JACOB ROBERTS
JUDY SHEASALEH EGGLESTON SPONSOREDBY: BY: SPONSORED
Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Amy Payne
Shea Eggleston, a senior at Westfield High School, is being recognized for her outstanding work at Student Impact of Westfield.
hang out and get mentorships and guidance. and extracurriculars, to be where I am today, but it has been more than worth it. With all Eggleston says she is excited to be the hard work, receiving this award is even recognized by Student Impact of Westfield. more special.”
favorite teacher, is Erin McKinney, a math teacher at Westfield High School. Not only was she an amazing teacher, and helped me find a new passion in math, but she also was, and still is, an amazing friend and mentor,” Eggleston says. “Mrs. McKinney has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life,” she adds. “To this day, I try and see her at least once a week just to say hello or have a conversation. It is not only Mrs. McKinney at Westfield, but there are so many teachers like her. I know so many students that have a relationship similar to mine with a teacher and those relationships will stick with the students for the rest of their lives.” Eggleston says Student Impact of Westfield has also helped her tremendously. “I attend Student Impact every Monday and Friday and volunteer as an intern/ student leader every Tuesday and Thursday,” Eggleston says. “I love everything about this organization. I love the people who run it and attend it, what they stand for, what they do for Westfield, and everything in between.
part of Student Impact since the fifth grade and will be a member until the moment she graduates high school. “I started volunteering at student impact my sophomore year, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I was volunteering on a constant basis. As of right now, I volunteer nine or more hours a week, and love every minute.”
an aggressive manner, but in the everyday ways of life.
For more information on Studen Westfield visit therockwestfield.o 317-414-6456.
Eggleston also says she loves living in Westfield. “I have always felt safe and secure while being in Westfield,” she says. “I love the amenities and opportunities available. I love that Westfield has fun things to do with friends, and also fun things to do with family.” She believes Student Impact is a big part of that. Danyele Easterhaus, executive director of Student Impact of Westfield, says says she is thrilled Eggleston has been recognized.
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES CLASSMATES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE
“I feel extremely humbled and honored to win,” Eggleston says. “My high school journey has been far from easy. During Student Impact, 536 North Union Street, my freshman year, I was diagnosed with Zionsville, is a safe place where students Crohn’s Disease, and missed a lot of school from grades 5-12 can build relationships because of it. I get sick easily and miss more that bring hope and healing. It was started in school than most people. It has taken a Writer / bePeyton Gigante 1999 to an environment where kids can lot of hard work and dedication to school
Photography Provided Writer / Julie Yates Photography provided
Eggleston is proud to say she have been a
“Shea is just an amazing young woman,” Easterhaus says. “She leads with a quiet, yet strong sense about her, despite all the issues she faces each and every day. She puts others first and displays leadership not in
“Once I started trying to narrow down my dream job, I knew I did not want to be a veterinarian, but that is about all I could figure out. I hope one day I can figure out what career I want, but for now, I know it must be working with animals.”
Third grader Judy Saleh has always been a bright and cheerful From helping When Westfi eld Highstudent. School senior Jacob others their bringing Robertswith joined thetasks Best to Buddies clubanin abundance of energy the personal classroom middle school, he had atovery and playing pranks around school, her no motive for doing so. At that time, he had popularity Washington idea that fivearound years later, he wouldWoods be the Elementary is no club’s president. Thsurprise. e self-proclaimed shy
Eggleston noted that Westfield has some of the best teachers. “Almost every single teacher I have had since first grade I have really liked. With Westfield teachers you can tell they want every single one of their students to succeed, and they try to make that happen. I have had so many teachers inspire me, and make me want to be a better person and student.”
and quiet student has become a champion
for promoting inclusion andconditions recently led Born with several medical aincluding convocation to encourage his peers to vision difficulties, developmental respect people of all diff erent ability delays, muscular hypertonicity andlevels. asthma, Saleh has flourished during her time at “I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth Washington Woods.
Eggleston plans to study zoology in college. “Ever since I can remember, my favorite thing has always been animals, particularly of the mammal species, but still animals in general,” Eggleston says. “My dream job has always been something to do with animals, whether that was a veterinarian or a zoo keeper, I did not really know, but I knew it had to be with animals.
Eggleston has a favorite teacher. “One teacher that will forever have a place in my heart and will forever be my absolute
grade at the middle school. I had just gottena news my school’s brother was going to She’s leaderthat in the Functional be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts Academic Program, in which participants says. “So, I really joined just to figure learn at a pace that allows them to grow into out how to treat him since he would be accomplished students and people. different. Throughout that year and my freshman year, I learned so much more “Since last year when she first got here, she about Best Buddies.”
talks to everybody, and is a good leader in our school.”
but she always has a good attitude and makes it through,” Koroneos says.
has become so much more independent We include and accept people for who they intellectual and developmental disabilities with walking and navigating her way Roberts continues, “I learned that my around areAand middle child two brothers, Saleh has Salehwith has abonded all of her are paired regular with education peer.teachers simply just with be friends. ” the room,” says Anne Maslanka,wrong one ofand original thinking was completely had practice taking care of others. during her time at the school, and shares The club typically meets on Fridays during Saleh’s teachers. “Last year we to do a I believed the wrong mission. Thhad e mission a September 28 birthday with the CORE Advisory period. ActivitiesAssistant are Westfield High School is among lot more things,ishelping-wise, but physical, now she many of Best Buddies to end the social, “I love playing with my baby brother,” she Principal Kristin Parisi.friendships organized and foster growing schools both nationwide and and economic discrimination just walks around the room.”of those with internationally says. “We play a lot. ” Buddies between each buddy pair. On Oct. 29, thatoutside offer the Best intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Weorganized have a birthday and led achain,” specialSaleh says. “It’s program as a student activity. Students with Roberts Since her first year, Saleh’s teachers and In her class she sits with Eli, a kindergarten a countdown for every day.” MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com peers have seen her grow physically and 20 / WESTFIELD student who she’s taken under her wing mentally, becoming stronger and more self- and helped immensely since his start at Saleh is known around the school for the assured each day. Washington Woods. Like her baby brother, funny pranks and tricks she plays on the Westfield_1219.indd 20 11/20/19 10:54 AM she takes good care of him and makes sure he staff and other students. She is a collector “Her confidence has grown, and she’s has the help he needs throughout the day. of stars, which are rewards students receive become so comfortable in the school and in upon finishing tasks. this setting,” says Marcella Koroneos, who “Judy pushes through a lot of things, serves as Saleh’s instructional assistant. “She because many times she doesn’t feel well, “She always says good job to the students 34 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2020 / WestfieldMag.com
