenfestey and Rebecca Linder, Indiana University, human biology, Pam Schumm
Kyndall Fisher, Rob and Ginger Fisher, Ball State University, elementary education, Mike MacOwan
Amanda Foy, Steve and Jennifer Foy, Ball State University, biology, Joan Harden
Tessa Freel, Jason Freel and Autumn Star Cook, Ball State University, nutrition (dietetics), Elaine Bokhart
Jacob Garcia, Joe and Tina Garcia, Goshen College, engineering physics, Frank Pizana
Rosalie Garro, Frank Garro and Karla Ward, New York University, business and political economy, Shannon Rose
Adriene Gill, Michael and Jeli Gill, Ball State University, physical therapy, Denise Potter
Brianna Haessig, Daryl and Susan Haessig, Indiana Wesleyan, undecided major, Brian Whirledge
Ashley Halstead, Jason and Tina Halstead, Ivy Tech School of Nursing, nursing, Julie Baird
Lacey Helfers, Jeff and Michelle Helfers, Purdue University, visual arts education, Kathy Myers
Clayton Hicks, Tim and Jodi Hicks, Purdue University, biochemistry, Kristin Bonner
Forrest Holsten, Todd and Tisha Holsten, military then Purdue, undecided major, Ken Brower
Zachary Hunter, Jeffrey and Molly Hunter, Purdue-Fort Wayne, computer science, Traci Henn
Brittney Jackson, Terry and Melissa Jackson, Purdue University, animal science, Melissa Possell
Tiffany Koble, Todd and Deanna Koble, Purdue-Fort Wayne, dental hygiene, Kerry Murphy
Alyssa Koch, Larry and Shelly Koch, DePauw University, neuroscience, Wendel Landes
Hannah-Marie Lamle, Mike and Robyn Lamle, Indiana University, environmental science, Jay Smith
Zakary Linnemeier, Will and Becky Linnemeier, Purdue University, mechanical engineering, John Szynal
Olivia Long, Paul and Kristina Long, Olivet Nazarene University, biology, Johnnie Fick
Amanda Mall, Sondra Mall, Indiana University, world languages education, Sara Harrison
Kellishandra Mendoza, Jose Mendoza and Jamie D’Amore, Ivy Tech, general studies, Tye Bloomfield
Isaiah Metcalf, Scott and Angie Metcalf, Notre Dame, pre-medicine, Amy Brown
Trevor Price, Jeremy and Heide Price, Purdue-Fort Wayne, civil engineering, Allen Coblentz
Kabrea Rostochak, Molly Rostochak, Purdue University, civil engineering, Anne Richey
Jamie Slabaugh, James and Mary Slabaugh, Palm Beach Atlantic, sports management, Peg Zimmerman
Jacqueline Tucco, Laraine Tucco, Purdue University, pharmacy, Tom Thornburg on behalf of the late Cyndi Thornburg
Kevin Weikart II, Kevin and Ruth Weikart, Purdue-Fort Wayne, elementary education, Mitch Willaman
Aileen Wolken, Darin Wolken and Karen Harrington, Ivy Tech, nursing, Hans Griepentrog
Kendall Wrage, Thomas and Christine Littlefield, Manchester University, chemistry, Priscilla Taylor
Eric Yankosky, David and Deborah Yankosky, Indiana University-South Bend, nursing, Jerid Stoffel
RaeLynn Yoder, Jeffrey and Gina Yoder, joining Navy (hospital corpsman), Kristen Records