FORTITUDE SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES
EACH SHOWING FIRMNESS OF SPIRIT WHILE FACING ADVERSITY
PRESENTED BY ALL-PRO PLUMBING
BROOKE MCKOON
TALIAH WRIGHT
SOPHIA POE
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5 SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE 7 SHOWING INITIATIVE Local Mom Helping to Spread Cleft Lip and Palate Awareness
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Savanah Lipinski
PUBLISHER KIM SENKUS kim@townepost.com (317) 501-1743
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
NATALIE PLATT JULIE YATES
WRITER SPOTLIGHT Natalie Platt
3 TIPTON COUNTY FAIR 4 SEEDS OF PROGRESS Greenhouse Project Helps Local Students Learn Firsthand About Growing Methods
SPOTLIGHT Maddie Powell
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SERVICES DEVON DEAN COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR
CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
Sponsored By: Cathy Hunnicutt with Remax Realty One
SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS
1. “Space Oddity” major
4. Radiate
8. Bank offering
12. “___ momento!”
13. Double agent
14. Disco do
15. Dog holder?
16. Kid’s transport
17. Burgoo, e.g.
18. Covert comments
20. Babysitter’s charge
22. Causing a pucker
23. Latched, in a way
27. Rob Roy, et al.
29. Whistle-blower
30. Ecol. watchdog
31. Anecdotal history
DOWN
1. Marching-band burden 2. Difficult duty
3. Recorded (progress) 4. Fading memories
5. Like a good cake
6. Sort
7. Cuts canines
8. Doesn’t fall apart
9. Frequent, to Keats
10. A word with you?
11. When, for an eager beaver
19. Time line inclusion
21. Big galoot
24. Pervaded
34. Fossey subject
35. Fee follower
36. Queens, for example
37. Retired, with “down”
39. For Pete’s ___!
40. Cookbook direction
41. Rich, as foods
44. Naval base?
32. Assist the waiter
33. All hands on deck?
47. Panache
49. Mad Hatter’s drink
25. Tool for a duel
26. Vampire’s curfew
27. Bacon buy
28. Get along
29. French way
32. Sotheby’s patrons
33. Popular pop
35. Bureau member
36. On notice
38. Loiter
39. Cartographer’s concern
42. Scarcely enough
43. Kitten’s plaything
44. Break new ground?
45. Boom periods
46. A place of luxury?
48. Some disrespect
50. Colorful mineral
51. Cheese off
52. Be fallible
53. Glimpse from afar
54. Broke a limit
55. Hibernation spot
Solution can be found on the magazine Facebook page
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KOKOMO/TiPTON
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SHOW ING INITIATIVE
LOCAL MOM HELPING TO SPREAD CLEFT LIP AND PALATE AWARENESS
Writer / Natalie Platt
Kokomo resident Monica Bush remembers finding out at her 19-week ultrasound appointment that her now 12-year-old son, Henry, would be born with a cleft. Since then she has devoted herself to educating other families and advocating for them, through organizations like Cleft Con, Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council, as well as Legendary Smiles, which Bush founded.
As the world’s largest cleft charity, Smile Train organizes Cleft Con, an honest,
immersive and interactive experience for the entire cleft community. In one day, participants learn from experts on the issues that affect those with cleft, from the emotional and medical to the logistical. Attendees participate in roundtable discussions with others who have been there, and leave with new strategies for tackling tough topics and educating othersand new friends for life.
“I always knew about Smile Train, but the first time I heard about Cleft Con was
through the worldwide Cleft Mom Support Facebook page in 2020,” Bush says. “I had been to other conferences in the past both at Riley Hospital for Children and through the America Cleft Palate Association, and as a cleft mom myself, I really see the value in continuing education and gaining understanding about all of the different aspects of cleft.”
Additionally, Cleft Con aims to reduce the stigma and open up hard conversations surrounding cleft issues, like dating and
mental health.
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM SEPTEMBER 12TH & 13TH
The nonprofit Bush founded in 2020, Legendary Smiles, bridges the gap between hospitals and the families they work with in the cleft and craniofacial community. The group connects families through their website and social media platform, and helps parents and caregivers learn about and view helpful resources.
“I saw this gap and that’s what motivated me to start Legendary Smiles,” Bush says. “There’s a cleft FAQ section on what to ask your cleft team, inspirational stories, and a glossary of cleft terms - all of these things you have to navigate in the beginning to understand what your child is going through.”
Legendary Smiles was still newly formed when she reached out to Smile Train with insurance questions, which landed Bush on a Zoom call with the Smile Train CEO and president.
“Going from Legendary Smiles not being known to being listed as a community partner was amazing,” she says. “From there I started serving on the Cleft Community Advisory Council through Smile Train and learning about their different initiatives at our monthly meetings.”
At this point, Bush is serving her fourth term and has had the opportunity to attend Cleft Con in New York City and Houston. She also makes sure to attend the virtual events that take place in November, and tries and get the families she works with in
@crossamericainc
Being on the cleft journey has made Bush a more compassionate, stronger person, as well as a better mom.
Like many born with a cleft (and the most important reason why Bush does what she does), Henry has been through endless appointments, surgeries and therapy. Today he is thriving.
“He loves different kinds of music and plays baritone in the band, which is a huge deal with anyone cleft affected,” she says. “He loves camping with his dad, Jason, at Dad Camp, and also volunteers his time on the weekends to go out and serve others who are camping. I’m really proud of my kids for all of the things they’re doing, from marching band to soccer. Being their mom is very rewarding, and I love getting to know their personalities and interests more through the years and helping guide them with big decisions.”
Bush is proud of the work she’s doing in the cleft community, but is more proud of her children, and appreciative of her husband for the support.
“I appreciate my husband so much for being there for everything, between the mundane things and the highly stressful situations that are part of the cleft journey,” Bush says.
You can find more about Legendary Smiles at legendarysmiles.org, and more on Cleft Con at smiletrain.org/cleftcon.
LISTEN NOW
Indiana to attend because she realizes not everyone is able to travel.
NATALIE PLATT
Growing up just north of Kokomo, most of my vacations until I was an adult were to Florida, and I loved every minute of it. I didn’t study abroad in college and didn’t travel outside of the U.S. until I was in my early 30s, and I attribute some of that to my personal tagline: “Love to travel, hate to fly.” Whenever I’ve landed in a new destination, the first question from each member of my family is typically, “How was the turbulence?”
But recently, for my sister’s 40th birthday, we went to Tuscany, Italy, and stayed in the small village of Cortona, which happens to be the namesake of Cortona’s Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar, a wonderful restaurant in Fortville that is run by Simone Lucarini, who grew up there. The turbulence was minimal and the time with family in the Italian countryside is a memory I’ll have forever, topped off with an unexpected night in Milan attending a Taylor Swift concert.
As I was sitting at a neighborhood wine bar with my mom on Friday evening in Rome, ready to fly home the next morning at 9 a.m., I received a text from my cousin, who was coincidentally in Milan with his wife and sister: “Are you still in Italy? Do you want to go to Taylor Swift in Milan tomorrow? It’s a long story but we have an extra ticket.”
My mind was quickly made up that I would not be getting on my flight home the next morning, but would instead be on a train to Milan, three hours away. There’s something exhilarating about last-minute decisions that are made in seconds, especially as a chronic over-thinker. I didn’t think about how long it would take, how far the train stop was from my cousin’s hotel, or if I even had clean clothes left. I just said yes and had the absolute time of my life. It was such a cool experience seeing passionate fans and the more casual fans, like myself, singing at the top of their lungs for three hours straight on a Saturday night in Milan.
So I came home and decided to think less and do more.
Who knows where it will take me - or you!
Writer / Natalie Platt
Most students graduate from high school before obtaining a certification or degree to take their career to the next step. It may be a master’s degree or doctorate for some, but for Savanah Lipinski, it’s her private pilot’s license.
And she’s still in high school.
SAVANAH LIPINSKI
NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL
The current Northwestern High School senior and varsity athlete has always wanted to travel, so being able to fly just made sense to her, especially after talking to her father, Jake Lipinski, about what kind of careers seemed attractive after high school. Lipinski decided that becoming a pilot helped her further her goals; why not get paid for doing something she is passionate about?
After the decision was made, her father set up a discovery flight through the Experimental Aircraft Association at the Kokomo Municipal Airport. Just a few weeks later, Lipinski was in the air, for the first time ever. This would steer her towards embarking on her career as a private pilot, a large undertaking for anyone, let alone a high schooler. She was also able to qualify for a scholarship from the Experimental Aircraft Association that would cover half of the cost of earning her pilot’s license.
“You have to be 17 years old to get your license,” Lipinski says. “First you must get a medical certificate and pass your written examination. Then you have to have at least 40 hours of flight time, including three hours of cross-country, three hours of night
“THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES WHEN LEARNING TO FLY AN AIRPLANE, JUST LIKE THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES IN LIFE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE MISTAKES IN BOTH IN ORDER TO LEARN.”
— SAVANAH
LIPINSKI
training, 10 hours of solo flight time and five hours of solo cross-country.”
Additionally, Lipinski will have to pass her Federal Aviation Administration check ride, which is a practical test.
And when she does, she knows where she wants to go.
“My dream flying destination is Alaska,” she says. “I think it would be amazing to see the scenery throughout that flight.”
For now, her first solo flight was on May 15 in a Cessna 172, where she had to stay in a flight pattern just over the airport. The flight included three landings and three takeoffs, which, perhaps surprisingly, hasn’t been the most difficult part of training for her.
“The most challenging part is probably the ground school,” Lipinski says. “Getting the motivation to sit down and study has
always been a challenge for me. It’s a lot to learn. After that I’m definitely most proud of getting my landings down. In the beginning it seemed like I could never get good landings, but one day it just all clicked.”
Although she hasn’t graduated to what many call the real world just yet, Lipinski
has already gained real-world experience. She plans to attend Purdue or Indiana State to study aviation.
“There are many challenges when learning to fly an airplane, just like there are many challenges in life,” she says. “You have to make mistakes in both in order to learn.”
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INTRODUCING THE
FORTITUDE SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES
EACH SHOWING FIRMNESS OF SPIRIT WHILE FACING ADVERSITY
Writer / Julie Yates
This month, Kokomo/Tipton Magazine is introducing five candidates for the launch of the first Fortitude Scholarship contest. Each student has a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or above, and plans to attend college/military/trade school upon graduation in 2025. Most importantly, all have shown fortitude in some way while in school. Despite working through challenges, these students have been able to maintain attendance, grades and involvement in school activities. Their struggles did not go unnoticed; each was nominated by the teachers and administrators of their high school.
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BROOKE MCKOON
TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL
Family and friends are the grounding force in Brooke McKoon’s life. She was born in Auburn, Indiana, and lived there until she was 3 years old. Then she and her parents, along with her two older sisters and brother, moved to Kokomo. At the time her mother’s
father was ill, and the family of six wanted to be by his side and offer help and support. Unfortunately, in September of 2021, when Brooke was just beginning her freshman year of high school, her brother, Johnathan, passed away. His death was the result of a tragic car accident. The high school community rallied around the McKoon family. The kindness and caring Brooke felt enabled her to resume her activities and studies.
This past summer, when she wasn’t working as a cashier at Mac’s Express on Center Road, she often had friends over to swim. The McKoons have a pool where Brooke loves to hang out with family and friends.
Taking art classes is something she enjoys. She’s equally interested in both realistic and abstract painting. Creating landscape scenes is a favorite outlet, but she doesn’t see it as
a career. “It’s always going to be a hobbysomething I like to do,” she says.
Another class that motivates Brooke is history. However, going over to Taylor Elementary with other high school students has been a high point in her day. She works as a teacher aide while interacting with the younger students.
“After I graduate I’d like to study criminal justice,” she says. “I could play it safe and stay close to home by going to Indiana University Kokomo like one of my sisters did, but I’m also thinking of Ball State University. At some point I want to be a 911 operator. It’s because of my brother’s accident. I want to be on the other side of that and be the one that helps people.”
TALIAH WRIGHT
School involvement, community service and family anchor Taliah Wright’s world. Her parents moved to Kokomo right after they were married, and she has lived here her entire life. Her mother, Kelly Wright, has taught in the area for many years and is currently director of Head Start. The Wright family is present at many community events.
Until she passed away last January, Taliah’s youngest sibling, Bella, was always with the family. Even though she suffered from Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, and was wheelchair bound, Bella went everywhere the Wrights did. Since she had been doing well and had been very heathy, her death was unexpected.
“I love helping my community,” says Taliah. This year she will serve as vice president of Girls League, a community service group. She is on student council and is a member of Kokomo Leadership Academy, an organization of upperclassmen that strengthens school culture by mentoring freshmen.
Taliah babysits and also has experience working other jobs. This summer she worked at Moo Stache Ice. She also coached soccer and baseball for 2- and 3-year-olds at Playpen Sports Academy. “It was really helpful to me to work with kids since I want to be a teacher,” she says.
In fact, besides math, her favorite class is Tomorrow’s Teachers. Run by Indiana University Kokomo, the class visits earlychildhood, elementary and middle schools. By shadowing teachers, students get an idea of what teachers do, and whether they would like to pursue the career.
Wright says she knows for sure that she wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become an educator. Indiana University is at the top of her list. However, she would still like to visit other universities.
SOPHIA POE
WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL
Refusing to fall behind is a driving force in Sophia Poe’s life. She has always lived in Kokomo and dotes on her 5-year-old sister, Ella, who she calls her best friend. Her mom, Amy, a nurse practitioner, is her biggest cheerleader, but she also gets love and support from her dog, Lola, and guinea pig, Eeyore.
Ongoing medical issues that arose during her first two years in high school caused her to miss a great deal of class time, yet she has managed to keep up her GPA. During her freshman year it was discovered she had two conditions. One, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, causes a fast heart rate, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The second illness is polycystic ovary syndrome, which is responsible for the development of cysts on the ovaries, which may burst.
In the middle of her sophomore year, Poe lost sight in her right eye. She also deals with allergies. In addition, she receives iron infusions for anemia.
Dance and cheerleading are major interests, but her participation in these activities has had to be modified. This fall she hopes to resume jazz and lyrical dance classes, as long as she can perform the moves without full exertion. “All can do is use my arms and say stuff,” Poe says regarding cheerleading. “I can’t do stunts, run or jump.”
Sophia enjoys math and science. However, her favorite class is veterinary science at Kokomo Area Career Center. She loves animals and works as a kennel attendant at the Pet Care Clinic.
“After high school I want to go to vet school at Purdue University,” she says. “I’d like to become an animal ophthalmologist. I want to be a veterinarian who specializes in treating eye disorders.”
