Top 10 seniors at BHS celebrate their most influential people
BREMEN—TIME out of mind, Bremen High School (BHS) seniors write a letter of gratitude to their most influential person among the school staff. On March 28, the top 10 seniors academically and their chosen staff members were honored during a school assembly. Following are more about each student and their influential staff member.
Trinity Beachy is heavily involved in the show choir as both the company manager and the section leader. She is also a peer mentor, member of the volleyball team, and the Champions Together Organization. She chose Mrs. Jen Heiter, the senior English teacher. “You’ve shown me that when we’re always in our heads, it’s impossible to move on. We can’t learn more or get better when we’re stuck. Thank you for showing us your passion for people, and thank you for loving us well—even if it hurts sometimes. Your wisdom has motivated me and changed my perspective on education and myself. Thank you for being you. You’ve helped make me the best version of me,” reads a portion of Beachy’s letter. She intends to attend either Grace or Cornerstone College to pursue Biblical Studies and Psychology majors.
Sarah Bollenbacher is the MVP and two-time captain of the cheerleading team. She is also a peer tutor and is a member of the show choir and student council. She chose Mrs. Brita Miller, who is an elementary art teacher and the BHS Girls’ Tennis Coach. “Through the years your confidence in me, even when I did not believe in myself, helped me realize that my place is in the classroom. Not only have you been a great mentor but also a great friend,” reads a snippet from Bollenbacher’s letter. “I would never be where I am today if it weren’t for you.” She will be pursuing math/ science and elementary education degrees at Grace College.
aaron Douglass is a member of the Social Studies academic Team, a representative to the Richard Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders, and captain of the cross-country and track teams. He chose Mr. Eric Hudson, the cross-country coach. “Every day for practice you never seemed to be in a sour mood and always were ready to not only teach me to run but also how to be the best person I can be. You have a contagious heart and mind that taught me how I want to be as a person. You have shown me how to enjoy my abilities and talents. You have taught me the value of hard work and dedication to the sport and everything I do outside of it,” wrote Douglass. He will be attending Bethel University for computer science and engineering.
Ty Feldman is the treasurer of the senior class, an academic all-conference in basketball, and is involved in Key Club and the Math academic Team. He is also captain, first team all-conference and academic allconference in Soccer. He chose Mrs. Kathy Cullers, a math teacher and the Math academic Team coach. “You have taught me so much over the years, and even though I may never use implicit differentiation or the unit circle ever again, some of the lessons I will always remember are to take life inch by inch, play by play, to never be the third derivative of a position function to anyone, and as always: Be Critical. Be Cautious. Be Compassionate.” he wrote. Feldman will be attending Indiana University in the fall pursuing a degree in finance.
Zoey France is a peer mentor, member of the volleyball team, English academic Team, Show Choir, the awakened Compassionate Teens (ACT) Club, the Dance Marathon Committee for Riley’s Children’s Hospital, and the Champions Together Organization. She also chose Mrs. Cullers. “Every single day you reminded me that I was enough and that I was doing enough. Slowly but surely, you helped me rebuild the confidence I had lost. You taught me that who I am inside is more important than my grades. With that though, you also showed me it’s okay to want to do well in everything that I do, but as long as I did my best, I’m allowed to be proud,” the letter reads. France plans to attend Indiana University and will be majoring in nursing.
Sophia Freehauf is a peer tutor, an international qualifier in DECA, a member of the swim team, and is involved in multiple other teams and clubs, including Key Club, ACT Club, Computer Science Club, and many others. She also heavily involved in the Drama Dept. She chose Ms. Teresa King, a counselor at BHS and the Drama Sponsor. “You had a lot of patience when it came to us [cast and crew of CLUE]. You listened to suggestions and actually trusted us. You laughed with us when we (gloriously) messed up and encouraged us when we were down. You somehow managed to get this ragtag, overdramatic group of kids into line to create something truly memorable,” reads Freehauf's letter. “For that, and everything else, I thank you. I have mentioned several times that I do not want to remember high school, but that does not include the plays.” Freehauf will be attending Saint Mary’s College pursuing computer science and engineering majors.
Dawson Hickman plays baseball and is the captain on the basketball team. On the tennis team, he is the Captain of the Regional Championship Tennis team and a member of the academic all-state and all-star tennis teams. He represented the school at the IHSAA Student Leadership Conference and is President of the DECA Organization. He is also a peer tutor. He chose Mrs. amber Reed, the business teacher and DECA Sponsor. "Thanks for all of the support. Thanks for sacrificing a couple of slides of notes to check in on me and your other students. Thanks for allowing this DECA president to put his own twist on things and helping him with college/career advice,” his letter reads. Hickman intends to pursue a business major at Indiana University.
Marty Manges is a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, and baseball. He is captain in both baseball and football, achieving First Team all-conference and academic all-state in football. He’s also part of the show choir, the dance committee for Riley’s Children’s Hospital, a school representative at the Northern Indiana Conference Leadership & Sportsman Conference, and the IHSAA Student Leadership Conference. He chose Mr. Marty Gravers, the assistant football coach. “We developed a friendship that I will always treasure… I strive to be the kind of man you are,” reads his letter. “When I look at you, I see an influential coach, a loving husband and father, and a man who cares about people no matter their problems. You are so much more than a coach to me. You were, and still are, a role model and a friend. You have also influenced me and given me the confidence to study psychology in college.” Manges will be pursuing a sports psychology major ad Depauw University.
Grace Meyer is secretary of the Student Council, a D.A.R.E. ambassador, and Bremen’s Distinguished Young Woman. She competes on the school’s volleyball and tennis teams. In tennis, she is the captain, first team all-conference, and academic all-state. She is captain of the English academic Team and sings in the show choir. She also chose Mrs. Miller. “You have grown me so much as not only a tennis player but also a person,” Meyer wrote. “The values of hard work and determination that you have taught me will help me as I continue my tennis career in college and beyond. For that, I cannot thank you enough.” Meyer plans to pursue an English degree at Huntington University.
Lextin Willis is vice-president of the National Honor Society and captains the intramural basketball team. While he also competes for the school on the cross-country and track teams, he is the captain and MVP on the swim team. He achieved Top Ten State Qualifier in at the DECA state conference, and is involved in several academic teams, clubs, choir, and more. He also chose Mrs. Reed. “You do not just teach us; you make a personal connection with every student,” reads part of his letter. “Thank you for helping me find my love for business and guiding me into my future career path. Most of all, though, thank you for being such an incredible teacher and person. While I will no longer be able to invade your class every day, I can promise that graduation will not be the last time you hear from me.” Willis plans to enter Taylor University for a sports management degree.
These letters mean much to students and staff alike. “Though the letters written by the current Top Ten Seniors are powerful thank you notes, the letters written by the students at the other end of the spectrum, in terms of GPA/ class rank, to their most influential staff members are life-saving letters,” said BHS Principal Bruce Jennings, “Each year, as I read these heart-felt letters (written to my colleagues), I invariably have a simultaneous smile and a tear as I continue to be so proud to be a lion!”