JACOB ROBERTS
AVA HENSON SHEA EGGLESTON SPONSOREDBY: BY: SPONSORED
Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Amy Payne
Shea Eggleston, a senior at Westfield High School, is being recognized for her outstanding work at Student Impact of Westfield. Writer / Matt Keating
hang out and get mentorships and guidance. and extracurriculars, to be where I am today, but it has been more than worth it. With all Eggleston says she is excited to be the hard work, receiving this award is even recognized by Student Impact of Westfield. more special.”
favorite teacher, is Erin McKinney, a math teacher at Westfield High School. Not only was she an amazing teacher, and helped me find a new passion in math, but she also was, and still is, an amazing friend and mentor,” Eggleston says. “Mrs. McKinney has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life,” she adds. “To this day, I try and see her at least once a week just to say hello or have a conversation. It is not only Mrs. McKinney at Westfield, but there are so many teachers like her. I know so many students that have a relationship similar to mine with a teacher and those relationships will stick with the students for the rest of their lives.” Eggleston says Student Impact of Westfield has also helped her tremendously. “I attend Student Impact every Monday and Friday and volunteer as an intern/ student leader every Tuesday and Thursday,” Eggleston says. “I love everything about this organization. I love the people who run it and attend it, what they stand for, what they do for Westfield, and everything in between.
part of Student Impact since the fifth grade and will be a member until the moment she graduates high school. “I started volunteering at student impact my sophomore year, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I was volunteering on a constant basis. As of right now, I volunteer nine or more hours a week, and love every minute.”
an aggressive manner, but in the everyday ways of life.
For more information on Studen Westfield visit therockwestfield.o 317-414-6456.
Eggleston also says she loves living in Westfield. “I have always felt safe and secure while being in Westfield,” she says. “I love the amenities and opportunities available. I love that Westfield has fun things to do with friends, and also fun things to do with family.” She believes Student Impact is a big part of that. Danyele Easterhaus, executive director of Student Impact of Westfield, says says she is thrilled Eggleston has been recognized.
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES CLASSMATES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE Ava Henson, a member of the 2020 “I feel extremely humbled and honored to win,” Eggleston says. “My high school journey has been far from easy. During Photography Student Impact,Provided 536 North Union Street, my freshman year, I was diagnosed with Zionsville, is a safe place where students Crohn’s Disease, and missed a lot of school from grades 5-12 can build relationships because of it. I get sick easily and miss more that bring hope and healing. It was started in school than most people. It has taken a 1999 to be an environment where kids can lot of hard work and dedication to school
Westfield High School graduating class, Writer / Julie Yates is pleased that she recently received a Photography provided Hamilton County Youth Service Award nomination. When Westfield High School senior Jacob
Roberts joined the Best Buddies club in “It felt school, very humbling bepersonal a nominee, middle he had a to very and to be toso. represent Westfield this motive forable doing At that time, he hadinno positive Henson “I take idea that way,” five years later,says. he would be staying the club’sand president. The self-proclaimed drug alcohol-free very seriouslyshy in my and quiet student a champion life, as I have seenhas andbecome heard of the effects for promoting and recently led they can have inclusion on an individual. I love aWestfield convocation to encourage his peers to and my school, so it was great to respect of all diff erent levels.” be able people to represent them inability this aspect. “I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth The 27th annual Hamilton County Youth grade at the middle school. I had just Service Awards took place virtually May 13 gotten news that my brother was going to due to COVID-19 concerns. The ceremony be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts was sponsored by the Hamilton County says. “So, I really joined just to figure Commissioners, the since Hamilton County out how to treat him he would be Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs different. Throughout that year and my (HCCOAOD), and eachsoofmuch the seven freshman year, I learned more high schools in Hamilton about Best Buddies.” County.
Eggleston plans to study zoology in college. “Ever since I can remember, my favorite thing has always been animals, particularly of the mammal species, but still animals in general,” Eggleston says. “My dream job has always been something to do with animals, whether that was a veterinarian or a zoo keeper, I did not really know, but I knew it had to be with animals.
Eggleston is proud to say she have been a
“Shea is just an amazing young woman,” Easterhaus says. “She leads with a quiet, yet strong sense about her, despite all the issues she faces each and every day. She puts others first and displays leadership not in
“Once I started trying to narrow down my dream job, I knew I did not want to be a veterinarian, but that is about all I could figure out. I hope one day I can figure out what career I want, but for now, I know it must be working with animals.” Eggleston noted that Westfield has some of the best teachers. “Almost every single teacher I have had since first grade I have really liked. With Westfield teachers you can tell they want every single one of their students to succeed, and they try to make that happen. I have had so many teachers inspire me, and make me want to be a better person and student.” Eggleston has a favorite teacher. “One teacher that will forever have a place in my heart and will forever be my absolute
Henson was also involved in activities to help the Westfield community.
National Honors Society,” she says. “I also participated in Dance Marathon and was a mentor in the freshman mentoring program.”
“I am involved in the Northview Students Youth Group, Service Leadership, the HCC shoe drive for the Changing Henson is looking forward to the future. Footprints Organization, and I have also an organizer the for Black “I am attending college atdisabilities Taylor University and developmental Webeen include and acceptfor people whoLives they intellectual Henson answered “I several questions Roberts continues, learned that my from a areMatter (BLM) and planning to study Sportspeer. Management are paired with a regular education and simply just Westfield be friends.”March for Justice selection committee to earn thewrong nomination. original thinking was completely and protests,” she says. while minoring in Psychology,” Henson The club typically meets on Fridays during I believed thewinner wrong mission. Thebymission Each school is selected their says. Advisory period. Activities are the CORE Westfield High School is among of Best Buddies is to end the social, physical, many school’s counseling department. Henson says shenationwide enjoyed playing schools both and sports. organized and foster growing friendships and economic discrimination of those with internationally that offer the Best Buddies between each buddy pair.toOn Oct. 29, and be Henson also plans play sports intellectual and disabilities. “I had to list alldevelopmental of the different types of Roberts organized and led a special program as a student activity. Students with “I was a varsity hurdler my freshman and involved in college programs. extracurricular activities that I am involved sophomore year,” she says. “I also competed MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com in, and how they relate to staying drug 20 / WESTFIELD on the basketball team all four years of high “I will be playing on the women’s basketball and alcohol-free,” Henson says. “I had to school, earning a three-year varsity letter.” team at Taylor and will also be involved in write a paragraph about what I consider the International Justice Mission11/20/19 with the Westfield_1219.indd 20 10:54 AM my greatest accomplishments. I also wrote Henson was also involved in school Office of Intercultural Programs, as I have a 500-word essay on why I believed I was activities and clubs. received the Cultural Diversity Scholarship,” deserving of recognition as Hamilton she adds. County’s Outstanding Youth Service “I was a club leader of the Chick-Fil-A Henson says she loves Westfield and Award recipient.” Leader Academy and was involved in the growing up in this area. WestfieldMag.com / JULY 2020 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 19
