Jennings County High School’s top 20 seniors were honored Wednesday at the annual Academic Honors Dinner at The Pines Restaurant in Seymour.
The top seniors this year are: Mariah Burgmeier, Cole Byram, Annie Collett, Kenzi Copley, Katharine Eastman, Caleb Eder, Monica Ertel, Harrison Funke, Ariel Galliher, Adam Green, Steven Herr, Madalyn Hovious, Megan Mills, Katelyn Posey, Lane Sawyer, Scarlett Smith, Zachary Taul, Elizabeth Vogel, Baylee Whitehead and Emily Williams.
Class valedictorian and salutatorian will not be announced until graduation, as the seniors will be completing their final exams just 48 hours before the ceremony May 30.
“The Academic Honors Dinner has been a special night for some 25 years now. With just a month left in school, this event signals the beginning of the end of their public school careers,” guidance director Mary Lynn Whitcomb said.
Each year, the dinner also is a chance for the seniors and the top 10 students in the other grades to each celebrate their most influential teacher.
Herr recognized Spanish teacher Tracy Martin, in her 14th year at the high school. It was her first senior recognition, and she was appreciative.
“I am so honored and humbled, really. I know that he will succeed in college, without a doubt,” she said.
Caleb Eder recognized math teacher Tricia Losey.
“She has been my math teacher for three years and one of the best educators in my scholastic career. I had all of my math credits going into senior year, and still I took a math class just to have her again,” he said.
Losey had similarly kind things to say about Eder, who will attend Indiana Wesleyan in the fall and study criminal justice and psychology.
“I’ve known him since he was a baby, and I know he will succeed in anything he does. He’s always been a fun student to have and stays true to his ‘I don’t stress out’ quote,’” she said.
Wednesday was a good day for the math department, as Losey also was honored by Vogel.
“She is something else. Lizzie is always so sweet and works hard, in class and out. She just has a really good attitude,” Losey said of Vogel.
Collett, who will attend IUPUI to study biology, honored Spanish teacher Debby Jackson.
“Ms. Jackson is one of the easiest people to approach and talk with. She is friendly and outgoing, and her class is fun,” Collett said.
The awards dinner was made possible by the Coffee Creek Conservation Club and Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, both long-term sponsors. More than 250 people attended.
