This year 37 seniors were honored in the academic hall of fame. These students earned a cumulative GPA of 10.0 or higher over 10 semesters.
Shown in front from left are Cole Turner, Colt Dolsen, Sevilla LaBarbera, Sydney Baker, Kiah Farrington, Alexis Mishler, Nadia Whalen and Nathaniel Fraley.
Second row: Rylee Firestone, Izabelle Losee, Gracelyn Hills, Sarah Beer, Allison Stookey, Addyson Riter, Finnley Lucas and Ethan Dennis.
Third row: Hunter Miller, Nathan Kryder, Jay Duncan, Peyton Felger, Gavin Malone, Brayden Mickley, Cade Beer, Clay Coblentz, Laura Arford and Christina Morrow.
Back row: Isaac Hodges, Drew Williamson, Gabriel Garro, Ben Maxwell, Joselyn Kolberg, Keegan Hurst, Josiah Boyer, Emma Siri, Zoe Taylor and Ava Pohl.
Not pictured is Madeline Close.
Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Thirty-seven seniors were honored at Wawasee High School’s annual academic hall of fame banquet Thursday night, April 27.

Those being honored had achieved a cumulative GPA of 10.0 or higher at the end of the 10th semester on Wawasee’s 12 point scale. “It’s an honor and shows the hard work you put in,” said Principal Geoff Walmer.

Along with their parents, each student was encouraged to choose a teacher or staff member from all levels of their education to recognize a person who had a major impact on their life.

“We have the students choose a K-12 educator because it takes all of us to get the students this important night,” said Walmer. “So we’re excited to have all the educators here tonight, including those who are not currently working at the high school. Students, I know this means a great deal to those you have invited.”

Each student was then called up to be presented with their plaque. It was also an opportunity for them to present the teacher or staff member they invited with an award.

Ken Long, a welding teacher who came to education recently, was one of those teachers invited to attend. Long also welcomed everyone to the banquet. He noted he was attending at the invitation of a student he had not had in class. “I had to sit down and chat with him about it a bit,” he said.

Walmer closed out the evening addressing the students being honored.

“I want to close out this evening by sharing a few words to the phenomenal human beings who will be high schoolers for just a few more weeks.

“I often struggle when I refer to you or others refer to you as students. You are human beings just as I am. You have incredible gifts and talents in certain ways that are far beyond any gift or talent I have. …

“The reason I share this is for you to always remember that of others. While I have the title of principal and you may view me that way, I too, am a human being just trying to make the best of my time here. The educator sitting next to you is also a human being, just trying to do their best during their time on this earth.

“As you proceed in the coming years, remain humble in your approach. Be thankful for your gifts and talents and recognize the gifts and talents in others and encourage them.

“While you’ve each proven yourself to be strong in our academics, I challenge you to combine that with a humbleness that is just as admired, an attitude of encouraging and supporting others that is admired as much as your academic success.

“When you combine your gifts, talents and strong work ethic with this humbleness and approach to life, you will be the change in whatever community you are in that is so desperately needed.

“Lastly, parents, guardians and educators in this room, job well done. It takes a village to raise a child as we all know and everyone sitting in this room was a key contributor to the village of each honored senior this evening.”

The academic hall of fame banquet was fully funded by local sponsors this year: Ace Hardware of North Webster, Ace Pest Control Inc., Bass Audiology, Bud’s Body Shop, Crossroads Bank, Culver Family Foundation, Dynamic Floral Design, Knights of Columbus No. 6323, Lakeland Kiwanis, Lions Club of Syracuse, Northern Lakes Realty and The Papers Inc.