Student Spotlight: Ava Henson

JACOB AVA HENSON SPONSORED BY: SPONSORED BY: ROBERTS SHEA EGGLESTON 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 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.” Eggleston also says she loves living in Westfield. like her. I know so many students that “I have always felt safe and secure while have a relationship similar to mine with a being in Westfield,” she says. “I love the teacher and those relationships will stick with the students for the rest of their lives.” amenities and opportunities available. I love that Westfield has fun things to do with friends, and also fun things to do with Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided Ava Henson, a member of the 2020 Westfield High School graduating class, is pleased that she recently received a Hamilton County Youth Service Award nomination. 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. Student Impact, 536 North Union Street, Zionsville, is a safe place where students from grades 5-12 can build relationships that bring hope and healing. It was started in 1999 to be an environment where kids can hang out and get mentorships and guidance. Eggleston says she is excited to be recognized by Student Impact of Westfield. “I feel extremely humbled and honored to win,” Eggleston says. “My high school journey has been far from easy. During my freshman year, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and missed a lot of school because of it. I get sick easily and miss more school than most people. It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to school and extracurriculars, to be where I am today, but it has been more than worth it. With all the hard work, receiving this award is even more special.” 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. “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 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. Eggleston is proud to say she have been a 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. “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 Writer / Julie Yates Photography provided When West eld High School senior Jacob WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES CLASSMATES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE Roberts joined the Best Buddies club in must be working with animals.” “It felt very humbling to be a nominee, and to be able to represent Westfield in this positive way,” Henson says. “I take staying middle school, he had a very personal motive for doing so. At that time, he had no idea that  ve years later, he would be the 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 drug and alcohol-free very seriously in my club’s president.  e self-proclaimed shy teachers you can tell they want every single one of their students to succeed, and they life, as I have seen and heard of the effects and quiet student has become a champion try to make that happen. I have had so many teachers inspire me, and make me want to they can have on an individual. I love for promoting inclusion and recently led be a better person and student.” Westfield and my school, so it was great to a convocation to encourage his peers to Eggleston has a favorite teacher. be able to represent them in this aspect.” respect people of all di erent ability levels. “One teacher that will forever have a place in my heart and will forever be my absolute

an aggressive manner, but in the normal, everyday ways of life.

For more information on Student Impact of Westfield visit therockwestfield.org/ or call 317-414-6456.

The 27th annual Hamilton County Youth Service Awards took place virtually May 13 due to COVID-19 concerns. The ceremony was sponsored by the Hamilton County Commissioners, the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs “I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth grade at the middle school. I had just go en news that my brother was going to be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts says. “So, I really joined just to  gure out how to treat him since he would be di erent.  roughout that year and my (HCCOAOD), and each of the seven high freshman year, I learned so much more schools in Hamilton County. about Best Buddies.” Henson was also involved in activities to help the Westfield community.

“I am involved in the Northview Students Youth Group, Service Leadership, the HCC shoe drive for the Changing Footprints Organization, and I have also National Honors Society,” she says. “I also participated in Dance Marathon and was a mentor in the freshman mentoring program.”

Henson is looking forward to the future.

Henson answered several questions from a selection committee to earn the nomination. Each school winner is selected by their school’s counseling department. “I had to list all of the different types of been an organizer for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Westfield March for Justice protests,” she says. Henson says she enjoyed playing sports. “I was a varsity hurdler my freshman and “I am attending college at Taylor University and planning to study Sports Management while minoring in Psychology,” Henson says. Henson also plans to play sports and be involved in college programs. Roberts continues, “I learned that my original thinking was completely wrong and I believed the wrong mission.  e mission of Best Buddies is to end the social, physical, and economic discrimination of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We include and accept people for who they are and simply just be friends.” West eld High School is among many schools both nationwide and internationally that o er the Best Buddies program as a student activity. Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities are paired with a regular education peer.  e club typically meets on Fridays during the CORE Advisory period. Activities are organized and foster growing friendships between each buddy pair. On Oct. 29, Roberts organized and led a special extracurricular activities that I am involved in, and how they relate to staying drug 20 / sophomore year,” she says. “I also competed on the basketball team all four years of high WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com “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 my greatest accomplishments. I also wrote Westfield_1219.indd 20 Henson was also involved in school the International Justice Mission with the Office of Intercultural Programs, as I have 11/20/19 10:54 AM 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.

“What I like best about Westfield is how much we feel like a family,” Henson says. “I love how our community will stand with each other when we are hurting. No place is perfect, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in Indiana. My teachers have taught me how to be a true leader in the world and how to make a difference in someone’s life. Without those teachings and support from the community, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Henson is continually inspired by her parents and her principal.

“Aside from my wonderful parents, I want to tribute this to (outgoing Westfield High School Principal) Dr. Stacy McGuire, also known as Stacy Mac. Her words and support, since day one of my freshman year, allowed me to find myself, and just be me. When no one would notice me in the hallway, she would. Through her examples and loving heart, I became 100% me. Westfield will forever be my home.”

SMILE SMILE A smile is a curve that A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. sets everything straight.

Phone: (317) 896-3444 www.wittlerortho.com 534 East State Road 32 Westfield, IN 46074 534 East State Road 32 Westfield, IN 46074