2016 West Central High School Senior Awards

 

Distinguished Awards

Academic Honors Diplomas - Ariel Barlow, Sara Bernal, Gretchen Blackburn, Sarah Fox, Jon Gudeman, McKenzie Kopka, Rob Lovely,Vanessa Murray, Alisha Oliver, Mackenzie Pfledderer, Jerod Putt, Riley Schultz, Brooke Shepperd, Alex Tauber, Savannah Yerion

Technical Honors Diplomas - Laura Faler, Nate Neeley, Tiffany Scheffer, Tanner Wuethrich

D.A.R. Good Citizen Award - Jerod Putt

Girls’ State - Vanessa Murray

US Marine Corp Awards:

          Scholar - Vanessa Murray/Jerod Putt

          Semper Fi - Evan Hasek

          Athlete - Jonathan Gudeman/Mackenzie Pfledderer

President’s Education Awards - McKenzie Kopka, Vanessa Murray, Jerod Putt, Savannah Yerion

Senior Leadership Award - Jerod Putt

Principal’s Leadership Award - Alisha Oliver

Salutatorian - Vanessa Murray

Valedictorian - Jerod Putt

 

Honor Roll Awards

High Honor Roll: Gretchen Blackburn, McKenzie Kopka, Vanessa Murray, Jerod Putt, Savannah Yerion

Honor Roll: Megan Bradley, Gage Conley, Sarah Fox, Rob Lovely, Alex McKay, Jackie Wettstein, Jayla Wettstein

 

Perfect Attendance Awards

Sarah Fox

 

Departmental Awards

Athletic: Four-Year Awards - Sara Bernal, Gretchen Blackburn, McKenzie Kopka, Nate Neeley, Mckenzie Pfledderer

Band: Outstanding Senior Band Student - Sarah Fox; John Phillip Sousa Award - Tristianne Wireman

Business: Outstanding Senior Business Student - Jerod Putt

Economics: Outstanding Senior Economics Student - Vanessa Murray

English: Outstanding Senior English Student - Savannah Yerion

Health Careers: Sara Bernal, Brittany Conkel, Jon Gudeman, Salome Huber, McKenzie Kopka, Nate Neeley, Alisha Oliver, Mackenzie Pfledderer, Tiffany Scheffer, Brooke Shepperd, Jackie Wettstein

Industrial Technology: Outstanding Construction Student - Jaxon Mayhew

Math: Senior Calculus Award - Gretchen Blackburn

Science: Outstanding Anatomy & Physiology Student - Gretchen Blackburn

Spanish: Senior Spanish Award - Laura Faler

National Honor Society Members: Sara Bernal, Gretchen Blackburn, Laura Faler, McKenzie Kopka, Vanessa Murray, Eli Nielsen, Randi Nine, Mackenzie Pfledderer, Jerod Putt

 

Scholarships

Health Careers Scholarship - Sara Bernal, Jon Gudeman, Tiffany Scheffer

American Red Cross Scholarships - Brittany Conkel, Salome Huber

North Central Co-Op Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

West Central Athletic Scholarships - Sara Bernal, Gretchen Blackburn, McKenzie Kopka, Mackenzie Pfledderer

Pulaski County Community Foundation:

          Carneal Scholarships - Sara Bernal/Mercy Birch

          PCCF Scholarship - Jerod Putt

          Rausch Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

          Senn Family Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

Street Family Scholarship - Savannah Yerion

Jasper County Community Foundation:

          Pampel Scholarship - Savannah Yerion

          John/Violet Wuethrich Scholarship - Tanner Wuethrich

          Barbara J. Drone Scholarship - Laura Faler

Pulaski County Soil & Water Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

Farm Builders Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

Alliance Bank Scholarship - Tanner Wuethrich

Koster Family Scholarships - Gretchen Blackburn, Sarah Fox, McKenzie Kopka, Vanessa Murray, Jerod Putt, Savannah Yerion

Farm Bureau Scholarship - Tanner Wuethrich

Retired Iron Workers Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

Galbreath Scholarship - Quinton Young

West Central National Honor Society Scholarships - Sara Bernal. Gretchen Blackburn, Vanessa Murray

West Central Student Council Scholarship - Jerod Putt

West Central FFA Scholarships - Corey Crase, Salena Leman, Eli Nielsen, Andrew Wagner

West Central Sunshine Society Scholarship - Megan Bradley

Francesville Legion Auxiliary Scholarship - Sarah Fox

Walter John & Wanda Joan Buczek Memorial Scholarship - Sara Bernal, Eli Nielsen

Deb Haring Memorial Scholarship - Laura Faler

Dr. Mike Gutwein Memorial Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

PCCF Scholarship - Jerod Putt

Rausch Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

Senn Family Scholarship - Gretchen Blackburn

John/Violet Wuethrich Scholarship - Tanner Wuethrich

Barbara J. Drone Scholarship - Laura Faler

Mike Rishel Memorial Scholarship -Ariel Barlow

Sharron McGee Memorial Scholarship - Sarah Fox

Dean Lowry Memorial Scholarship - Alex McKay

Mellon Family Scholarship - Jonathan Gudeman

West Central Educational Foundation Scholarship - Jonathan Gudeman

Ralph Harris Memorial Scholarship - Moriah Rayburn

Lerch Family Scholarship - McKenzie Kopka

Fulmer Seeds/Service Scholarship - Jerod Putt

Martha Timm Memorial Scholarship - Alex McKay

Dickinson Family Scholarship - Sarah Fox

Getz Family Scholarship - McKenzie Kopka

Doris Petra Scholarship - Laura Faler

Overmyer Family Scholarship - Tanner Wuethrich

Jeff Moncel/Phil Pixey Memorial Scholarship - Quinton Young

Jeanette Moncel Memorial Scholarship - Moriah Rayburn

William J. Hubbard Memorial Scholarship - Sarah Fox

Angie Huber Memorial Scholarship - Savannah Yerion

Betty Rebeck Memorial Scholarship - Laura Faler

Freshour Scholarships - Sara Bernal, Laura Faler, Vanessa Murray, Jerod Putt

Rosenberg Scholarship - Ariel Barlow

Gutwein Dairy Consulting Scholarship - Eli Nielsen

Miles William Allen Scholarships - Ariel Barlow, Gretchen Blackburn, Vanessa Murray

West Central Scholarships - Sara Bernal, Gretchen Blackburn, McKenzie Kopka, Vanessa Murray, Eli Nielsen,

Jerod Putt, Moriah Rayburn, Savannah Yerion

 

Senior Departmental and Distinguished Award Recipients
Scholarship Recipients

Senior Honor Roll

Certificate Recipients

Salutatorian Vanessa Murray

and Valedictorian Jerod Putt

 

  
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Local News Briefs

County Councilman Locke resigns seat, effective June 30

The Pulaski County Republican Party reports the District 3 county councilman has submitted his resignation from the council, effective June 30.

The seat is held by Jerome “Jerry” Locke. A party caucus will be held to select a replacement to fill the remainder of Locke’s term.

Francesville ‘Family Fun in Park’ June 28

FRANCESVILLE – The Uptown Project, in partnership with West Central Youth League, will sponsor its “Family Fun in the Park,” from 6 p.m. to sunset, Saturday, June 28.

The public is welcome to join in for a fun evening of fellowship at the Francesville Town Park.

PCPL activities, programs listed for June

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for June. They include the Summer Reading Program, a youth improve camp, a children’s program on bubbles, and a stuffed animal sleepover.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

Circus comes to town June 17

WINAMAC - The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus is coming to Winamac Tuesday, June 17, at the Winamac Town Park for two shows, the first starting at 5:30 p.m., and the second beginning at 7 p.m. Each show lasts about an hour and a half.

The event is sponsored by the Winamac Kiwanis Club.

4-H Fair Parade June 30

The 2025 Pulaski County 4-H & Community Fair Parade, with the theme "Grow it, Show it, Play it at 4-H," will step off at 6 p.m., Monday, June 30, in downtown Winamac.

The parade is organized by the Winamac Kiwanis Club in partnership with the Pulaski County Fair Association. The parade grand marshal will be 2025 Halleck Award winners Don and Lynn Darda. 

  

Indiana News

4C Health purchases Curtis Building from PMH

PERU - 4C Health is marking its 50th year in business with an exciting development for Pulaski County operations with the purchase of the Curtis Building from Pulaski Memorial Hospital.

The building is located north of Winamac, just off U.S. 35, at 2418 Curtis Drive.

Yakym surprises 'Hoosier Heroes' with Congressional records

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27) –Congressman Rudy Yakym honored two local first responders Tuesday recognizing their “exceptional service and commitment to their communities.”

Pulaski County Deputy Christopher Parish and Culver Community Police Chief Ryleigh Carr received entries into the Congressional Record.

Young, colleagues address shortage of mental health providers in schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27) – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) reintroduced the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act to address the shortage of mental health providers in schools by boosting the pipeline of graduate students trained to become school psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

“Access to mental health resources improves the safety, well-being, and academic success of Hoosier students,” said Sen. Young. “Our bill will both support the school-based mental health workforce and address the critical need for these professionals.”

Pulaski County unemployment rate drops to 2.4% in April

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 2.4 percent in April, down from 3.1 percent in March, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday, (May 22). The rate was 3.1 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,777 employed persons in a labor force of 6,943 in April. In March those numbers were 6,753 of 6,967. A year ago the numbers were 6,388 of 6.591.

  

Post News

CFoPC awards$17,000 to community organizations

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC)  announced Thursday (June 5) $17,000 has been awarded in grants to four local nonprofits and community organizations.

The Foundation works to strengthen the community through funding, convening and fostering collaboration among nonprofits to amplify their impact.

Winamac Community HS presents 2025 senior awards

WINAMAC - Winamac Community High School has announced its 2025 Senior Awards winners, honoring graduates for various academic and athletic awards, and scholarships.

The awards were presented at the annual Senior Awards program Friday evening (May 30).

Winamac Community HS 2025 commencement exercises held June 1

Senior photos featured

WINAMAC - Commencement exercises for the Class of 2025 at Winamac Community High School were held Sunday June 1, at the high school gymnasium.

Diplomas were presented to 81 seniors.

Human Services celebrates 50 years

Pulaski County Human Services (PCHS) continued the celebration of its golden anniversary Wednesday (May 28) at its annual Senior Citizen Health and Resource Fair in Star City.

PCHS is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to low-income, disabled, and elderly households, as well as general public-transportation and referral services in Pulaski County.

West Central HS awards diplomas to 41 seniors

Senior photos featured

FRANCESVILLE - The 58th annual commencement exercises at West Central High School were held Sunday (May 25), in the school gymnasium. Diplomas were awarded to 41 seniors.

The program opened with a baccalaureate service at 2 p.m., sponsored by the West Central Ministerial Association, followed by the commencement ceremonies.