Area seniors recognized at Franklin B. Walter
WAPAKONETA — Several exceptional students and teachers were honored during the Franklin B. Walter awards dinner held Wednesday evening at Wapakoneta High School.
Wapakoneta Principal Scott Minnig introduced Emily Freeman, a student with a 4.0 GPA, an ACT score of 34 and 19 honors and college credit courses. She is involved with show choir, Varsity Corral, symphonic band, marching band and the musical.
“She has a love for music and she is gifted at it,” Minnig said.
She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Student Senate and Spanish Club. She plans to study political science at Miami University in Oxford.
“Her main goal is to make a positive impact in the lives of others,” Minnig said.
Freeman’s honored teacher was Choir
Director Daniel Landis. She said she has grown as a person because of Landis and has been inspired by his passion for music.
She said he finds ways to make choir worthwhile even when live performances have not been possible.
“I am proud of my musicianship today and cherish the memories I have been able to make under Mr. Landis’ direction,” Freeman said, adding he creates a safe environment for students, and is willing to listen to them. Freeman said Landis has encouraged students to “be their own advocates”.
Minster Principal Austin Kaylor honored Mason Pohl, who has taken multiple AP courses, is a member of the National Honor Society and has an ACT composite score of 34. An academic All-Ohio in cross country for three years, she is a also the recipient of the Honda OSU STEM award.
Kaylor said teachers have said Pohl is a remarkable student and person. He said she is driven, intentional and leads by example.
“She is respectful, kind and doesn’t complain when things get hard,” Kaylor said.
A two-time state cross country champion and a state champion and finalist in basketball, she has also held positions in the Youth Leadership Association.
She is also actively involved with her church.
“Mason understands the importance of serving others,” Kaylor said.
In her application essay Pohl wrote “nothing is comparable to the feeling elicited from knowing that my actions made someone’s day better.”
She plans to become a pediatric nurse after seeing the difference nurses made while visiting a friend who had cancer.
Pohl will represent the county at the state level for the Franklin B. Walter award.
“It’s exciting. I am just grateful for everything my teachers have done for me over the years, I couldn’t have done it without any of them,” Pohl said, reacting to the countywide distinction.
She gave credit to her pursuit of nursing to Marianne Brunns, the teacher she chose to honor. She said she realized her interest during a life sciences course with Brunns, and called her hardworking and passionate.
“Mrs. Brunns constantly tries to find new ways to keep us engaged,” Pohl said. “That included adapting Romeo and Juliet to explain muscle physiology.”
New Bremen Principal Marcus Overman honored ElliBleu Roetgerman who, apart from carrying the highest GPA obtainable, also participated in volleyball, basketball and track at the varsity level.
Rotgerman has also participated in the school’s district leadership team and serves as president. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the business club and Student Council among other groups.
“Elli is a busy person who spends an exceptional amount of time giving back to her school and to the community,” Overman said.
He also spoke about her character and kindness.
Roetgerman gave credit to teacher Shannon Heckman who teaches business, graphic design, video production and other courses.
“She sets her students up to such a high standard because she wants them to excel and succeed in whatever they do,” Roetgerman said. “Personally I have taken a lot from that.”
She also looks up to Heckman for her character and how she handles challenges.
New Knoxville Principal Jenny Fledderjohann introduced Sam Anspach. He holds a 4.0 GPA, is a varsity basketball and golf player, a student council representative, president of the school’ Gatekeepers, class president and a member of the Scholastic Bowl team.
He also serves on a youth leadership team and is a Bible School volunteer at his local church. His AP calc teacher called him a leader, and his honored teacher, Mary Wiest, said he truly enjoys learning and is able to see things from many perspectives.
Despite shoulder issues, Anspach still came to practices and mentored golfers. He also manages the Subway in New Bremen. Fledderjohann said Anspach has made a positive impact on his peers.
Anspach said he had heard Wiest was a hard science teacher, but that the negative rumors were wrong. He said she challenged him to find the answers to his own questions which he said helped him learn better.
“If it wasn’t for you there would be no way I would be going into the dental field,” Anspach said. He said he found the way the human body works to be amazing.
Jon Burke, principal of Memorial High School, introduced Katie Lucas. She is a leader in several sports and school programs, is involved in soccer — earning all district honors, basketball and will be valedictorian of her class, which she achieved while taking all honors courses available.
“She doesn’t just join a club, she dedicates herself to giving it all she has,” Burke said.
She plans to study business administration at Ohio Wesleyan. “Katie is going to make big changes in this world,” Burke said.
Lucas chose associate band director Madeline Frankenhauser as her teacher of honor.
“You’re not just learning notes and rhythms; there’s also life lessons and character development underneath that, and she’s really been a true teacher in all of these areas,” Lucas said, adding she appreciated her teacher’s positivity, support and encouragement of students. She said Frakenhauser pushed her out of her comfort zone playing the snare drum and eventually she became a section leader.
Waynesfield-Goshen Principal Brian Hogan took note of award recipient Rylie Barrington’s work ethic. He pointed out that throughout her school career she regularly started her day close to 6 a.m., working out in the weight room or in her mother’s classroom working on school work. Barrington is a track and cross country runner as well.
“She goes the extra mile in everything that she does,” Hogan said.
She is one of Waynesfield-Goshen’s valedictorians this school year and participated in the NHS, 4-H and student council and is a founding member of the Tigers Against Depression and Suicide organization. She has been team captain for cross country, track, volleyball and basketball teams. Barrington plans to attend Ohio Northern University and major in nursing and minor in Spanish to eventually travel to the Dominican Republic to work.
Barrington honored math teacher Jennifer Szippl. Barrington said Szippl always made sure students understood the concepts.
“She has always been there for me whether I had a math related question, college related question or just a question about life,” Barrington said adding she has been a role model.