Wells County students recognized at annual Turnaround Awards
By HOLLY GASKILL
Three students from Wells County were honored Thursday for choices they made to overcome obstacles, better themselves and create a better path for their future.
The Turnaround Awards is a partnership between the Wells County Foundation and the City of Bluffton’s mayor to honor students who have turned their lives or behaviors around after experiencing problems. Each high school selects a recipient, who receives a $3,000 scholarship to continue their education.
Bluffton High School’s Alyssia Heffern accrued over 100 absences and 40 tardies between her freshman and junior years, stated counselor Sebastian Baxter. She encountered obstacles with home and personal situations, struggled academically and often wanted to drop out.
After Heffern adopted new structures halfway through her junior year, she took responsibility for her education and made bounds toward better outcomes. In her senior year, Baxter said, Heffern has had almost no unexcused absences, and her grade point average has jumped from a 2.4 to a 3.5.
Haffern also began working with the school’s pre-employment transition specialist and identified a potential career pathway as a paramedic after shadowing with Wells County EMS. She plans to attend Ivy Tech this fall.
“As educators, we often talk about the transformative power of education and its ability to uplift and empower individuals to reach their fullest potential — (Heffern) embodies this ideal,” Baxter said. “She seized the opportunity for change, eventually embraced the support and guidance offered to her, and emerged stronger, wiser and more determined than ever.”
Norwell High School math teacher Lexi Newton first met Hudson Roller when he was a freshman planning a prank in the cafeteria. After the encounter, Newton was not looking forward to having him in her classroom the following year.
“I will never forget how anxious I was to get the ‘prankster’ next year, as I was not looking forward to the clowning around I expected,” she said. “Fast forward to his sophomore year, I was shocked. This kid wasn’t a prankster, he was a hard worker, he was smart, he was curious, and he would — and still does — ask math questions that stump me. Not only does he challenge himself, but he challenges others in ways that help both of them grow.”
After poor grades in middle school and a rough start in high school, Roller worked hard to graduate with both academic and technical honors. He plans to attend Purdue University to study aviation and has already received his pilot’s license.
These accomplishments did not come without obstacles, Newton noted. Roller experienced loss and grief during his high school career but used this as motivation to “do what others didn’t get the chance to do during their lifetime.”
“Not too long ago, (Roller) thanked me for making him cry, because sometimes, this is exactly what we need in order to keep going and keep succeeding in life,” Newton said. “(Roller’s) work ethic, curiosity, goal setting, drive and perseverance have led him to be the fine young man that he is today.”
As a Southern Wells freshman, Erik Habegger was unmotivated to complete his school work and lacked interest in engaging with his peers. In his junior and senior years, he became involved in the HVAC class and used his excitement as momentum to earn better grades in other classes as well. He also connected with other students, even attending prom.
It was a particularly special celebration for award presenter Judy Lawrence, a special education teacher. She had begun working at the district when Habegger and several of his friends were freshmen with respective academic difficulties.
“I vowed then that we were going to finish high school together,” Lawrence said. “So they’re graduating, and I’m retiring.”
Lawrence and Habegger sometimes quite literally worked side-by-side to get through homework assignments. Now, Habegger is planning on attending Ivy Tech to study auto mechanics.
“To say that I’m proud of (Habegger) isn’t enough,” Lawrence said. “I truly love this kid. He has a piece of my heart for life.”
Three students were also recognized with work-based learning awards and $1,000 scholarships. Previously referred to as the ICE program, it provides students the opportunity to work during part of their school day.
Those recognized were Cameron Straub of BHS, employed at Kroger; Coral Neuenschwander of NHS, employed at Walmart; and Tristen Worster of Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School, employed at Shuttleworth.
holly@news-banner.com
