Garrett Clipper graduation edition 2016

The Garrett Clipper An edition of

GHS 2016 SENIOR EDITION

The

132nd Graduating Class

MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016

Garrett graduation is May 27 Jackson Haynes is valedictorian, Kelsi Warfield is salutatorian GARRETT — Jackson Alexander Haynes and Kelsi Nicole Warfield were named Garrett High School’s top two seniors during the school’s annual Academic Pride Day program Friday in the Performing Arts Center.

The valedictorian, Haynes, is the son of Joel Haynes and Madeline Burlage-Haynes. He plans to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette to major in computer engineering.

He said his personal goal is to define himself and build a relationship with others around him, make the dean’s list, earn a master’s degree and gain job experience toward his career goal through internship and studying abroad.

While at Garrett, he has been a member of the student council four years, National Honor Society, academic teams, Cyber Patriot and Encore show choir. He danced for Patricia Krus School of Dance for 10 years and volunteers at the Community Care Food Pantry.

Haynes was a member of the 2014 State Champion English academic team, received Tri Kappa art award and NECC All-Academic honors.

He applauds Garrett for its wide variety of courses and programs, as well as extracurricular activities.

Haynes singled out teachers Linda Walls and Mark Claxton for making a positive impact on his education.

“Those two individuals care deeply about their students and demand they put their best effort forward,” he said. “Above all, they have adequately prepared me for college writing, which I cannot thank them enough for.”

He joined Encore show choir his senior year and found it to be his most memorable high school memory.

“I met an amazing group of dedicated individuals and made numerous friends along the way,” Haynes said, expressing his gratitude to directors Jennifer Fast and Kelly Gomes for the opportunity.

In the years to come, he would like American society to take a stronger grip on politics and environmental change.

“If more people showed interest in politics, more might be accomplished in Congress, which could have a positive impact on our nation and the world.”

The salutatorian, Warfield, is the daughter of Paul and Jennifer Warfield.

She plans to attend Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology and then continue at the IU

Medical School, become involved at Riley Hospital for Children, and hopefully intern there. Her goal is to return to the DeKalb County area to work at DeKalb Health or Parkview Health hospitals.

Warfield has been active in soccer, softball, cheerleading, marching band, show choir, athletic training, student council, National Honor Society, Students Initiating Care and Kindness, Students Against Destructive Decisions, FOR Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She served as captain of the soccer and show choir, and was student council president.

Warfield said Garrett has the most relatable and caring teachers in the county, along with unique teaching styles.

“Garrett has given me the opportunity learn more about the medical field than I thought I would have anywhere else,” she said.

She also said teacher Mark Claxton was a strong influence on her education, both inside and outside the classroom.

“In class, he has taught me how to analyze different aspects of literature and American History and apply it to the world around us today,” she said.

Outside of the classroom, she said Claxton’s door was

Sue Carpenter

Garrett High School’s top seniors for the Class of 2016 are valedictorian Jackson Haynes and salutatorian Kelsi Warfield. Both will address classmates and parents at commencement on May 27. always open to all students.

“His understanding and caring nature makes it easy to open up to him,” she said.

Band instructor Paul Marlow also made an impact on her life.

“He showed how music heals everything. After experiencing life-changing events, he allowed me to stay involved in marching band and supported me completely,” she said. “He taught me I will always have a family waiting for

me when I return to Garrett High School.”

Her most memorable high school moment was taking the field for the last time with her marching band family at Lafayette Jefferson.

“It felt great walking off that field knowing I gave my all and we had a fantastic show,” Warfield added.

Within the next decade, she would “love to see Americans put all their

From the Superintendent

GARRETT 2016 SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS

To the Class of 2016...

Photo contributed

Senior Class officers for 2016, from left, are President Kaitlyn Ellison, Vice President Jackson Haynes, Secretary Rachel DePew and Treasurer Sam Boger.

Exchange students study at GHS GARRETT — Three foreign then go univerexchange students will be handed sity, but is still diplomas on May 27. Tachapan undecided on his “Pin” Chittayasodhara is from major, perhaps Udonthani, Thailand; Maximilian architecture or Losbichler hails from Wieselburg, geography. His Austria; and Guilia Russo is from goal is to have a Milan, Italy. job he enjoys that Chittayasodhara plans to attend pays decently, Chittayasodhara and one day lead Chulalongkorn University in Thailand to study language and a business or culture or communication arts with company or be his a career goal to be ground staff own boss. He has at the airport. She loved being a been active in cross member of Encore show choir, country, wrestling, something that is not offered in her baseball and the own country. She also earned choir academic teams. awards for outstanding growth Losbichler found and tech crew. Pin said she found Garrett to be a great Losbichler school and the the classes she took at Garrett to be easier than those at her Thai teachers very nice. school. She said Mrs. Parks helped “There is not with her understanding of English. as much pressure Her most memorable moment at as I was used to Garrett was being a part of the in Europe because choir. there are a lot less “They are so awesome people,” tests and exams she said. “I got to work with them and the lessons are and spend time with them on not as challenging,” Russo weekends for competitions.” he said. Losbichler Losbichler plans to do his enjoyed the variety military service in Austria and of sports and the new and innova-

differences aside and unite and start acting like a family rather than destroying everything our Founding Fathers put in place for us,” she said.

Both Haynes and Warfield will address classmates and parents during commencement exercises in the Paul Bateman Gym on Friday, May 27, at 8 p.m. A student-led baccalaureate service will be at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

tive classes like Photoshop and sports marketing that are both relaxed but challenging. He was impressed to find a weights class and a weight room in school. He singled out Photoshop teacher Monica Cone as awesome; Nick Kraus as an awesome weights teacher; and said Tony Thomas was fun and Chris DePew was awesome in psychology. His most memorable moment was being named Homecoming King last fall. He would like to see people become less hostile toward immigrants and foreign religions because “xenophobia right now doesn’t lead to anything.”

Russo plans to return to Italy and complete hight school and go to university, but is unsure what her major might be, but she really wants to work with animals and be a veterinarian. She has been active in volleyball, basketball and track.

Russo said all of the teachers do a great job at Garrett and she really liked the classes she took.

Her most memorable day at Garrett was prom day. That night she was named Prom Princess.

CONGRATULATIONS! I hope your final year at Garrett High School was a memorable experience. As you continue this new chapter in your life, please remember that you will always be a member of the Garrett family.

I hope you keep many memories and friends you have made at GHS close to your hearts.

It is with great pride that I have the honor of presenting diplomas to the Garrett High School Class of 2016. You have remained focused on this most important goal for 13 years, graduating from high school.

You have built a strong foundation for life. The future for all of you is bright with countless

opportunities just waiting for your discovery. Please recognize and experience those opportunities and grow stronger because of them.

When you receive your diploma on May 27, do so with abundant pride, knowing this awesome achievement was made possible because of your continued determination and willingness to strive for the best.

I wish you the utmost success and fulfillment in your future and please remember Garrett High School with fondness as the institution that led you to greatness.

Good luck to the graduating Class of 2016.

Dennis Stockdale, Superintendent Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD

From the Principal To the Class of 2016...

The privilege and honor to serve as your principal the past four years is almost indescribable.

The Class of 2016 contributed to multiple championships over the past four years, as well as local, state and national recognition. Your class is about to set the bar for the best graduation rate in Garrett High School’s history.

You are the ones that have made a difference in yourselves, your circle of influence, your

school and your community. I hope you find your “Why” and work hard to achieve it.

Stand firm in your beliefs as you continue life’s journey. I wish you happiness and success in the future.

God’s blessings of grace, mercy and wisdom to continue to “Be the One!” We are Garrett!

Your proud principal, Matthew A. Smith, Principal Garrett High School

From the Mayor To the Class of 2016...

The 132nd class to graduate from Garrett High School.

Congratulations, quite the accomplishment!

The years of hard work from kindergarten through grade 12 are done and now you are off to a new beginning in your life.

Some of you may be off to

college and some may not. One thing is for certain, you have a great future ahead of you.

Set your goals — make a plan to achieve them and go for it. You are now in control of your future.

Be bold. Be great. Be You. A job well done!

Todd Fiandt, Mayor City of Garrett

page 2

The Garrett Clipper

MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016

kpcnews.com

Shianne Alwine

Vince Anderson

Brian Ball

Ashley Barnett

Stephanie Barnett

Reid Baughman

Dacoda Birt

Samuel Boger

Kylie Bolen

Jade Boyer

Thomas Bradley

Alyssa Burns

Cameron Caldwell

Jacob Cook

Teachers impact student success SHIANNE ALWINE, daughter of Marianne and Shannon Alwine, plans to attend Purdue University to major in biology. Alwine has been active in cross country and track at Garrett, student council, National Honor Society and PK & Company dance group. She names Mark Claxton as the teacher who made the most significant contribution to her education.

LYNSDAY BAKER is the daughter of Michelle and David Converset and John Baker. She plans to attend Ivy Tech for basic courses and then transfer to IPFW to finish her degree to become a social worker. Following college, plans are to work with CPS and have a family.

At Garrett, Baker was a member of the track team and a cheerleader. Baker said teacher Greg Myers was always there to support and encourage her, no matter the situation.

She said teacher Mrs. Erme helped her pass geometry when she had to retake the class. Anthony Thomas also taught the class in an interesting way, and then Mr. Martin also helped to make physics understandable. She also named Paul Marlow and Warren Giegold as making classes interesting and worthwhile. Her most memorable moment at Garrett working in landscape management. In the future, she would like to see less grouping of people and more understanding.

STEPHANIE BARNETT is the daughter of Judy Barnett and Jason Barnett. She plans to join the military following graduation and to study to become a landscape architect and minor in psychology and interior design. A personal goal is to have a hobby as a tattoo artist. For her career, she just wants to do the best she possibly can. She was manager of the Garrett High School football team her BRIAN BALL, the son on Randy and Carolyn Ball, freshman and sophomore plans to reach his bachelor’s years. She has perfect attendance has earned third degree at Ivy Tech and place in the FFA district become an accountant. He essay competition. Stephanie rates his education highly would like to see more at Garrett due to the tons of opportunities to learn offered attention paid to the FFA by the school. He named program because everything teacher Anthony Thomas as done in the class is life making a strong contribution related. She found teachers to his education because Warren Giegold and Mark he makes teaching tons of Ober to have helped her fun. His most memorable education by telling students moment at Garrett High what the world is really like.

School was his first day as Her most memorable high a senior. Ball said he would school moment was skiing like to see Donald Trump with the FFA. “I would like become president in the to see education become coming year. more personalized, not just base on what state test we ASHLEY BARNETT, need to pass,” she said. the daughter of Judy Barnett Stephanie would also like and Jason Barnett, plans to college to be free. “I think enter the work force after many people can benefit graduation, get an apartment from that,” she added. and live life fully. Ashley managed the Railroader REID BAUGHMAN, football team for two years. the son of Rachael Badders She would like to see the and Lance Baughman, plans school allow students to take to become an apprentice some classes even if they or attend college following did not pass a few others. graduation. He has been She sees the school’s sports active in baseball and programs as strong, but feels basketball in high school. the FFA program could be He said the education at expanded. Although the Garrett is really good and sports-based programs seem all teachers are easy to get to get all the funding, she along with. Hannah Gilliland finds FFA equally important. is the teacher he found to

have made the most significant contribution to his education.

ROBERT BAUMANBURRESS, the son of Shonda Bauman and Jeffrey Bauman, plans to pursue a career in construction trades.

He has been a member of the Railroader soccer team.

The building trades class stands out at the strongest program at Garrett, he said, because it allows students to take college classes and pursue a career. He credits Steve and Stephanie Rhoades as helping him the most with his schooling. He said his most memorable moment at Garrett is graduating early.

DACODA BIRT is the daughter of Brian Birt and Rachel Warren. She plans to move to Fort Wayne and attend Ivy Tech to obtain a degree in elementary education with a career goal to become a teacher.

She has been active in cheerleading and color guard at Garrett and has perfect attendance. Birt found the staff at Garrett High School to be great and caring. She said teachers Andy Zaebst and Steve Rhoades were named as having made the most significant contributions to her education. Her most memorable moment at Garrett was when the Railroaders beat DeKalb in football and the school got the train trophy back home.

SAMUEL BOGER, the son of Jerry and Beth Boger, plans to attend Indiana University to major in information systems. He has been active in basketball, National Honor Society, student council, track and cross country at Garrett.

He described Garrett High School as great, and named teacher Mark Claxton as having made the biggest impact on his education.

ALYSSA BURNS is the daughter of Pam and Dellas Burns. She plans to attend college and major in animal science. Her personal career goal is to live in an apartment with her best friend and attend and graduate from college.

Congratulations

Class of 2016!

She has been active on the Garrett soccer team.

Burns said Garrett offers a great learning environment. She named teacher Steve Rhoades, Anthony Thomas and Stephanie Kromer as having made the most impact on her education. “They pushed me and motivated me to do my best,” she said. Beating DeKalb at football and the seniors winning all four years of powder puff as her most memorable high school moments.

CAMERON CALDWELL, the daughter of Cindy Kolbe and Gilbert Caldwell, plans to graduate and get a job. He is a member of the Railroader baseball team.

JACOB COOK, the son of Tommie Cook and David Cook, plans to attend Ivy Tech to study refrigeration.

His plans are to become an elevator repairman. Cook rated the academy program as good and building trades class as awesome. Teacher Linda Walls was one of the best teachers he ever had, he said. He would like to see the United States get out of debt in the coming decade.

GREGORY CRAGER, the son of Willie Crager and Sheri Crager, lives in Rome City. He plans to complete his military career and to eventually be able to work on anything that has an engine. He said the school’s JAG class is the strongest program at Garrett because it allows students to learn hands-on with job opportunities.

four years in a row was her most memorable high school moment.

BLAKE DAVIS, the son of Chad and Lisa Davis, plans to attend Indiana Tech to earn a degree in biomedical engineering and one day be able to assist those with physical hindrances. He has been active in the Railroader football and wrestling teams for four years, National Honor Society, Athletic Leadership Council and Students Initiating Character Counts. He was elected football team captain three times and wrestling captain twice, earned all-state recognition in football his junior year and for wrestling his junior and senior years.

He also earned academic all-state recognition both in his junior and senior years.

Davis praises the school’s wrestling program and coach Nick Kraus for making amazing leaps in the last few years including sending 10 wrestlers to regionals and six to semistate in 2016. He also named teachers Kraus and George Wilmore as making a significant impact on his high school career. He would like to see Americans become tougher to become successful. “Where it is mental or physical toughness, one must be able to push through hard times in order to encounter a favorable outcome,” he said.

RACHEL DEPEW is the daughter of Chris and Chrissy DePew. She plans to attend Ball State University to major in elementary education with a goal to become a teacher.

She has been active in LINDSAY CROSBY, sports, Athletic Leaderdaughter of Angel and ship Council and National James Crosby, plans to Honor Society. She rates her education highly at Garrett attend IPFW and major because of people who care. in the health field, with a Teacher Linda Walls helped goal to graduate in four prepare her for college and years. She has been active thoroughly cares, she added. on the school’s volleyball DePew said she would and bowling teams and is like to see “everyone stop a member of the National Honor Society. She gives the being so soft” in the coming school the highest marks. “I decade. learned so much from the BLAINE DIAS is the teachers,” she said. Crosby son of Greg and Christian said teachers Jonelle Furnish Dias. He plans to weld and and Hannah Gilliland made farm following graduation. significant impact on her His career goal is to make graduation. “They push amazing money. Dias said you to do your best and to he would prefer welding all never give up. They taught day instead of classroom me so much,” she said. work. He named teacher Crosby said the seniors Tony Thomas as making a winning the powder puff difference in his education.

His most memorable high school moment was getting caught chewing tobacco.

In the coming decade, Dias said he would like to see lower welfare and Donald Trump as president.

TEDD DICKSON is the son of John and Erin Dickson. He plans to attend Indiana Tech to major in elementary education and to graduate from college with little debt. He was active on the school’s bowling team in high school. Dickson said teacher Mallory Clifford always made sure he did his best and helped him through school.

KAITLYN ELLISON is the daughter of Elizabeth Ellison and John Ellison.

She plans to attend IPFW for two years and then transfer to Ball State for the last two years to major in English education and become a high school teacher in the tri-state area. Ellison said her main career goal is to inspire her students to do his or her absolute best and see the potential in themselves. She has been active in student council, National Honor Society, Tree Huggers, Friends of Rachel Club and academic teams. She was chosen Garrett’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen and serves as president of the Class of 2016. She rates her education highly at Garrett because of the passion of instructors and coaches. “I haven’t met a single teacher at Garrett that doesn’t care about his or her students,” she said. Ellison believes the school’s academic teams deserve more recognition because members are dedicated and hardworking both in and outside the classroom. The student council also does many events behind the scenes and deserves more recognition, as well. She credits teachers Linda Walls and Mark Claxton for pushing her to succeed and taught her quite a bit about herself, both in understanding the world and herself through classroom discussion and expectation.

“Both of these instructors inspired me to follow in their footsteps and become an English teacher,” she said. Her most memorable high school moment was being named prom princess her junior year. She would ➤ SENIORS, Page 3

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The Garrett Clipper

page 3

Gregory Crager

Daniel Crawford

Lindsay Crosby

Christian Daley

Blake Davis

Sabrina Davis

Rachel DePew

Blaine Dias

Steven Dickison

Tedd Dickson

Kaitlyn Ellison

Sage Evans

Ethan Follett

Gabriella France

Makayla Frost

Michael Fuleki-Tressler

Alyson Fuller

Dilyn-Roy Gallinger

Kylie Gamble

Matthew Garberich

Schuyler Geiger

Grads leave legacy of achievement like to see less dependence on technology overall, especially in education.

Ellison said she would also like to see less prejudice and hatred toward other religions, races and political affiliations.

SAGE EVANS, the daughter of Douglas Evans and Jennifer Evans, plans to attend Ball State University and double major in elementary education and child life specialties and minor in special education.

Her personal goal is to work in a child hospital helping families while there. She has been active in cheerleading, track, Athletic Leadership Council and National Honor Society.

She earned the sportsmanship award for cheerleading and was captain of the track team her senior year.

She was also cheerleader captain of the football and basketball seasons her junior and senior years. Evans praised the teaching staff at Garrett. “No matter what, the teachers are always willing to help you and go above and beyond what is expected,” she said. Her most memorable moment at GHS was when the girls basketball team won sectionals and the whole

crowd rushed the court.

“It was one of the best moments of my high school career because you got to see first hand what a great community we have,” Evans said.

ETHAN FOLLETT, the son of Jacqui and Lee Follett, plans to attend Purdue University to study mechanical engineering.

Follett said the school’s Project Lead the Way courses provide awesome, hands-on work and should be taken by every one. His most memorable high school moment was American Studies class with his friends and Mark Claxton as their teacher.

GABRIELLE FRANCE is the daughter of Angela France. She plans to obtain a degree from IPFW and then work in a pediatric unit, hopefully at the Parkview North facility. Her goal is to work in a well-paying job and just be happy. France is

a five-year member of the show choir, two years on the National Honor Society and a year on the spell team.

She has been on the honor roll on a regular basis and will graduate with academic honors. France said some of the teachers at Garrett are really awesome. “Garrett offers a wide variety of classes which are ideal,” she said. Teacher Steve Rhoades stands out as making the biggest impact in her life.

“No matter how many days I wanted to give up on math, there was always a reason he wouldn’t let me,” she said.

Choir director Jennifer Fast also was a great influence.

“She tries to understand every single student and constantly goes the extra mile with the prom, show choir and other events,” said France. She also thanks the other teachers who have impacted her life. In the coming years, France would like to see parents able to teach their children genuine kindness, as well as the ability to succeed and be

proud of themselves and the world in which they have grown up.

MAKAYLA FROST is the daughter of Nedra and Micheal Frost. She plans to become an early education teacher at Ivy Tech. Her most memorable moment at Garrett High School is being able to spend every day with her friends.

KYLIE GAMBLE, the daughter of Jimmy and Kelly Gamble, plans to attend Ivy Tech and pursue a degree in nursing. She credits the Garrett Learning Center and teacher Patti Weller for her success at Garrett. “She is the only teacher that has ever really helped me,” said Gamble.

Her most memorable high school moment is singing at the talent show. She would like to see peace prevail in the coming decade.

ALEXANDREA GOTTFRIED is the daughter of Twylia and

David Gottfried. She plans to attend IU in Bloomington to major in biology, pre-med. Her goal is to make achievements in either the advancement of medicine or helping society to become stronger together.

She has been active in volleyball, basketball and National Honor Society and is currently holds the title of Miss Garrett and Miss DeKalb County. She finds the language program at Garrett to be strong with amazing teachers and a huge selection of classes, but said the school’s history department deserves some attention. Gottfried said teacher Linda Walls taught extremely valuable classes and always went out of her way to ensure the highest education. Math teacher Steve Rhoades was always there to be helpful and to offer great insights on life.

Her most memorable high school moment was passing out in Mrs. Walls’ class the first day of school her

senior year. Gottfried would like to see a more positive society who sees the joy in everyone and everything instead of the negative things that go wrong.

SPENCER GOULD is the son of Fred and Kim Gould. He plans to work for a year after graduation to save up money and then go to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute. His career goal is to make a living through music. Gould played basketball for three year while at Garrett. He said teacher Jonelle Furnish made a significant contribution on his education. “I struggled with English class in previous years until her class my freshman year.

She helped me understand the material and I ended up with good grades in that class,” he said. He would like to see the music scene change by bringing back the ’80s. ➤ SENIORS, Page 4

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Mayor Todd Fiandt & the City of Garrett

page 4

The Garrett Clipper

MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016

kpcnews.com

Joseph Glover

Caleb Gose

Alexandrea Gottfried

Spencer Gould

Madyson Grimm

Victor Hammond

Kirsten Handshoe

Quinton Hanes

Robert Hargrove

Gage Hatton

Shannon Herendeen

Hayden Hostetler

Logan Hutchins

Hanna Irvin

Deven Jackson

Austin Johnson

Christopher Johnston

Kordell Kessler

Farrah Kohli

Samuel Lawrence

Mikayla Lawson

Many graduates plan to attend college VICTOR HAMMOND is the son of Renee and Jay Hammond. He plans to join the U.S. Army and be part of the Army Marksmanship unit or U.S. Army Band, and then return to pursue a degree at IPFW for music education. From there, Hammond’s goal is to return to Garrett and teach students about music and how it changes lives. Hammond said he has a standard to gain an excellent experience wherever he goes and whatever he might do. “I am proud of where I came from and I want to come back and be an influence to a new generation,” he said. While at Garrett, he has been active six years with the Garrett Railroader Regiment, Garrett band and Encore show choir; three years with the drama/theater departments and a member of the inaugural shotgun sports team. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri Kappa award winner, outstanding performer award recipient, state trapshooting champion, Shooter of the Year 2015, Forest Lodge 239 Master Mason and Drum Corps International Drum Major candidate. He rates his education highly at Garrett. “It’s truly a part of town and the spirit that lies within in is made by the people,” he said. “I personally thank those who support

Garrett High School and the pride and traditions we have. We are truly blessed,” he said. The arts department stands out as strong. “Soon the arts department will be a powerhouse filled with gold plaques and trophies,” Hammond said, adding he would like to see a little more promotion of theatricals, plays and musicals.

He named teachers Paul Marlow, Mark Claxton and Andy Zaebst as making an impact on his education.

Marlow showed him the passion he has for music and leadership. Claxton taught him how to think logically, be thoughtful in all he does and to have fun in the classroom. Zaebst showed him how to have fun, be young and still learn at the same time. His most memorable moment at Garrett was following the basketball loss to New Haven and the loss of Ryan Hathaway. Everyone was gathered in a circle in the gym and prayed as a community, he recalled.

“It was life-changing and I will never forget the unity our community brought onto a family that was broken.” Hammond said he would like to see the American society live the Constitutional way, freely and without question.

“Sometimes dreams need to be altered or changed.

Sometimes dreams have to be put off until later, but as long as a man is dreaming or living their dream, he is more successful, powerful and smarter than any other creature on earth, and no one can take that away from him,” he said.

SHANNON HERENDEEN is the daughter of Tom and Jane Herendeen. She plans to attend Ivy Tech and study animal science. She has been a member of Encore show choir and performed in various plays and musicals at Garrett. Teacher Jennifer Fast made a significant impact on her education.

“She has given me so many opportunities to do many things,” she said. Her most memorable high school moment was going to state with the show choir.

HAYDEN HOSTETLER is the son of Kristie Emenhiser and Michael Hostetler. He plans to pursue a career in building trades. His personal goal is to travel the world.

Hostetler would like to see the building trades program at the school expanded, as people always need homes.

His teacher Chad Sutton pushed him to perform his best in the class. He said his most memorable high school moment was going to the saves with teacher Tony Thomas.

LOGAN HUTCHINS is the son of Lynn Chapman and Jeff Hutchins. He plans to attend Ivy Tech for general classes and then pursue a degree in graphic design, with a goal to design somewhere in the field of entertainment or pop culture.

Hutchins has been active five years with the marching

Congratulations Brian Ball Daelinn Zecca Lucas Pfeiffer Tedd Dickson

Class of 2016

t!

All The Bes

GOOD LUCK ETHAN FOLLETT, REID BAUGHMAN and the

CLASS OF 2016

band three years in archery.

He earned Adobe certification in Photoshop and Illustrator. “I wouldn’t have changed anything about my education here,” he said.

“I feel fully prepared and confident to graduate into adulthood.” Hutchins said the school’s marching band is one of the most rewarding and gratifying programs at Garrett. It brings everyone on and off the field closer and lets all of them come together as a group.

Teachers Paul Marlow and Monica Cone helped him in many ways, he said. “They took the step further to help support me and make the confident person I am today,” Hutchins added. In the future, he would like to see a better sense of morality and revival of chivalry in the world.

HANNA IRVIN is the daughter of James and Sherry Irvin. She plans to bowl for Spring Arbor University in Michigan on a scholarship for the next four years. She also will be studying pre-med and then attend a different university to attain a degree in anesthesiology. She currently works full time at ResCare and plans to keep her job when she returns home for breaks.

Her personal goal is to end her four year in college and qualify for the Professional Women’s Bowling Association. She also wants to finish school with a doctorate degree, move to South Carolina and start a family.

Irvin has been a member of the marching band, 4-H, softball and bowling teams at Garrett. She received multiple bowling scholarships and various awards through bowling and was the 2016 sectional champion.

She is also a member of National Honor Society.

Irvin said the technology experience she gained at Garrett will be very helpful throughout college and while earning her medical degree.

She finds the vocational

and music programs are strong at Garrett. Irvin said she found her true self and strengths through music and the marching band. The vocational programs are a kick-start for the future through which she studied primary healthcare and earned her certified nursing assistant license that allows her to get a job anywhere in the medical field. She named teachers Emilia Jones, Jonelle Funish, Paul Marlow, Mark Ober and Stephanie Kromer as having made the biggest influences while in school. “I will be forever thankful for all they have taught me,” she said. Traveling to Europe with her mother during her junior year was her most memorable high school moment. “I am so thankful for Garrett High School and the awesome support the community gives it,” Irvin said.

AUSTIN JOHNSON is the son of Brad and Kathy Johnson. He plans to attend Ball State and major in business. While at Garrett, Johnson has been a member of the football, basketball, baseball and track teams.

He earned all-conference for football and was captain of the basketball team. Johnson said attending Garrett High School was a great experience, and fun. He said teachers Mark Claxton and Hannah Gilliland pushed him to succeed. His most memorable high school moments were beating Eastside and DeKalb in football and winning the county. In the coming years, he would like to see America become less soft.

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON is the son of Penny Johnston and John Johnston. He plans to get a job following graduation, and then attend Ivy Tech. His future goal is to become a psychologist.

His most memorable high school moment was asking

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Savannah Lay to go out with him. In the future, Johnston would like to see less bullying laws. “Kids need to learn to defend themselves,” he said.

KORDELL KESSLER is the son of Jeff and Mary Kessler. He plans to attend IPFW and major in accounting, and then get a job he enjoys. Kessler has been active on the school’s football, basketball and track teams and community service. He has earned several sport-related awards at Garrett. He credits the school’s 1:1 computer technology for helping complete papers and other projects, the variety of classes offered and many college classes at a low cost for making Garrett great — plus the teachers who care about students.

Kessler credits teacher Hannah Gilliland for helping him become a much better overall writer by always helping with questions when it came to writing. He would like to see discrimination of every person in American society change. “Everyone is supposed to be equal like it is confronted to America.

I have not seen that change very well at all,” he said.

FARRAH KOHLI is the daughter of Tracey Lower and Steven Kohli. She plans to pursue a degree in interior design at IPFW, and then move to North Carolina to start her own business by flipping houses. She has been a four-year member of the track team, two years with the Tree Huggers group, earn Tri Kappa honors for three years and a member of the National Honor Society. Kohli noted some teachers care about students more as people than as a student.

RAISTLYN LEHMAN is the daughter of Nickie Freed, Jarrod Freed and Dwayne Lehman. She plans to attend Robert Morris University to obtain a degree in graphic design and photography. Her goal is to become a professional photographer with her own business and take wedding and family photos. She has been active with the school’s cross country and track teams, socials studies academic team and National Honor Society, and received awards for academics and sports. Through her positive experience as a student at Garrett, Lehman said she is ready to go out into the world with little dependence.

She finds the football, basketball and choir programs strong at Garrett, but feels the soccer teams, after-school clubs and academic programs such as the spelling bee need more attention. Teachers Hannah Gilliland, Linda ➤ SENIORS, Page 5

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ToriAnne Ley

Joseph Lopez III

Drake Lucarelli

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J. Brogan McCoy

Christopher McDonald

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Kylie Millhouse

Tanner Minnich

Matthew Mix

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Friends share special school memories Walls and Steve Rhoades made a definite impact on her education. “They also helped me with other life choices, such as which degree I should pursue in college and how to act properly at an elegant dinner,” she said. Lehman’s most memorable moment was going to Washington D.C. with her friends during her senior year. In the future, she would like to see people treated more fairly in society and in the school systems. “I want to see less judgment in the world and more acceptance,” she said.

TORIANNE LEY is the daughter of Larry and Pamela Ley. She plans to attend IPFW to major in both elementary education and special education. Her goal is to one day move to Indianapolis and work for the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism to gain more experience so she can bring it back to Garrett and improve programs. While at Garrett, she managed concession stands for the boys baseball leagues for the past three years and held a yearlong internship with the Northeast Indiana Special Educational Cooperative through which she worked with all ages and disabilities.

“I loved the education I got from Garrett. Small towns create the best atmospheres to work and learn in,” she said. Ley said she learned more in the Academy seminars in the year she was in it than any other year. She credits teachers Stephanie Kromer and Andy Zaebst for pushing her to achieve more than she ever believed she could. Her most memorable high school moment was for standing up for what she believed was right, and fighting for the differences between what was truly right and wrong. In the future, Ley believes people should be less judgmental.

“Sometimes we need to all take a step back and realize

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that nobody is perfect and we all have things we need to work on,” she said.

JOSEPH LOPEZ III, son of Jaclyn Becker and Joseph Lopez Jr., plans to take online courses at Full Sail University and work at a job until he graduates from college and finds employment in his area of study. His personal goal is to work as hard as possible so that he could either work at Blizzard Entertainment or Nintendo. While at Garrett, he was active with the show choir and became certified in Photoshop. Most teachers work very well with students and understand how a student learns compares to others, he said. He noted the Academy helps students with poor grades flourish.

The show choir has great teamwork and works hard to achieve goals, Lopez said. They practice relentlessly during the season and always do their best to improve. A significant teacher is Monica Cone, he said. She always explains things thoroughly and makes sure students understand what he or she is doing. His most memorable moment was going to state with the show choir. “Seeing all my friends excited and pumped made me happy,” he said. “The competition was amazing and rewards time was no much fun.” In the future, he would like to see individualized teaching, he said, noting standardized tests harm more than help.

“They don’t show individual progress and make children fell stupid because they don’t score as high as some other students,” he said. “I believe that the education system needs much improvement nationally so that every

person can reach their full potential.”

DRAKE LUCARELLI is the son of Bobbie Lucarelli and Todd Lucarelli. He plans to attend college and major in secondary education with a focus on English. His career goal is to obtain a teaching degree in high school English and return to Garrett High School to teach. He has been involved in football for four years, basketball for three years, baseball as a sophomore and track as a freshman and junior. He rates his education at Garrett highly, praising the school’s outstanding staff. Among them are Becky Wright, Hannah Gilliland and Stephanie Rhoades. Gilliland gave him the confidence in English needed to pass his English E.C.A. and to become a better writer.

Rhoades was there for him anytime he needed her and made sure he stayed on track. Wright developed his interest in English.

“She was a great influence on my choice of career.

It is because of her that I want to become an English teacher,” he said. Lucarelli also thanked teacher Jonelle Furnish for being a great role model. “Although I never had Mrs. Furnish as a teacher, I knew I wanted to become a teacher, just like her,” he said. Lucarelli’s most memorable high school moment was winning the English award two years in

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a row. Another memory is coaching his class’s Powder Puff team to a four-peat championship.

SHAYLA MASSEY is the daughter of Willie and Janet Massey. She plans to attend college to become an obstetrician and work locally. Massey is a member of the youth group at New Hope Christian Center. She rates her education at the top of the chart. “The teachers are awesome here,” she said. “Through my years, they help me so much with understanding what to do and spending extra time with me to help me,” she said.

Teacher Linda Walls made significant contributions to her education by staying with her after class to help her better learn a topic, she said. Her most memorable high school moment was economics class with teacher Gravante and her friends.

CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD is the son of Amanda Flaugh and Steve McDonald. He plans to attend college to pursue a

degree in physical therapy.

McDonald’s long-term goal is to be able to provide plenty for his future family.

He has been active on the school’s baseball program.

He credits Garrett High School for preparing him for his future in more ways than just education. McDonald said the Garrett athletes deserve an ovation for their work ethics. He named teacher Nicole Snider for giving him the tools to strive in life. His most memorable Garrett High School moment was dunking teacher and coach Andy Zaebst during Last Blast Luau. In the future, he would like to see the young generation stand up and attack issues at hand.

Huggers. She has been a member of PK & Company, a dance competition team, for 11 years. Meyer has been on the honor roll several times, received art class recognition and earned Adobe Photoshop certification. She rates the quality of her education highly. “I love the teachers and their teaching strategies,” she said. Meyer said teacher Becky Wright and Hannah Gilliland made strong impacts on her education and will miss both of them greatly. She said Wright knows how to mix fun with education and make her class a great experience. She said Gilliland is unique. “I love being in her class. She makes it a point to really AKEISHA MEYER get to know her students is the daughter of Sarah and gives them a chance Scheurich and Anthony to know her,” Meyer said.

Scheurich. She plans to Among her most memorable attend IPFW for two years moments was being a part of and then transfer to Indiana the Miss Garrett Pageant and University to study interior winning the talent award. design. Her career goal In the future, she would is to then move to a big like to see less criminal city and eventually own and murderous acts and the her own interior design world to feel like a safer business. She is a member of place.

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Kristen Neeley

Kariann Nelson

Alexie Newman

Abigail Nucci

Jacob O’Connor

Perry Ort

Taylor Page

Jarin Parker

Adam Pepple

Brienna Perez

Michael Pettit

Lucas Pfeiffer

Reilley Pugh

Kali Quackenbush

Bailey Ray

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Students wish for peace in the future his education at Garrett as amazing. Molargik said the Academy and the Cyber Patriot programs need more attention. He credits teachers George Wilmore for teaching him everything he knows about engineering and Mark Claxton for being an overall amazing human being. His most memorable moments are Cyber Patriot competitions. Molargik said he would like to see “significantly less Trump” in the coming decade.

MATTHEW MIX is the son of Mary Jo and David Mix. He plans to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to purse a career in racing. His goal is to have a house and family while working his dream job. Mix said while Garrett is a good school, the bowling program needs more attention. He named band teacher Paul Marlow for being a big impact on his education and band as his most memorable moment. In the future, he would like to see more people working and few people getting offended.

MEGAN MORRIS is the daughter of Lynn and Tony Marchelleta and Jason and Erika Morris. She plans to attend Indiana University in Bloomington to pursue an accounting degree. She has been active show choir, English and math academic teams, spell team, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Railroader softball team.

Morris is the first person in Indiana to become a Microsoft Officer Specialist Master. She praises the staff at Garrett High School for their impact on her education. “The teachers that were also my coaches contributed more to my education by giving me more information to learn that I would not have in the classroom,” she said.

NICHOLAS MOLARGIK is the son of James and Jeanne Molargik.

He plans to attend IUPUI in Indianapolis to study computer engineering, and then attend graduate school and pursue a career in the field of computer engineering. He has been active on the football, track, baseball and archery teams, National Honor Society and Cyber Patriot. He describes

KEENAN MYERS is the son of Duane and Bambi Rodman. He plans to attend the Culinary Institute in New York to pursue an associate’s degree in culinary arts with a goal to

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one day open a restaurant in New York City. He will also be working at JJ’s in Garrett as head of the kitchen until fall. He has participated on the Railroader football team and Encore show choir.

Myers said he attended many schools over the years but Garrett High School is by far his favorite because of the education, people, spirit and family environment that is matched by no other. Encore show choir is the strongest program at the school, in his opinion, but has not supported well by the community until recently. “Every single student in the program is a hard-working, driven individual,” he said, adding the group teaches discipline, leadership skills and punctuality. Teacher Alex Saxer made the strongest impact on his education. “He showed me that school can be fun and was always there when I needed someone to talk to.” Referring to Saxer as both a teacher and friend, Myers added “he made me realize that I had to follow whatever I was passionate about.” Myers said his most memorable high school moment was joining the show choir. “I soon came out of my shell, became more sociable an made lifelong friends I can always count on.

KRISTEN NEELEY is the daughter of Nancy Neeley and James Neeley.

She plans to pursue a modeling career as she sets sail on a cruise in October with more than 100 scouts looking for models and actors. Her career goal is to become a model, actor or professional make-up artist. She has been active on the school’s soccer team.

Although she rates Garrett

High School highly, Neeley said she didn’t always use it to her advantage because there were always people to ask questions.

She praised teachers Myers and Dobbs for impacting her education. “There are just someone that is always there, someone you can talk to about anything.”

Her most memorable high school moment was meeting best friends Kaitlyn Ellison, Mikayla Lawson, Bailey and Nadia Ray. Changes in society she would like to see would be putting a stop to bullying. “It hits really home to me because bullying changed me as a person,” she said. “I was always made fun of because of my weight. Me being me, I took it to extreme.” She developed a life-threatening eating disorder that almost took her life in 2015. “All I want is for people to be aware of the words they say, and how that actually affect others in their lives.”

KARIANN NELSON is the daughter of Jeffrey and Gina Nelson. She plans to study occupational therapy at Vincennes University.

She has been active on the varsity soccer and track teams and student council.

Her most memorable high school moment was breaking the Lady Railroader soccer record for the most goals in a season.

ALEXIE NEWMAN is the daughter of Chassidy and Robert Newman. She plans to study biomedical engineering at Purdue University in the fall.

She has been active in cheerleading, girls track, National Honor Society, and Tree Huggers. Newman has earned Tri Kappa honors, All-American Cheerleader,

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and sportsmanship awards for cheerleading. Teachers Linda Walls, Mark Claxton and David Stevens made the strongest impact on her education, she said. Pi Day with Stevens and the Washington D.C. trip were highlights of her high school career.

ADAM PEPPLE is the son of Kathy Pepple and James Simmons. He plans to pursue higher education and major in media arts and animation with a goal to make animations centered around action and satire. He rates his education at Garrett as phenomenal. “Everyone is helpful and you absolutely have any resource you could want at your disposal,” he said. Pepple said the Adobe courses and certifications offered at Garrett are amazing and give you a head start in the media arts field. He also praised the school’s JAG program for making his job and college readiness easy and fun. Pepple said Cone was an excellent teacher and helped make his classwork easy to understand. “She deserves an award just for dealing with me,” Pepple said. In the future, he would like to see people begin to appeciate the ability to think for themselves and use the information put in front of them to expand their minds and ideas. “Narrow-mindedness should be stunted,” Pepple said.

MICHAEL PETTIT, the son of Jeffrey Pettit and Kathy Pettit, plans to pursue a career in marine mechanics after attending MMI in Orlando, Florida with a goal to one day open his own marina in Miami, Florida.

He rates his education highly at Garrett because the teachers take time out to further the students’ education. Pettit said the vocational classes should have more students enrolled because they give you real

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life skills and set you up for a possible career. Pettit said he will remember teachers Freels and Alan Bobilak forever for taking time to understand the curriculum and had fun doing it. His most memorable high school moment was when the crane fell over on the football field during his freshman year. In the future, he would like to see America become debt free and for peace to be restored.

LUCAS PFEIFFER is the son of Heather Pfeiffer and Scott Pfeiffer. He plans to attend Purdue University in the fall with a goal to earn a degree in computer hardware engineering and eventually start his own business. He has been involved in Garrett High School’s golf team, National Honor Society and Cyber Patriots. At Garrett, he also earned four certifications for Adobe products. Pfeiffer rates his education highly.

“The teachers are great and truly have their students’ futures in mind, and the school is a great learning environment, as well,” he said. Pfeiffer said the Project Lead the Way engineering classes are a great feature offered at the school and definitely helped guide him to what he will be studying in college. Prior to his retirement last year, teacher George Wilmore made a significant impact on his education and future. “He was always supportive of the projects I was working on and expanded my knowledge about the engineering field,” said Pfeiffer. His most memorable high school moments were the numerous six-hour-long nights of competing with the Cyber Patriot team. In the future, he would like to see the United States strengthen foreign relations and avoid war. ➤ SENIORS, Page 7

Co ng

KARISSA MILLHOUSE is the daughter of Jane and Ed Millhouse. She is undecided on plans after graduation, but plans to be successful. Millhouse credits teacher Stephanie Rhoades for helping her when she needed it. “She didn’t just want me to pass, she wanted me to have good grades,” she said of Rhoades.

Millhouse said she would like to see the world change with electronics and people need to start caring more.

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Paige Rowlison

Victoria Ruble

Evan Ruby

Adela Saralu

Michael Sexton

Cameron Shafer

Drake Shearer

Alicia Silva

Charles Simmons

Abigail Simon

Madison Skelly

Lily Skiver

Taylor Smith

Brent Souder

Nicholas Stafford

Brandon Stephey

Tanner Surfus

Gabrielle Swartz

Casey Taylor

Taylor Teegarden

Jesus Teregeyo

Grads praise variety of programs, courses KALI QUACKENBUSH is the daughter of Michael and Erina Quackenbush. She will be running indoor and outdoor track while attending Manchester University to earn a degree in dental biology. Her goal is to be accepted into the dental school at Ohio State University and earn her doctorate degree in dentistry.

Quackenbush has been active four years in track and cheerleading, National Honor Society and student council. She earned recognition as UCA All-American Cheerleader, 2016 track sprinting captain and Tri Kappa honors. Quackenbush said the student council program at Garrett is strong and gave a shout-out to teachers Chad Sutton, Linda Walls and Mark Claxton for making an impact on her education. Her most memorable moments were in track, but there are too many to even remember she said.

every time she took the field for marching band. In the future, Ray said she would like to see more hard work and less entitlement.

MORGAN ROOSE, the daughter of James and Michelle Roose, plans to attend Ivy Tech in the fall and eventually transfer to Ball State and major in pre-med and then go to medical school and one day work in a hospital.

She has been active in soccer, cheerleading and bowling while at Garrett High School. She rates her education as great. “The teachers care so much for their students and we have so many career classes to help prepare us for college and the future,” Roose said.

“We also have hands-on classes and I think that is awesome!” She finds the football program to have the most attention while other sports also deserve the spotlight. Roose also said the real world classes need BAILEY RAY is more attention. Roose said the daughter of Michael teachers and coaches Dobbs Ray and Angela Ray. and Henson. “They teach She will be attending Ivy you real life things and help Tech in the fall to earn an you with college and life in associate degree and then general. They are there for transfer to IPFW to earn a you, both inside and outside master’s degree in forensic the classroom.” Her most psychology. Her goal is to memorable moment was become a forensic psycholwhen her mom passed away. ogist who writes poetry on “The students and staff were the side. While at Garrett, so supportive and help me she was a six-year member through it,” she said. In the of the marching band, three year spell team member and coming years. Roose said she would like to see world participated on the English academic team one year. She peace and every race and ethnicity come together to earned Tri Kappa honors become one as country and for academics. Ray said not hate each other. the teachers and learning environment at Garrett CASONDRA ROWE are excellent. She said the is the daughter of Beau and marching band program Sondra Rowe. She plans deserves more recognition to attend college to pursue because of what the kids involved in the program do. a degree in nursing and then work in the career she “It would be nice to have wishes to have. She rates an audience that listens and Garrett High School highly, watches rather than talks saying they do their best at home football games,” for the students and their she said. Teacher Paul education. Rowe said she Marlow made a significant thinks the music department impact on her education,”could use more attention. simply because the without Teacher Freels stands out the band program and as making an impact on her through his teaching and education. “He made things life lessons, I would not easy for everyone and made be who I am today,” she it fun,” she said. Rowe said. Her most memorable said there needs to be less high school moments were

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war, and more education of important things like taxes and how to budget.

HUNTER ROWE is the daughter of Willis Rowe and Naikoma Hawn. She will be attending either Trine University or the University of St. Francis in the fall to study athletic training or massage therapy, with a personal goal to earn her degree and become successful. She was a member of the cheerleading team as a sophomore.

Rowe said the school’s 1:1 initiative is achieved very well with how small and connected the community is.

The said the programs in the school’s learning academy deserve more recognition for the accomplishments the students are making not only on their own but as a whole.”People believe you have to be high-achieving in order to meet your goals in the academy, but it’s not that at all,” she said. “It is just how the student works individually.” Teachers Andy Zaebst and Hannah Gilliland played a large role in her education during her junior year when her older sister passed away. “I was just ready to give up and not try to succeed any more.

They both pushed me to do my best and to finish, because they both knew I need to and that I could do it,” she said. Her most memorable moment was the week she returned to school following her sister’s passing. “I walked into my student publications class and I was welcomed by my yerd family with smiles and hugs,” she said. After class she was handed a sympathy card signed by everyone in the class and gift cards to her two favorite places.

“It was the most touching moment I have experienced in my high school years,” she said.

Huggers, National Honor Society and marching band at Garrett. The Ivy Career Advancement Programs (ICAP) has potential to be a strong program in the future and deserves more attention and expansion. She said Nicole Snider was her No. 1 favorite teacher all through high school. “She made learning difficult, fun and easy all at the same time,” she said. And Mr. Smith made it possible to step forward to be the leader to start the ICAP program.

Rowlison said she will always remember the pep sessions at Garrett. “They made classmates feel like family. Garrett High School has a way of bringing their students in and making a difference in everybody’s lives,” she said.

VICTORIA RUBLE is the daughter of Carmen and Scott Ruble. She plans to attend Ball State University to pursue a master’s degree in business and become a successful entrepreneur and owner of a non-profit organization. She has been involved in volleyball, student council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes all four years; basketball for three, concert choir, show choir and National Honor Society for two years and in ICE her senior year. Ruble was presented Tri Kappa honor awards four years and the Tri Kappa junior music award. Garrett High School allowed her to prepare for the future through a wide selection of courses to prepare for for her career aspirations. Through the Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) program she gained hands-on experience while working at a local business.

She also praised the school’s media programs such as web design, digital photography and radio/TV as strong and well-developed. Teachers Mark Claxton, Jennifer Fast PAIGE ROWLISON and Bree Sprunger were is the daughter of Bree influential in her life. She Rowlison and Steve said Claxton was a relatable Rowlison. She plans to lecturer who taught both attend Ivy Tech to pursue a business degree and continue English and history in a way connected to real life working for Van’s Home scenarios. “Life is all about Center in Auburn. She has making connections so I been involved with Tree

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appreciate his wisdom in doing this,” she said. Fast allowed her to grow as a performer and a person.

“She taught me new techniques as a vocalist but most of all she is an amazing mentor and example for all of her students,” Ruble said. Sprunger worked very hard to find the perfect ICE position, spending several weeks to find a business-related job for her while allowing her to work as a volunteer at the Railway Cafe. Ruble said her most memorable high school moment was playing volleyball for two students who were ill, one with stage four lymphoma, the other with lupus. Each year, the volleyball team traditionally holds a Dig for the Cure game. This year, the focus was for both lupus and lymphoma. “This was such a special event and it was heart-warming to know that we could all come together as one school to support these students and their families.” she said. “I will never forget how great if felt to make a difference in my own community alongside my teammates.”

In the future, Ruble said she would like to see less controversy on the word “beautiful.” She said society has a huge impact on young teens today and would like to see a change. “It is important to instill self-confidence and individuality rather than conformity when it comes to appearance and even intellectual behavior.

I believe God created each and every individual in His liking and who you are in His eyes is your true self,” she added.

MICHAEL SEXTON, the son of Chad Sexton and Aileen Huard, plans to begin National Guard basic training and AIT, ROTC college the following year with an intended major in nutritional science. He plans to have a career in the military or as a nutritional

consultant. He has been active with the baseball and wrestling teams for two years and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Sexton said he received a very good education and good preparation for the future at Garrett High School. He singled out his math teachers as making the biggest impact on his education because they pushed him to develop a good work ethic. The prom ranks as his most memorable event while in high school.

In the future he would like to see ISIS and other extremist groups that are killing off scores of people to be reduced, and there should be none of those individuals in American society.

CAMERON SHAFER is the son of Chris and Erica Shafer. He plans to pursue a degree in education at Trine University and return to Garrett to teach. He has been a member of the football team for four years, track for two years, and wrestling and baseball for one year apiece.

He earned the 2014-2015 Torch Bearer award for football, 2015-2016 Sportsmanship Award for football and was inducted into the National Honor Society.

He ranks the quality of education highly at Garrett, describing it as a community and a family. He praised teacher Mark Claxton for making learning easier. His most memorable high school moment winning the NECC football championship.

DRAKE SHEARER is the son of Suzanne and Jason Shearer. He plans to major in pre-med at Holy Cross College or Notre Dame. His personal goal is to excel in college, and his career goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon. He has been a member of the basketball team for two ➤ SENIORS, Page 8

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Auston Thatcher

Taylor Thompson

Lexxus Treesh

Dylan VandeZande

Zachery Vaughan

Samuel Waterhouse

Mason Wichman

Lucas Wicker

Autumn Williams

Michaela Woods

Daelinn Zecca

Mariah Zimmerman

Magdalina West

Academics, arts, athletics important years, SICK, DARE, National Honor Society and Project Lead the Way. He received awards from Tri Kappa for science. He rates his high school education highly due to small class sizes. Shearer said the sports programs are strong at Garrett but the arts programs need more attention. He credits teacher Nicole Snider who gave him a head start on his pre-med track. His most memorable high school moment was the overtime buzzer-beater over Leo in the Paul Bateman Gym. ABIGAIL SIMON is the daughter of James Simon and Tina Simon-Stafford.

She plans to attend Indiana State University to major in elementary education with a goal to become a teacher. Simon has been active in the marching band, show choir and English academic team. She praised her education at Garrett.

“The passionate teachers at Garrett made learning more fun while teaching me more.” Although both the athletic and music programs are strong, Simon said the music program deserves a lot more credit/attention.

“We put in just as much effort and patience, and we bring home more awards than the athletes, but we get half, maybe a quarter of the attention,” she said.

Simon added the school’s percussion ensemble qualified for state but didn’t get as much as a shout out at a pep session. Teachers Mark Claxton and Becky Wright made a big impact on her education. “They are passionate about what they do and showed me how to be a great teacher,” she said. Her most memorable high school memory was every moment spent on the Washington D.C. trip.

In the future, Simon said she would like to see more kindness in the world.

“There is much too discrimination, we need more kindness,” she said.

MADISON SKELLY is the daughter of Kathy Garman and Gregg Skelly.

She plans to attend Ivy Tech and IPFW for business and art. Her personal goal is to make money and be happy. While at Garrett, she participated in band, show choir, spell team, shotgun team and the Tree Huggers environmental club. She is a member of National Honor Society and was twice named outstanding performer in the show choir.

Skelly gives Garrett an A-plus grade because the teachers and coaches are caring and don’t want to see you fail, she said. Skelly finds each program strong because the students in each of them have a passion for them and put a lot of hard work into them. She singled out teachers Anthony Thomas, Paul Marlow and Mark Ober as having the biggest impact on her education. “They all pushed me and didn’t let me be lazy and settle for less than my best,” she said. “They each taught me a lot as well.” Her most memorable moments were every time the band played a basketball games, especially the alumni games.

In the future, she would like to see more equality and a better healthcare system.

TAYLOR SMITH is the daughter of Matt and Tammy Smith. She will be attending the University of Maryland to major in kinesiology and minor in business with a goal to one day own her own chiropractic practice. She has been active on the school’s volleyball and basketball teams,and is a member of the National Honor Society, earned academic honors and conference and non-conference honors in basketball and

volleyball. Smith said her education is one of quality, with a lot of new opportunities through the academy, a program that improved her way of learning in different subjects, specifically math.

Teacher Steven Rhoades was a teacher who greatly impacted her education. “He has been extremely patient and understanding with the Alek program and has also been a great mentor.”

Winning sectionals in basketball her sophomore year was her most memorable moment. In the future, Smith said she would like to see more people be held accountable for their actions and held responsible for what they need to do.

NICK STAFFORD is the son of Tom and Tammy Stafford. He plans to attend Purdue University to pursue a degree in accounting. He has been active on the baseball and basketball teams. Stafford said the teachers at Garrett are really nice, influential and fun people to be around every day. He endorses the school’s Jobs of America’s Graduates (JAG) deserves more attention, because the class helped him prepare and gain the knowledge he needs before going to college. “Mark Claxton was one of the best teachers I had in high school,” he said.

“He is a great role model who shows up with a smile every day at school and he knew the proper way to make learning fun,” Stafford added. He would like to see the amount of violence and terrorism go down in the next decade in the United States.

TANNER SURFUS is the son of Paul and Karen Surfus. He plans to attend Indiana State to major in criminal justice. His personal goal is to enjoy life and live it to its fullest. He

earned a varsity letter in golf while at Garrett. His most memorable moments have been during his senior year.

CASEY TAYLOR is the son of Hilary and Dana Taylor. He plans to attend Marine Mechanics Institute in Orlando, Florida to become a certified Mercury outboard mechanic and earn his master technician award by the time he is 25. Taylor has been active in show choir, musicals and plays at Garrett. He has earned awards from Evinrude and Mercury, and first place for Regional Skills USA Marine Mechanics competition. He rates the school’s football program highly, adding the show choir and marching band could use more financial support from the school. Taylor credits instructor Ryan Ramsey at the Impact Institute for giving him the training he needed to start his career in high school. His most memorable high school moment was seeing Joey Lopez in shorts on stage.

In the future, he would like to see a rapid growth in American companies.

AUSTON THATCHER is the son of Chris and Julie Thatcher. He plans to attend Indiana State University to study computer engineering.

His personal goal is to never give up. He said teachers Tony Thomas and Dustin Sewelin impacted his education greatly. His most memorable high school moment was walking across the stage.

DYLAN VANDEZANDE is the son of Sue and Brook VandeZande. He will be attending either Ball State or Ivy Tech in Muncie but is yet undecided on his major.

His career goal is to work his way to becoming a head football coach at a high

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school. He was a member of the football, wrestling and track teams. He earned defensive MVP honors his senior year. VandeZande said he learned a lot in high school, but would have liked to learn more about what he will have to do later in life.

Teacher George Wilmore was the teacher who impacted his education. “He is the man,” VandeZande said. His most memorable high school moment was beating Jimtown in the sectional football semifinals this year. In the coming years, he would like to see people to get a little tougher and take some criticism better.

ZACH VAUGHAN is the son of Chris Vaughan and Christy Wroblewski. He plans to get a good paying job after graduation.

SAM WATERHOUSE is the son of Anisa Waterhouse and Thomas Waterhouse. He plans to join the Army National Guard to purse training in engineering and attend college to study engineering.

He has been active on the school’s soccer, golf and football teams and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Waterhouse rates his education highly, noting the teachers really care about each student. He said teacher Mark Claxton is truly dedicated to serve each student and does an excellent job teaching. He is outstanding in the classroom and is alway there for anyone who needs help, he said. His most memorable moment was when the soccer team beat Westview for the first time in school history.

MASON WICHMAN is the son of Steve and Lisa Wichman. He will be working in the IT department at Steel Dynamics this summer and will attend IPFW to major in computer science. He has been a member of the basketball and baseball teams.

Wichman earned various conference and non-conference awards in basketball.

He praised the school’s Project Lead the Way program. Teacher Stephanie Kromer made a significant impact on his education. “I was never a fan of English, but she changed my opinion

of it,” he said. His most memorable moment was when the baseball team won the NECC championship on April 30.

MICHAELA WOODS is the daughter of Ritchie Woods and Tanya Markarian. She plans to work at a salon and one day own her own business.

She has been a member of the Lady Railroader softball team. Woods rated her education as good.

“We all get along and everyone is funny,” she said. The academy is the strongest program at Garrett, according to Woods, due to the independent study plan. She also named teacher Stephanie Kromer for making a significant impact on her education.

“She relates to you and you can always count on her to listen,” she said. Her most memorable high school moment was when she got her varsity letter in softball.

MARIAH ZIMMERMAN is the daughter of Anna Robison.

She plans to attend IUPUI to major in criminal justice and one day become a police officer and settle down to start a family. Her goal is to work her way up the criminal justice field and become well-educated in the field. Zimmerman has been a member of the soccer team, co-president of the Tree Huggers and National Honor Society. She received conference honors in soccer, and was president with JAG. She credits amazing teachers who not only teach the curriculum as well as life lessons. Teachers Paul Marlow, Freels, Nicole Snider, Jericho Schoof and Mrs. Williams for teaching her life lessons and always being there for her. “They have helped me come the great student and person I am today,” she said. Her most memorable moment was spending her senior year of soccer and band with Tristan Bigelow. “He is my best friend and always pushes me to be great.

He made my senior year amazing,” she said.

Editor’s note: We regret photos were not available for these graduates: Lyndsay Baker, Robbie Bauman-Burress, Haley Bock, Aislinn Colburn and Jonathan Simmons.

Northeast Indiana

Job fair

Friday, June 17 11 AM - 3 PM Allen County War Memorial Coliseum