High School Graduates

By Joan Davies

Dennis and Ginny Ayer’s son, Riley Ayer, graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA from St. Thomas Aquinas, where he was a Principal’s Honor Roll scholar each semester during high school. He was a member of the school’s National Honor Society (NHS), the Spanish National Honor Society, National Honor Society of High School Scholars, and member of the school’s Scholar’s Bowl and 2010 KS Regional Champions.

While playing for the school’s 2007-2008 soccer team, Riley was named the most inspirational player for the season. He volunteered hundreds of hours of community service during his four-year high school career for the St. Mary’s Kitchen, Medical Lodge Retirement Center, Sweet Life Retirement Center, Turn Styles Thrift Store for Catholic Charities and Benedictine College annual golf tournament.

Riley will attend the University of Tulsa, OK, pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a major in Energy Management. His course work will include courses from the business, finance, risk management, geology and petroleum engineering programs. He is anxious to work in the development of alternative sources of energy.

Brendon Biron, son of Pete and Julie Biron. and grandson of Joe and Phyllis Biron, graduated one semester early from the International Baccalaureate Program at Shawnee Mission Northwest (SMNW) as a National Honor Society candidate.  He was a four-year member of the school’s Marching Band Drum Line, earning music letters for three years.  He joined the Lumber Jack Club during his junior year and participated in CCC (Cougars Community Commitment) as a junior and senior. Brendon’s community service projects include volunteering at Broken Arrow Elementary School and Turn Styles Thrift Store.

He has already moved to Colorado where he will attend college. Presently, he is undecided about his major area of study.

Elizabeth Biron, daughter of Joe and Teresa Biron, and granddaughter of Joe and Phyllis Biron, is a SMNW 2010 Presidential Scholar Award winner, a two-year National Honor Society student, a People to People Ambassador, a four-year member of the Principal’s Honor Roll and two-year academic letter recipient.

She was a four-year member of SMNW’s girls swimming and diving team, lettering for three years. (Another one of Elizabeth’s favorite sports is sailing with her Dad.) She also sang with the school’s choir for four years. Her numerous community service projects included those with Amnesty International, Key Club, and Parents Night Out.

Elizabeth will be attending Pittsburg State University this fall, majoring in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with an emphasis on Special Education.

Kansas ACT scholar, Clay Coffman, son of Casey and Lisa Coffman, earned a spot for three years on the 4.0 honor roll at SMNW.  He served as the Sports’ Editor for the SMNW newspaper, Passage; earned 1^st place honors for sports article of the year; earned the Excellence in Writing award and earned initiation into Quill and Scroll Honor Society while a senior.

At SMNW, he played football during his sophomore and junior years before joining the boys; swim team as a junior and senior student, earning 3^rd and 5^th places in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle races for the Sunflower League. He was named a KS state finalist in the 50-yard freestyle this past year.

As a member of the Interact Club, Clay volunteered in the homeless community and helped to build a house in Kansas City, KS. He lists his hobbies as mountain biking and sitting on a pontoon all day. He will be attending the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, in the fall, majoring in International Business and Marketing. He intends to study in Vienna and Shanghai as part of his university program.

Bobby Hoelting, Jr., son of Brian and Tammy Bailey, graduated from SMNW, where he excelled in soccer. He was a member of SMNW’s soccer team, lettering each year from his freshman through senior years.  As a Varsity team member his junior and senior years, he helped the SMNW Cougars win 3^rd place in the State Tournament his senior year and was named on the 2^nd team, All Sunflower Soccer League. Definitely, soccer is his sport of choice as he also participated in the Legends Soccer Club and the Shawnee Elite Soccer Club from 2007 until 2009.

While not on the soccer field, Bobby donated many community service hours to Pet Connection, Spay and Neuter Kansas City, the Shawnee Civic Center and KU Medical Center.

This summer Bobby will work at Lifetime Fitness in Overland Park as a day camp counselor. In the fall, he heads to Pittsburg State University, majoring in Construction Management.

National Merit Commended Scholar and Kansas Honor Scholar, Andrew Hursh, is the son of Ken and Theresa Hursh. He graduated from SMNW within the top ten students and with an impressive list of academic and music awards. He received an academic letter with distinction for each of four years at SMNW; he is a member of the National Honor Society; he received awards for Achievement in Writing and in World Languages and earned Magna Cum Laude on the National Latin Exam.

Andrew has excelled in the music arena as well, participating in the symphony orchestra, choir, and jazz band as a senior, the Drumline from 2006-2010, pit captain in the fall of 2009, and pit orchestra member for Northwest’s theatrical productions. He is a percussionist and also plays the piano and all kinds of stringed instruments including the guitar, banjo and mandolin.

Andrew volunteered many hours for the Rotary-sponsored Interact Community Service Club, Northwest’s CCC group and for the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, playing guitar every Sunday for the evening mass throughout his high school years.

Graduating a semester early, Andrew, spent his spring semester living and volunteering in Flagstaff, AZ, in a communal house organized by the American Conservation Experience. In the fall, Andrew will be attending the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, on a Davidson College Honor’s Presidential Scholarship, which will fulfill his wish to study music in a beautiful, mountainous setting.  He is considering a degree in music composition.

Jake Jones, son of Craig and Jeanne Jones, graduated from SMNW, earning initiation into NHS in 2008, First Honor Roll status, awards of Academic Excellence for four years and most recently was named a KS Honor Scholar. Additional academic awards included Scholar Athlete for football and baseball, grades 9-12 and Wrestling, grade 11. He also was named to the part-time Honor Roll at JCCC for 2 semesters in 2008 and 2009.

A four-year football team member and varsity letter holder, Jake was the starting fullback and linebacker for Northwest’s 2009 state champion football team. He participated on the school’s baseball team for four years, and the wrestling team and rugby teams, each for one year. He also was a member of the Spirit Club, Spanish Club and Science Club.

His main community service projects included working with the Meals on Wheels program from his 9^th -11^th grade years, a Kansas City Mission Trip volunteer and St. Joseph Parish Shrimp Boil volunteer.

Jake will attend Rockhurst University this fall to study Business and Pre-law.

Tim and Janet Jury’s son, Michael Jury, graduated from Bishop Miege High School as an “A” Honor Roll student every semester; Eastern KS League Scholar Athlete every year and National Honor Society member his junior and senior years.

While attending Bishop Miege, Michael’s two greatest sporting interests for all four years were swimming and track and field. A standout swimmer, Michael was a member of the Varsity Swim Team all four years where he was a Kansas Class 5A state record holder and 2010 state finals medalist in the 50 yard Freestyle. He was named the Bishop Miege Swimmer of the Year in 2009 and 2010.

Committed to serving others, Michael has donated hundreds of hours as part of a Gulf Coast Mission Trip (Mobile, AL, and surrounding area), as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Harvesters and as a volunteer student counselor for Horizon Academy.

Michael has been awarded a four-year Mountaineer Scholarship for academic excellence and will head to Western Colorado College in Gunnison, to major in GeoArchaeology.

One of Lake Quivira’s camp counselors, Nicole Karley, graduated from SMNW as an Honor Roll student all four years. Darrin and Sandra Karley’s daughter lettered all four years in Golf and was Team Captain her senior year. Nicole earned an impressive array of high placements while playing in three Kansas City Junior Tour golf events, the Blue Valley, Olathe South and SMS Invitational Tournaments her junior and senior years. For example, as a senior, she placed 9^th and 6^th in the Olathe East and St. Thomas Invitational Tourneys and 7^th place in the District Finals. She was a KS State qualifier for golf.

Nicole was a member of the Senior Prom Committee, the Spirit Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). As a member of CCC, Nicole volunteered as a teacher’s assistant and nursing home volunteer.

Awarded a golf scholarship for Park University, Nicole will major in Speech Pathology with the goal of earning a Masters Degree from KU.

John Lewis, son of James and Dunrie Lewis, graduated from Bishop Miege as a four-year First Honor Roll student, a three-year Eastern KS League Scholar Athlete, and two-year Academic Achievement Award winner. He lettered in Track and Field (grades 9-11) and Swimming (grades 11-12). He also played on the school’s football team as a freshman, the basketball team for two years and played basketball for the Catholic Youth Organization as a junior and senior.

John was an active part of the school’s Campus Ministry Team, the Student Council, and the National Honor Society. As a senior, John was designated a Student Ambassador and a Boys’ State of Kansas participant.

His dedication to serving others is evident with an array of volunteer activities including two National Relief Network mission trips in 2007 and 2009, a four-year record of service for the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, an Upper Room volunteer helping inner city children read, assisting in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception Emergency Assistance Program, the Food Kitchen and for a pro-life march to Washington D.C.

John will attend Ole Miss University this fall, where he intends to major in Business.

Audrey Millard, daughter of Thad and Kierstin Millard, graduated from SMNW with a 3.8 cumulative GPA, while earning an academic letter and initiation into the National Honor Society in 2008. She played on the school’s softball team all four years, earning a varsity letter as a 11^th and 12^th grader.

Her club activities included the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Spirit Club treasurer, Spanish Club treasurer and Prom Committee.

Her numerous community service projects include volunteering for Children’s Mercy Hospital, to help coach a younger softball team, and with various other activities around the community.

Audrey will attend Emporia State University beginning this fall to major in Math Education.

Joey Rebori, son of Robert and Elaine Rebori and grandson of Robert and Isabel Rebori, just completed an outstanding academic career at SMNW. He graduated in the top 10 percent, winning an impressive number of awards including the following: International Language Award, May 2007; World Languages Award, May 2008; Achievement in Writing Award, May 2009; Technical Education Award, May 2009 and 2010; Social Sciences Award, May 2010; Academic Letters, 2008, 2009 and 2010; Presidential Scholar Award, May 2010; 4 year Honor Roll student and KS Honors Program initiation.

Joey was an outstanding business student as well, participating  in the Business Professionals of America, the 2009 Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference in Wichita, KS, when he earned 3rd place for an economic research project and 5^th place for prepared speech

During the 2010 Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference, Joey earned 2nd place, Prepared Speech, which earned him a spot in the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, CA, May 2010.

Joey’s community service and CCC outreach projects included helping with Special Olympics and as a classroom helper at Broken Arrow Elementary School. He will attend KU this fall to major in Mechanical Engineering followed by medical school.

KS Honor Scholar Allison Rolig is the daughter of Bret and Dee Rolig. Allison graduated 11^th of 236 students from Mill Valley High School with a 3.9 GPA. She was a NHS member and 3-term Principal’s Honor Roll student. Allison was also a standout Varsity Volleyball player and 3-year varsity letter winner; a 3- year Club Volleyball member and Varsity Track Team participant from 2006 through 2008.

Her community service projects included working with Youth Friends, mentoring elementary students. Additionally, she served over 100 hours of service volunteering for her church’s nursery, the Veterans Administration Stand Down, Special Olympics Volleyball, Bike Rodeo, American Liver Foundation, Susan G Komen, Run for Mercy, Trunk or Treat, Psoriasis Walk, the soup kitchen and helping the elderly in Johnson County.

Allison will be attending KU beginning this fall and has not yet decided on a major area of study.

Robert and Melinda Sanders son Ryan Sanders graduated from SMNW, where he was a linebacker for the Varsity and Junior Varsity Football teams in 2009 and 2010 and Fellowship of Christian Athlete member. He was an active CCC student, volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in Mrs. Bartels’ 1^st grade class at Broken Arrow Elementary School.

Ryan’s work outside of school with the Johnson County Parks and Recreation After School Program, KC Watersports, and the LQ Summer Recreation Program surely has helped to influence his varied choices of further study, including pre-physical therapy, exercise science and business. He will attend Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, beginning this fall.

Miles Simpson, son of OJ and Kathy Simpson, was an accomplished academic scholar member all four years at SMS’s Center for International Studies Program, concentrating in Chinese. He graduated in the top ten students in his 2010 class, was a four-year Honor Roll student and 4^th year scholarship pin winner, a 3-year National Honor Society member, was awarded 2010 Kansas State Scholar and President’s Education Awards, the Social Studies Student of the Year Award, Kansas Scholars Curriculum Award and the Caroline Wolfe Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to the top student in the Center for International Studies (CIS) program.

An accomplished musician, Miles played in the Marching, Symphonic and Concert Bands while attending SMS. He was a four-year member of the International Club and participated on the Categories Team, a College-bowl-type competition, as a 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grader. Community service hours were spent volunteering for the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City and the International House of Tea, a student-organized tea/coffee shop at SMS.

Last summer Miles attended the Middlebury Monterrey Language Academy in Vermont, where he completed a month-long immersion program in Chinese language. This meant no cell phone, computer, iPod–just Chinese. He hopes to major in Chinese and some day use his Chinese while living abroad. (As the ultimate dichotomy, Miles is looking forward to his first summer at LQ!)

Miles has been accepted into the KU Honors Program and plans to major in Chinese and Economics beginning this fall. He hopes to study abroad in China as part of this university studies.

Morgan Tholen

Morgan Tholen, daughter of Tom and Chris Tholen, graduated from St. James Academy as an honor roll student and US Presidential Service Award winner. She was part of the Spirit Club and Yearbook staff as a junior and senior.

An outstanding volleyball player, Morgan helped St. James win back-to-back 4A state titles in 2008 and 2009. Her Volleyball team ranked 4^th in 2008 in the United States on ESPN. She donated over 120 hours of service to the Lawrence Humane Society, the Sweet Life at Rosehill Nursing Home, Children’s Mercy Hospital and on a mission trip to Florida with her school.

Awarded a four year volleyball scholarship, Morgan will head to the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, to play volleyball and to major in Journalism.

KS Board of Regents’ Scholar, Jenna Vogel, is the daughter of Lance and Jennifer Vogel. Jenna graduated from SMNW, earning a Scholar Athlete award, National Honor Society membership and Top 10 Thespian recipient. She participated on the school’s Debate Team, the Thespian Society, was a costume manager for the Drama Department and the Strolling Strings Orchestra for four years. Additionally, she played for the volleyball team for one year and threeyears for the Girls’ Softball Team.

Jenna will be attending the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, beginning this fall to major in Technical Theatre, Costumes and Design with a minor in Spanish.

The 2009-2010 SMNW Student Body President, Max Wiebrecht, is the son of Jamie and Deborah Wiebrecht. He was elected and appointed to a variety of school and district positions including class president for three years, School Site Council Student representative, the District Wellness Committee and Superintendent’s Board. He was a four-year Honor Roll student, earned the Midwest Hockey League-Player Academic Awards from 2007-2010 and the Midwest High School Hockey All-Star Award for 2009. As a senior, Max was voted one of the ten most influential SMNW seniors by his peers.

An accomplished athlete as well as involved student, Max played four years for both the Varsity Hockey (Captain) and Varsity Tennis Teams (State qualified). He was the Video Journalism Managing Co-editor for two years; a Spirit Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes member; Mason Leadership Camp and Kaufman Foundation Leadership Conference participant in 2009; and Boys’ State representative.

Max also volunteered a plethora of hours to the following: the Greater Kansas City YMCA, SMNW Special Needs Students, the Head Start-Halloween Party, Community Blood Bank, Shalom House Homeless Shelter and a variety of other Greater Kansas City efforts.

He plans to attend Oklahoma State University, where he received both an academic and leadership scholarships.

Michael Zauchenberger

Michael Zauchenberger, son of Stefan and Laura Zauchenberger and grandson of Dick and CeeCee Sandifer graduated from St. James Academy (SJA) as an accomplished student, athlete, and musician. He was a three-year member of the SJA’s Jazz Band playing fiddles, drums, and guitar and the Chamber Ensemble, playing the marimba. His junior year, the Ensemble placed first in the state tournament for the SJA Mallets Ensemble. He was a member of the JV and Varsity Wrestling Team as a 9^th and 10^th grade student.

Donating his time to community service projects for the Padre Pio Academy, the Knights of Columbus, the East Kansas Wrestling Club, and Special Olympics organization was an integral part of his four-year high school experience.

This fall, Michael will head to KU to study Pre-med and Chemistry.

Andrew Zimmer, son of Chip and Aline Zimmer, graduated from SMNW, as a four-year Honor Roll student and accomplished athlete. He was a member of SMNW’s Varsity Swim Team, lettering each year from his freshman through senior years and served as co-captain his senior year in spite of being sidelined by a torn ACL. He played on the school’s lacrosse and football teams all but his senior year.

He was active in the German and Woodworking Clubs all four years. As a junior, Andrew was the lacrosse team co-captain, then joined the Interact Club and was the gymnastics manager as a senior. While not swimming or playing lacrosse and football, Andrew donated many community service hours to the SMNW football camp, Turnstyles and to the Diabetes Walks.

In the fall, Andrew will begin his university studies at KU, majoring in Psychology. He plans to attend Cleveland Chiropractic College for graduate study.