Stacy Hege Tapke can look out over the Cincinnati, Ohio skyline any time she wants from her fourth floor office inside the Kenton County, Kentucky Government Center in Covington.
“If someone told me I’d wind up here when I was at Columbus East, I never would have believed them,” said Hege Tapke, who became the first woman in history to be elected Kenton County Attorney in 2014.
This weekend, Hege Tapke will return to her hometown of Columbus for a different honor. On Saturday, her name will be added to the Columbus East High School Wall of Fame. The 7 p.m. ceremony, which will be held in the lobby next to the school’s main office, is open to the public.
Hege Tapke was chosen by a committee from a list of about 50 potential candidates to receive the honor, said Mark Foster, a member of the Columbus East Alumni Association, who heads the Wall of Fame nominating committee.
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While academic excellence, professional advancement, accomplishments, civic involvement and charitable participation are five potential considerations in choosing honorees, Foster says it’s not necessary a recipient achieve excellence in all of those areas.
“But the thing about Stacy is that she has indeed excelled in all of those categories,” Foster said.
A look back
Before graduating from East in 1996, many of her classmates knew Stacy Hege as one of the Olympians’ top cheerleaders, while adults might have recognized her as a cashier at the former Osco Drugs store in Clover Center.
But it’s doubtful many knew she was also a National Honor Society member who was taking some of the school’s most challenging classes.
“I think I did well in my coursework in college, due to the degree that Columbus East focuses on college prep,” she said. “I also had some excellent teachers at East. When I look back on that time now, I appreciate them more than ever.”
Hege received her bachelor of arts degree from Purdue University in 2000, where she graduated from the honors program with degrees in history and Spanish. While at the West Lafayette campus, she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
Having started her professional career as a child support caseworker in the Covington, Kentucky area, Hege left that position to attend the University of Maryland Law School. After earning her law degree in 2004, she returned to Covington and began working as an assistant county attorney for Kenton County.
As a lawyer, Hege Tapke was eventually made a direct assistant to Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson, as well as head of the office’s civil division.
But her biggest political achievement came in 2014 when her boss decided not to seek re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Having worked with Edmondson for 10 years, Hege Tapke accumulated numerous endorsements and was seen by many as the logical successor.
The voters agreed. During the May 2014 primary, Hege Tapke earned 53% of the vote, defeating two fellow Republicans — Donald Nageleisen (35%) and Sharif Abdrabbo (12%). She was unopposed when she was elected Kenton County attorney six months later.
The position of county attorney is different in Kenton County, Kentucky than it is in Bartholomew County, Indiana.
Here in Columbus, county attorney Grant Tucker is an independent attorney appointed to the position by the county commissioners to handle legal matters and provide advice.
As an elected official, Hege Tapke not only serves as a legal adviser for all units of Kenton County government, but also acts as a prosecutor for misdemeanor and juvenile matters, as well as cases involving child abuse, neglect and failure to pay child support, she said.
Leader, wife and mother
Hege Tapke has volunteered on several local non-profits and professional organizations, including the Northern Kentucky Bar Association and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
On Oct. 27, 2007, she married Richard “Trey” Tapke III at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Columbus. The couple has two sons and reside in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, located about nine miles southwest of Covington.
Over the past several years, Hege Tapke has chalked up several achievements that include:
2007 — Graduated from the Leadership Northern Kentucky program.
2013 — Named one of the region’s Forty under 40 leaders by the Cincinnati Business Courier.
2015 — Completed the Leadership Kentucky program.
2016 — Honored as one of Northern Kentucky’s Outstanding Women of the Year.
2018 — Named County Attorney of the Year by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear.
2020 — Serves as vice-president of the Kentucky County Attorney’s Association.
Additional honors include receiving the first annual Service to Community Award presented by the Kentucky Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division, as well as the “Rising Star” award from the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati.
This weekend’s ceremonies
Hege Tapke is expected to arrive back in her hometown a day early, so she can address groups of current students at Columbus East, Foster said.
“Not only do we want to recognize one of our alumni, but we also want our honorees to serve as positive role models for current students,” he said.
The public is invited to attended Saturday’s presentation that begins with a half-hour of socialization at 7 p.m., Foster said. Sometime between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m., there will be a brief presentation where the plaque is displayed and Hege Tapke is given a certificate, Foster said.
And the cheerleader who spend years encouraging the Olympian basketball team will be cheered herself when Hege Tapke is recognized during halftime of the Columbus East — Bloomington North basketball game.
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Position: Kenton County, Kentucky attorney (an elected position)
Age: 42
Hometown: Columbus
Education: Graduated from Columbus East High School in 1996. Received her bachelor of arts majoring in history and Spanish with honors from Purdue University in 2000. Earned her law degree from the University of Maryland in 2004.
Work experience: After earning her law degree, Tapke accepted the position of assistant county attorney in Kenton County, Kentucky in 2004. She was later promoted to assistant to county attorney Garry Edmondson, as well as head of the office’s civil division. She was elected Edmondson’s successor in 2014.
Family: Married 12 years to Richard "Trey" Tapke III, a financial consultant. Two sons: Richard IV, 10, and Teddy, 8.
Local family members: Parents, Vance and Jayne Hege, grandmother Elsie Hege, brother George Hege.
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Stacy Hege Tapke will have her name placed on the Wall of Fame at Columbus East High School this weekend.
The public is invited to attended Saturday’s presentation that begins with a half-hour of socialization at 7 p.m.
Between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., there will be a brief presentation where the plaque is displayed and Hege Tapke is given a certificate.
Hege Tapke will be recognized during halftime of the Columbus East – Bloomington North basketball game.
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