Student Spotlight: Jake Richardson

JACOB JAKE RICHARDSON ROBERTS SHEA 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 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 SPONSORED BY: SPONSORED BY: EGGLESTON 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 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 amenities and opportunities available. I with the students for the rest of their lives.” love that Westfield has fun things to do Eggleston says Student Impact of Westfield family.” She believes Student Impact is a big has also helped her tremendously. part of that.

Writer / Matt Keating hang out and get mentorships and guidance. and extracurriculars, to be where I am today,

Photographer / Amy Payne but it has been more than worth it. With all “I attend Student Impact every Monday Danyele Easterhaus, executive director of 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 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 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, 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 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 WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES CLASSMATES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE 1999 to be an environment where kids can lot of hard work and dedication to school whether that was a veterinarian or a zoo keeper, I did not really know, but I knew it Writer / Julie Yates had to be with animals. Photography provided “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 When West eld High School senior Jacob figure out. I hope one day I can figure out what career I want, but for now, I know it Roberts joined the Best Buddies club in must be working with animals.”

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 club’s president.  e 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 di erent ability levels.

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 with friends, and also fun things to do with 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.

“I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth grade at the middle school. I had just Writer / Seth Johnson Photography Provided go en news that my brother was going to be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts Heading into his senior year, Westfield High School student Jake Richardson is looking says. “So, I really joined just to  gure out how to treat him since he would be di erent.  roughout 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.”

“The thing I’m most excited for with regards to senior year is living in the moment, and Roberts continues, “I learned that my original thinking was completely wrong and We include and accept people for who they are and simply just be friends.” intellectual and developmental disabilities are paired with a regular education peer.  e club typically meets on Fridays during hopefully hanging out with my friends I believed the wrong mission.  e mission West eld High School is among the CORE Advisory period. Activities are during some of the last times we live in of Best Buddies is to end the social, physical, many schools both nationwide and organized and foster growing friendships Westfield,” Richardson says. “I’m just and economic discrimination of those with “Leading up to some of my current interests, lens reflex camera, which led to his current internationally that o er the Best Buddies between each buddy pair. On Oct. 29, excited to have an authentic experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. I definitely was really big into the concept program as a student activity. Students with pursuits of photography and videography. Roberts organized and led a special where I can not be afraid to be myself, of leadership throughout middle school,” express myself and really just live it up.” 20 / Richardson says. “I took the opportunity to WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com “Throughout my freshman year, I enrolled

Prior to his time at Westfield High School, Richardson made a concerted effort to build Westfield_1219.indd 20 upon his leadership skills, serving as the president of his school’s National Junior Honor Society as well as the editor-in-chief of its award-winning yearbook publication. lead some of the clubs that were offered and some of the courses that were offered, and I really tried to maximize my experiences as a leader throughout middle school.” myself in a couple of the photography and videography courses at the high school and 11/20/19 10:54 AM fell in love with the craft,” Richardson says. “Since then, all throughout sophomore and then into junior year, I have really honed in on my craft by taking every opportunity that I can get, including starting up my own

photography business where I have been taking senior photographs and family photographs.”

In addition to photography and videography, Richardson loves exploring the world and learning about new cultures.

“I would consider myself an avid traveler,” he says. “I have been on numerous vision trips, mission trips and just fun vacations. I absolutely love opening up my perspectives to new cultures, new foods and new ideas about this world.”

Throughout high school, Richardson’s love for both travel and visual media have intertwined.

“My camera is definitely strung across my shoulder every time I travel,” Richardson says. “It’s been very, very cool throughout high school to combine both passions for travel and photography to produce some travel photography content.”

Looking ahead, Richardson hopes to attend New York University.

“I definitely am a city boy and have been wanting to go to a college in New York all throughout high school,” he says.

All in all, his hope is to make an impact on the world.

“With whatever creative field I pursue, I want to make sure I can use my platform as a force for good because there’s so much brokenness in our world,” Richardson says. “Although I, as one person, can’t create world peace, I’m going to do my best to try and spread global awareness about all the different places that need help.”

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

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WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 116 E Main Street Westfield, IN 46074 (317) 804-3030 westfield-chamber.org

AWARD CRITERIA FOR THE WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2020 LANTERN AWARDS THESE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 5, 2020 AT THE BRIDGEWATER CLUB

LANTERN AWARD

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

• This business has enhanced the Westfield community in significant ways in the past year.

• This business upholds and actively supports the mission of the Westfield Chamber.

• This business models positive and cooperative business practices with people and businesses in our community.

• This nominee is a “Business Member” of the

Westfield Chamber of Commerce

BEACON AWARD

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

• This individual has made a significant contribution to the community this past year that is above and beyond work performed as part of their regular work/employment.

• This individual has provided leadership which has enhanced the greater good of the whole of Westfield and/or Washington Township of

Hamilton County

• This nominee lives and/or works in Westfield or Washington Township

WICK AWARD

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

• This nominee has performed ongoing volunteer community service in Westfield and/ or Washington Township of Hamilton County.

• This nominee has made a significant and positive contribution to the community as a result of his/her volunteer service.

• The volunteer service as been done in addition to work that may have been done as part of his/her regular job/employment.

GLOBE AWARD

OUTSTANDING SERVICE ORGANIZATION

• This organization is “visible” due to their ongoing service to people in our community.

• This organization invites people of all walks of life into its membership as well as serves people of all races, genders, and social classes.

• This organization is people in the Westfield or

Washington Township Community.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce is to promote a positive business environment in the Westfield community.

SPARK AWARD

NEW WESTFIELD BUSINESS

• This business began its operations after

September of 2018.

• This business has made strong efforts to support growth and development in the community.

• This business is based in Westfield and/or

Washington Township.

PURPOSE

The Westfield Chamber of Commerce strives to enhance the business, educational, recreational, spiritual and cultural development of the community through the participation of its business, professional, and community members. This purpose is based on the desire to promote a favorable business climate and a positive quality of life.

EMERGING LEADER

WESTFIELD YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

• This nominee is involved in the Westfield

Community.

• This nominee is a Young Professional who lives or works in the Westfield and/or

Washington Township

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:

- In the case that no candidate fits the criteria for a particular year, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce Board reserves the right to choose no recipient for a particular award. - Individual running for political office will not be eligible to receive an award for the year in which they are running for office. - Westfield Chamber Board members are not eligible to receive a Lantern award while they are serving on the Board.