Top three Milan High School seniors honored
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Laura Snyder prepares Valedictory Speech

Amid all the excitement of finishing classes, taking exams, attending awards banquets, and making the most of the final days at Milan High School, Laura Snyder has found time to prepare her Valedictory Address for commencement exercises on Saturday, May 29, at 10:00 a.m.

Maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout her four years of school, Laura will share the podium with her Co-Valedictorian Heather Schwanholt. Alphabetically, Heather will speak first, and that's fine with Laura, who will then be followed by Salutatorian Jenna Johnson.

Laura says she will use the senior motto: "It's not where we stand; it's in what direction we're headed," as the basis for her speech to the members of the Milan High School Class of 2004.

For much of her high school success, Laura credits her parents Dave and Kim Snyder, who have challenged her to do her best and have supported her in the activities and athletic events that consumed her time.

She is one of three girls in the Snyder family. Amy is her older sister, and Emily, a sixth grader, is younger

Her favorite activity and the highlight of her senior year was being a part of the girls' swimming team. Although she participated for four years, this year she was the only senior on the team - an opportunity, she decided, to become a real role model for the younger girls.

As team captain for the past two years, Laura was named MVP in swimming this year. She also participated as a member of the girls' tennis team.

Other school activities for Laura have included playing flute in the high school band for three years and being a member of the Milan Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Laura's favorite subjects in high school have been science and English. She has taken college-credit courses in biology, English, United States History, pre-calculus, and calculus.

After graduation she will prepare for a long career at Butler University, where she hopes to become a physician's assistant. She explains that she knew she wanted some kind of medical career. "I couldn't decide whether to work toward being a nurse or a doctor. Being a physician's assistant is an in-between vocation."

Noting that it will take her five years to complete, Laura says that Butler University is the only school in Indiana that offers this program. Even though the challenges will be great and the competition keen in a field that is this limited, Laura believes in her ability to succeed and to reach her goals.

Apparently Butler University also believes in her ability. At the scholarship dinner on Monday night Laura received two scholarships from the Butler - one for $31,200 and the other - the Fairview Scholarship for $7,800. She also received a $500 scholarship from the Milan Scholarship Foundation, Inc., a $400 scholarship from the Methodist Men, and $100 from Dr. Brown.

Her other honors included the Academic Honors Diploma, the National Scholar/Athlete Award from the Army Reserve, an academic ring, and the top math student award.

She has been actively involved in the Milan Methodist Church and has also helped her mother with the community's food bank over the past several years.

Laura hopes to be remembered by her teachers and fellow students as a trust-worthy and hard-working person. She has also made her mark as a valued student and a good friend who has compassion and concern for all with whom she comes in contact.

 

Heather Schwanholt shows leadership as Co-Valedictorian

Commencement exercises for Heather Schwanholt mark one more opportunity to illustrate the dynamics of leadership.

Not only will this 4.0 GPA student wear the gold sash of the National Honor Society, an organization she served as co-president; she will also be one of two valedictorians addressing the members of the Class of 2004.

When it's time for the tassel ceremony, Heather will step up once again as president of the Class of 2004 to lead them in that traditional part of the graduation program.

High school for Heather Schwanholt, the daughter of David and Carol Schwanholt of Milan, has been a whirlwind of activities. This year she has served as president of the Milan High School Student Council, the senior class, and as co-president of the Milan Chapter of the National Honor Society.

She has played flute in the band for the past four years and participated on the school's academic team one year.

Heather's contributions to athletics consisted of four years on the track team, competing in running events. This year she was named winner of the ORVC Mental Attitude Award for Track.

She spent three years on the high school volleyball team and one year - her senior year - on the cross-country team. As a cross-country runner, she was named Academic All State, an honor she cherishes because it combines her scholastic prowess with her athletic skills.

As a straight "A" student, Heather has challenged herself to take college-credit courses in biology, history, English, and pre-calculus. She plans to attend Indiana State University to work toward a degree in physical therapy, a course requiring more than six years to complete.

ISU campus will not be strange to Heather because she attended Hoosier Girls State there last June as a representative of the Milan American Legion Auxiliary.

Heather has an older sister Michelle, who attends the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, and a younger brother Josh, who is completing his freshman year at Milan High School and will be a sophomore next year.

Although she has many wonderful memories of her high school classes, one of her favorites is of her English class and her teacher Mr. Roy Adams. "I learned so much from his classes; he is such a good teacher," Heather says.

Apparently all the good teaching and the hard work have paid off for Heather. At the scholarship awards

Jenna Johnson excels in art, academics, softball

Although it seems an unusual combination, Jenna Johnson has accomplished goals in art projects, academics, and in athletics, especially softball.

The daughter of Gary and Diana Johnson, Jenna has achieved the position of Salutatorian of the Milan High School Class of 2004 with a GPA of 3.96. She will speak at Milan's commencement exercises on Saturday, May 29, at 10:00 a.m. in the high school gym.

Among her successful projects in art during her high school career was a first place entry in the Pendleton Art Contest in Rising Sun. She has also won honorable mention twice in the Ninth Congressional District Art Contest sponsored by Congressman Baron Hill.

In addition to being a member of the Milan Chapter of the National Honor Society, Jenna has participated in the German Club and as a member of the volleyball and softball teams for all four years of high school.

She says the highlight of her high school career was the softball team's sectional victory in 2003. As third baseman on the team this year, Jenna is looking forward to more sectional success when the games begin at Lawrenceburg this week. Naturally, she is hoping for back-to-back sectional victories.

Academically, Jenna has challenged herself to complete college credit courses in biology, history, English, pre-calculus, and calculus.

She feels these classes will be of great help to her as she begins her college career at Indiana University in August.

Jenna explains that she chose I.U. - even though she knows it is big and sometimes formidable - because her older brother Micah attended there. She says she has lots of friends at I.U. and knows her way around the campus. At this point she thinks she will major in computer science, but she isn't certain what her actual career choice will be.

As a participant at Hoosier Girls State last summer, Jenna met several girls including her counselor who are students at I.U. or plan to attend there.

Speaking of Hoosier Girls State, Jenna feels she learned a great deal about government and was pleased to be able to participate in all the activities. She would recommend it to other girls just completing their junior year as a worthwhile experience.

At Milan's awards night on Monday, May 24, Jenna was the recipient of a $500 scholarship from the Milan Scholarship Foundation, Inc. She will probably receive I.U. scholarships, but those have not been identified yet.

She was among those receiving Academic Honors Diploma compensation as well as a treasured academic ring.

Along with her family, Jenna is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Olean and participates in activities there.

Between softball games and senior activities, Jenna is working on her speech and will have it well rehearsed and ready for her classmates and the large crowd that attends Milan's graduation ceremonies on Saturday morning. She is looking forward to the occasion and to good weather for the day.

Once she leaves Milan High School Jenna hopes her teachers, the staff and those students she worked and played with over the past four years will remember has as a good friend and as someone who has a good sense of humor.

Jenna has established ambitious goals for herself, but believes maintaining high standards coupled with a good sense of humor will get her where she hopes to go in life. She credits her parents and her extended family for instilling proper values and giving her confidence through their love and support.