JACOB ROBERTS
JAKE SHEARICHARDSON 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.
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 “I feel extremely humbled and honored to win,” Eggleston says. “My high school journey has been far from easy. During Student Impact, 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
Writer / Julie Yates Photography provided
When Westfield High School senior Jacob Roberts joined the Best Buddies club in middle school, he had a very personal motive for doing so. At that time, he had no idea that five years later, he would be the club’s president. The self-proclaimed shy and quiet student has become a champion for promoting inclusion and recently led a convocation to encourage his peers to respect people of all different ability levels.
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
“I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth grade at the middle school. I had just Writer / Seth Johnson gotten news that my brother was going to Photography Provided be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts says. “So, I really joined just to figure Heading into his senior year, Westfield High out how to treat him since he would be School student Jake Richardson is looking different. Throughout that year and my to make the most of his time in Westfield freshman year, I learned so much more before moving on to life’s next adventure. about Best Buddies.” We include and accept people for who they
intellectual and developmental disabilities
“The thing I’m most for with Roberts continues, “I excited learned that my regards are and simply just be friends.” are paired with a regular education peer. to seniorthinking year is living in the moment, and original was completely wrong and The club typically meets on Fridays during hopefully hanging with my I believed the wrongout mission. Thefriends mission the CORE Advisory period. Activities are Westfield High School is among of Best Buddies to last endtimes the social, physical, during some of isthe we live in organized and foster growing friendships many schools both nationwide and and economic discrimination those Westfield,” Richardson says. of “I’m justwith internationally between buddy pair.which On Oct. “Leading upthat to some current interests, lenseach reflex camera, led29, to his current offer of themy Best Buddies intellectual and developmental disabilities. excited to have an authentic experience organized and led a special program as a student activity. Students with Roberts I definitely was really big into the concept pursuits of photography and videography. where I can not be afraid to be myself, of leadership throughout middle school,” MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com express myself and really just live it up.” 20 / WESTFIELD Richardson says. “I took the opportunity to “Throughout my freshman year, I enrolled lead some of the clubs that were offered and myself in a couple of the photography and Prior to his time at Westfield High School, some of the courses that were offered, and I videography courses at the high11/20/19 school10:54 andAM Westfield_1219.indd 20 Richardson made a concerted effort to build really tried to maximize my experiences as a fell in love with the craft,” Richardson says. upon his leadership skills, serving as the leader throughout middle school.” “Since then, all throughout sophomore and president of his school’s National Junior then into junior year, I have really honed Honor Society as well as the editor-in-chief As a freshman at Westfield High School, in on my craft by taking every opportunity of its award-winning yearbook publication. Richardson picked up his first digital single- that I can get, including starting up my own 22 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / WestfieldMag.com
