Teens excel in, out of school

Area students named Academic All-Stars

Amazing.

That’s how Robert Harrington, one of the judges who picked them, described the 10 members of the 2004 Journal-World Academic All-Star team.

“I’m amazed at the scores these students have accomplished,” Harrington said.

The winners were picked from a group of 32 nominees with top-notch academic records; 21 had perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. But they also excelled in athletics, music, visual art, volunteerism and leadership, representing the best of the best at Lawrence-area high schools.

The winners are Aarika Greenfield, Baldwin High School; Ryan Robinson, Basehor-Linwood High School; Ellie Ott and Ivan Sheu, Free State High School; Karen Bentley and Ying Niu, Lawrence High School; Leah Overbaugh and Lisa Smelser, McLouth High School; Faye Cassell, Ottawa High School; and Chase Nowak, Tonganoxie High School.

The awards were presented during a luncheon Wednesday sponsored by the Journal-World and attended by the winners, parents and judges.

In a speech at the luncheon, Harrington told the All-Stars the next steps in their lives could be more difficult than those already taken. Remember the farmers, he said, who deal with challenges every day.

“They believe one bad setback isn’t going to be the end of them,” Harrington said.

Besides Harrington, a Kansas University professor of psychology and research in education, judges were Angela Lumpkin, dean of the School of Education at KU, and Jamie Comstock, vice president and academic dean at Baker University.

The Journal-World's 2004 Academic All-Stars are, back row from left, Ryan Robinson, Basehor-Linwood; Ying Niu, Lawrence High; Chase Nowak, Tonganoxie; Leah Overbaugh, McLouth; Faye Cassell, Ottawa; and front row from left, Karen Bentley, Lawrence High; Ivan Sheu, Free State; Aarika Greenfield, Baldwin; and Ellie Ott, Free State. Not pictured is Lisa Smelser, McLouth.

Area high school principals and guidance counselors nominated 32 seniors for the newspaper’s eighth annual team. Winners were selected based on academics and test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement and an essay on the first thing the students would do if they won $10 million.

Members of the All-Star team received a certificate and a backpack for use at college.

Thirteen area high schools submitted nominees: Baldwin, Basehor-Linwood, De Soto, Eudora, Free State, LHS, McLouth, Oskaloosa, Ottawa, Perry-Lecompton, Santa Fe Trail, Tonganoxie, Wellsville.


Faye Cassell

Faye Cassell is known for having a sharp wit and self-deprecating sense of humor.

“I would like to think that is my most distinguishing characteristic,” Cassell says. “Having that kind of sense of humor is extremely useful when dealing with the pressures of high school, because sarcasm can turn any stressful event a little more light-hearted.”

She certainly knows a little bit about stress.

While in high school, Cassell has participated in 12 clubs and extracurricular activities, from debate to Military Club. She also has volunteered at the hospital all four years of high school and helped out at the local visitors center her senior year.

Somehow Cassell managed to squeeze in some school work, as well.

Cassell was recognized as a Chamber of Commerce Scholar as well as the top student in her class during all four years at Ottawa High School.

So how does a student as busy and as successful as Cassell relax?

“My two favorite activities are reading nonfiction books and going to the theater,” she said. “In the summertime, I really enjoy watching outdoor theater productions with my friends and a large picnic basket.”

The literature and theater aficionado has recommendations on both fronts.

“I really enjoy the musical ‘A Chorus Line,’ and if ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ comes back this summer, I might try to catch it,” she said.

In literature, Cassell suggests her favorite fiction piece. “Right now I would have to say ‘The Muse of Siloams’ is my new favorite. It’s kind of a noir mystery type of story, really interesting.”

Cassell plans to attend Tulane University or the University of Miami. She would like to major in chemistry, a decision she reached after taking an honors chemistry class.

She is the daughter of David Cassell and Nam-Eng Cassell.

— Joshua Vaughn


Karen Bentley

Karen Bentley: 51st president of the United States.

Well, maybe not.

Bentley admits the chances of her serving as leader of the free world are pretty slim, but don’t put anything past this Lawrence High senior with a passion for politics. It’s a passion that began a few years ago.

“I really got interested in government affairs right after the Sept. 11th attacks,” Bentley said. “The way things unfolded on a national and international level really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I realized then that I have been given so much, I have a responsibility to try and give something back.”

Throughout high school, Bentley has made a practice of giving back.

She has volunteered at the Dole Institute of Politics and with pre-schoolers at the Lawrence Arts Center. She taught vacation Bible school and served on the Lawrence Sesquicentennial Commission. She served in various clubs and organizations at Lawrence High, with heavy involvement in band and Model United Nations.

Failing to find a politically minded organization at her school, Bentley decided to create one. In her senior year, she co-founded the Teenage Republicans.

Bentley has applied to six universities. Although she has not committed to any, she is leaning heavily toward Kansas University or St. Louis University. Wherever she goes, she intends to major in political science and economics.

Although she may not see herself seated in the Oval Office anytime soon, she definitely sees herself working for the government, perhaps overseas.

“I want to specialize in Russian and Eastern European affairs as well as international political economy. I would like to work as an economic adviser to the executive branch,” Bentley said. “I really enjoy foreign policy, so I will probably do something internationally related.”

She is the daughter of Terrence and Mary Bentley.

— Joshua Vaughn


Lisa Smelser

Lisa Smelser is simultaneously a trash collector and a treasure hunter. She chalks up the unique mix of personality traits to her most defining characteristic: her creativity.

“I love to turn ‘trash’ into really neat ‘treasure.’ For Christmas, I turned a plastic case from a razor cartridge into a feeding trough for a toy horse barn that I gave to my friend’s sister,” said Smelser, a McLouth High School senior. “I think I could take just about anything and make it new and different.”

Her projects in high school have been as unconventional and creative as she is. Smelser participated in Earthwatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program, where she spent two weeks helping with research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

During her final three years in high school, she compiled a book of particular regional and historical significance titled “Real Life Rosies: The Women of WWII.”

“These were stories from over 40 women with whom I corresponded. It includes pictures and tells about their experiences while working in factories and such, doing ‘men’s jobs.'”

After high school, Smelser intends to keep her creative talents local, at least for a while. “I plan to attend the University of Kansas and major in jewelry design/metalsmithing,” she said.

After college, Smelser has plans to combine a little of the entrepreneurial spirit with her natural creativity.

“I hope to start a business to sell all sorts of my creations, not just jewelry. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and it’s closer to becoming a reality.”

It is clear Smelser has learned a lot her first 18 years. Perhaps the most influential lesson came from her mother. “I remember her saying ‘It works both ways’ when my brother and I would argue,” Smelser said. “Whenever I’m mad at someone, I think of that saying and try to see the other person’s point of view. Doing so has helped me become a much more compassionate person.”

She is the daughter of David and Jean Smelser.

— Joshua Vaughn


Ellie Ott

Ellie Ott has an unusual obsession with eating peanut butter-and-sprinkles sandwiches. She said the habit developed when she started fixing her own lunch while she attended grade school in England.

She definitely has a preference when she is eating her favorite sandwich.

“I found it’s better on white bread than wheat bread,” Ott said. “There is a texture difference.”

Don’t let her sugar diet fool you. Ott is the top student at Free State High School, co-captain of the tennis team that went to the state competition and Senior Class treasurer, among an impressive list of other extracurricular activities.

Even with all that, she said her first priority had always been academics.

“There have been many late nights and many early mornings,” Ott said. “I find if you want to do something, you can.”

Ott attributes her success to her family, friends and teachers.

“I’m where I am today because of the people who have been in my life,” she said. “All that I have accomplished is not just my own.”

An inspiration for her comes from her father, Michael Ott, who died when she was 10.

“Every time I’m doing anything, I’m proving it to him and to my family, whether they are with me or not,” Ellie said.

Ott’s top choices for college include Princeton University and the University of Virginia. She wants to study chemistry. After graduation she wants to volunteer for Teach for America, a national teacher recruitment program that seeks to attract college graduates to the classroom.

She is the daughter of Genna and Greg Hurd and the late Michael Ott.

— Amy Potter


Ying Niu

Ying Niu is a senior at Lawrence High School, but she spends much of her time each week on the Kansas University campus.

At 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, you will find her sitting in a Math 526 Statistics class in Snow Hall. Niu finished calculus III in high school and started taking college classes during her junior year.

But it’s not just coursework that pulls her to campus.

Alice Downs, KU professor emeritus, has taught piano to Niu since she was in sixth grade. Because Niu does not have a piano at home, Murphy Hall is where she practices.

“It’s neat to just sit down in the practice room for an hour and just kind of relax,” Niu said.

Her ties to KU continued last summer when she did res-earch at the university’s Information and Telecommunication Technology Center. Niu said she was inspired to pursue an engineering degree because of the positive experiences she had at ITTC.

And she studies during the week at Anschutz Library at KU.

“I’ve been using a lot of resources at KU,” Niu said.

Even after all her exposure to a big college campus, Niu said she was still nervous about attending college next year.

She has been accepted to both Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology.

“What I’ve heard about MIT is they are pretty tough,” Niu said. “There are going to be all kinds of kids that will be the best students.”

Besides academics and many activities including Key Club and German Club, Niu enjoys playing Wallyball with her parents and their friends.

Wallyball is a form of volleyball played in a racquetball room with no out of bounds.

“It’s a way to get to know my parents as teammates rather than parents,” she said.

Niu is the daughter of Fenghui Niu and Wei Zhou.

— Amy Potter


Chase Nowak

Chase Nowak possesses a virtue that is of increasing importance in today’s world: empathy.

“This trait of mine has always helped me stand up for others and myself during conflict and has helped me make well thought-out decisions,” Nowak said. “I am always someone who will stand up for the underdog.”

The trait developed early on in Nowak’s life, when he was exposed to grade-school bullies. “I was never one to bully; instead, I was the kid who would stand up to the bullies and stick up for my friends.”

Nowak lettered all four years on the debate team. He was involved in student council all four years, was elected president his junior year, and devoted countless hours to the various band organizations at Tonganoxie High School.

Outside school, Nowak enjoys meeting and honoring the members of Tonganoxie’s Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He is currently the post’s taps player and was honored to receive the post’s Exemplary Community Service Award.

Nowak recognizes that the plans of college freshmen can change many times. His current plan is to major in premedicine and eventually become a pediatrician.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping children, it just seems natural to want to make them feel better as well,” he said.

He plans to attend Kansas University for both pre-med and medical degrees.

Nowak is thankful to his Grandpa Bill for being such an excellent role model.

“I truly believe if I could become half the man he is today, I would be proud of myself.”

He is the son of Steven and Sharon Nowak.

— Joshua Vaughn


Aarika Greenfield

Aarika Greenfield is ahead of schedule.

“Due to the amount of hours that I have already earned through courses at the University of Kansas, I am planning on graduating from UMKC’s six-year medical program in four to five years, or Duke’s regular four-year undergraduate program in two to three years,” said Greenfield, a Baldwin High School senior.

The doctor-to-be is confident she will do well in either of the challenging programs.

“That’s one of the good things about the program at UMKC,” Greenfield said. “They have us watching a lot of procedures and surgeries on video. Plus, I lived on a farm and have seen a lot of stuff, so I don’t think I’ll get too squeamish.”

She certainly won’t be afraid of the hard work involved.

During her four years at Baldwin High, Greenfield maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and was the top student in her class. She has been awarded the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the 2001 Science Fair Judges’ Choice Award, and the Certificate of Appreciation from the American Red Cross for assistance with the tornadoes of May 2003.

As a first-year student of the Russian language, Greenfield performed in a play with third- and fourth-year students.

Greenfield spent some time in Australia last year participating in a leadership challenge program. “Australia was a wonderful experience. We spent time in Sydney and visited the Great Barrier Reef,” she said. “I also got the chance to meet all kinds of people I never would have met otherwise.”

She is the daughter of Mark and Jacqueline Greenfield.

— Joshua Vaughn


Ivan Sheu

Ivan Sheu possesses a litany of impressive accomplishments and stratospheric test scores that all border on the realm of fantasy. Fitting, because that is one of his favorite places to spend his hard-earned free time.

“It’s hard to say which ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie I liked the best,” said Sheu, a Free State High School senior. “I loved them all. The first was pretty good, but the last one did not really seem to follow the books as much.”

Sheu enjoys immersing himself in other fantasy worlds besides the one made famous by J.R.R. Tolkien. “I also enjoy reading the Riftwar saga by Raymond E. Feist, although not as many people have heard of that one.”

Sheu’s dream college is Stanford University, where he hopes to study premedicine. However, he will no doubt use the university’s vast resources to explore his other academic interests.

“At this point my goal is to become a physician or a pharmacist, though if possible, I am also interested in studying computer science as a hobby,” he said.

The fact Sheu’s hobbies and interests are as varied as they are speaks to the balanced nature of this 2004 Academic All-Star. His interests seem to focus on physical, academic and creative development. These interests include playing tennis, designing and developing Web pages, jogging, reading books and playing computer games. He also has enjoyed learning and playing the violin.

Family is important to him.

He has three brothers, one of which is his twin — and a nominee for the team.

“Having a reliable companion has been something to be grateful for,” Sheu said. “When the two of us accelerated a grade, we found it so much easier to adjust knowing that there would at least be one friendly face among our new classmates.”

He is the son of Albert Sheu and Jing-Ping Sheu.

— Joshua Vaughn


Ryan Robinson

Ryan Robinson can put something special and fairly unusual on his resumes and college applications.

Robinson is an Eagle Scout.

“Some things that you may not see on the outside every day or even notice about someone are all the things they have done and accomplished,” Robinson said. “I feel my most important characteristic is something most people never recognize. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout means a tremendous amount to me and has helped me realize what I can accomplish through hard work.”

It was years of hard work in school and throughout the community that landed Robinson on the Academic All-Star team.

Many impressive awards and achievements mark his days at Basehor-Linwood High School. He earned a 4.0 grade-point average as well as Academic Excellence Awards all four years of high school. He also lettered in track and football.

But perhaps the most impressive accolade is his award for four straight years of perfect attendance.

“After I received it my freshman year, it kind of became a goal, something to shoot for. Not many people do it, that’s for sure,” Robinson said. In four years he never once felt like taking a day off or calling in sick. “I just really like going to school, that’s all.”

What college is going to get that level of devotion?

“It’s not a concrete decision, but I plan to attend Kansas State University and major in a business-related field,” he said.

Wherever he goes, Robinson carries with him the confidence given to him as an Eagle Scout. “I know that I have the resourcefulness to react to any situation I come up against.”

He is the son of Ben and Deanna Robinson.

— Joshua Vaughn


Leah Overbaugh

When Leah Overbaugh was 16, she fell ill with Crohn’s disease, a gastrointestinal disorder. She underwent surgery and spent three weeks in the hospital; a year passed before she fully recovered.

The ordeal was a pivotal point in Overbaugh’s life.

“I became really set to do everything I wanted to do, and not waste a lot of time,” she said.

But Overbaugh was not someone who needed any extra motivation to excel.

“I was pretty determined to begin with,” she said.

Now, as a senior at McLouth High School, Overbaugh is a National Merit Scholar and ranks first in her class with a 4.0 grade-point average. She has served as an officer in National Honor Society, Art Club, and Future Business Leaders of America. She also is the Senior Class secretary.

In what little spare time she has, Overbaugh enjoys playing volleyball and painting. She has also been a member of the 4-H Club since 1993.

Overbaugh plans to attend the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, where she has been awarded a full academic scholarship.

Overbaugh said winning the scholarship was important because she may have been unable to afford college otherwise. She grew up in a lower middle-class household; her parents had a strong work ethic but never had the money to finish college themselves, she said.

At Saint Mary she will major in pre-med, with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician’s assistant. She said her experience with Crohn’s disease inspired her to pursue medicine. “I like figuring out how the body works,” she said.

Though she has achieved her dream of going to college, Overbaugh is in no danger of becoming complacent.

“I can’t stand to not do well,” she said.

She is the daughter of Rudy and Cindy Overbaugh.

— Deron Lee