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.

Ten years ago, the 2004 Academic All Star team included students with a diverse set of interests, from literature buffs to political junkies; aspiring artists and future doctors.

In the 10 years since, those students have literally scattered to the four winds. The Journal-World staff caught up with as many as they could to find out where they are today, what they are doing and in some cases what advice they can offer to this year’s class of Academic All Stars.

Faye Cassell

Then: At Ottawa High School, Faye was described as “a literature and theater aficionado” who ranked at the top of her class all four years. She planned at the time to attend either Tulane University or the University of Miami and major in chemistry. She was active in 12 clubs and extracurricular activities from debate to Military Club. She also volunteered at the local hospital and helped out at the local visitors center.

Now: Faye is a high school social studies teacher at Norton South High School in the Boston suburb of Norton, Mass. She ended up going to Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., where she double-majored in Middle Eastern studies and history. After graduating with honors, she joined the Peace Corps and worked in a Berber village in Morocco where she taught English, organized sports, created a women’s literacy program and served as a camp counselor. Upon her return, she earned a master’s degree in secondary history education from Brown University in Rhode Island. Now in her second year of teaching, she says it’s “single-handedly the hardest thing I’ve ever done — harder than finishing my BA and MA theses, harder than the Peace Corps.”

Advice: First, “be open to any and all experiences. When I graduated high school, I thought I was sure I was going to be a chemistry major. Then, by the end of college I was sure I was going to get my doctorate in Middle Eastern Studies. It really wasn’t until I spent several years doing things that I realized what I was interested in.”

Second, “be mindful of student debt. I chose both Fordham and Brown over more prestigious schools because they gave me substantial financial assistance. I could not have been happier at both places. Graduating college debt-free gave me more freedom in my post-graduation options, such as working for the Peace Corps for free for two years. I realize this isn’t the most thrilling advice ever, but as a high school teacher, I see many students making bad financial choices because of the allure of their ‘dream school’ without considering the long-term financial consequences.”

Karen (Bentley) Steward

Then: As a student at Lawrence High School, Karen was an avid political buff and looked forward to a career in government service. It was something she became fascinated with following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “The way things unfolded on a national and international level really opened my eyes to a lot of things.” During her senior year, she co-founded the student group Teenage Republicans and was active in many other activities, especially band and Model United Nations. Outside school, she taught Vacation Bible School, served on the Lawrence Sesquicentennial Committee and volunteered at the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University. She also volunteered with preschoolers at the Lawrence Arts Center. And while she hadn’t firmly decided where to attend college, she was leaning heavily toward KU, where she hoped to major in political science and economics.

Now: Karen did end up going to KU, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in strategic communication. She earned a master’s in public policy at George Mason University in Washington, D.C., and now lives and works in the D.C. area, serving as director of messaging at The Public Notice, an independent, nonprofit advocacy group that engages in public campaigns on tax and economic issues.

Lisa Smelser

Then: Creative and unconventional. That was Lisa as a teenager at McLouth High School where she was often found trying to turn “trash into treasure,” like the plastic razor blade cartridge she turned into a feeding trough for a toy horse barn that she gave to a friend. But there was more than whimsy in her work. As part of the Earthwatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program, she spent two weeks helping with research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. She also collected real-life stories from women who worked in factories during World War II and compiled them into a book. She planned at the time to attend Kansas University and major in jewelry design and metal smithing.

Now: Smelser said she was a little startled to realize her 10-year class reunion was coming up so soon. She is now living in Winchester, north of Lawrence, where she recently started her own business making jewelry. She did attend KU, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in May 2008.

Advice: “I don’t want to say you should take any opportunities you can. There are bad opportunities you should say no to. Make the most of whatever you’re doing, wherever you’re doing it. Make the most of your time and the most of your effort.”

Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Ott

Then: As a student at Free State High School, “Ellie” was the top student in her class, co-captain of the tennis team that qualified to the state tournament and the senior class treasurer. And those were just some of her activities. She was also known for having a sweet tooth, especially when it came to peanut butter sandwiches with sprinkles. But she said at the time that academics were always her first priority. When the Academic All Stars were announced, she hadn’t yet decided on a college but was leaning toward Princeton or the University of Virginia, with plans to major in chemistry.

Now: Ellie is now a Rhodes Scholar, studying at Oxford University, focusing on refugee issues. She currently working on a doctorate in social intervention. She earned a master’s degree there in refugee studies after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in chemistry, French and history.

Advice: “My advice would be to surround yourself with great people. No great accomplishment is done alone.”

Aarika (Greenfield) Menees

Then: As a student at Baldwin City High School, Aarika was on the fast track to success, enrolling in college classes at Kansas University while still in high school. Her aim at the time was to enroll at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s six-year medical school program. In four years of high school she maintained a perfect 4.0 grade average, graduating at the top of her class. She also had 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 helping out with the tornadoes of May 2003.

Now: Aarika did, in fact, complete the UMKC medical program. While there, she also met the man who is now her husband, Spencer Menees, originally from Salt Lake City. Both are now finishing their residency programs in ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and are scouting locations to set up practices when they finish the program in June.

Advice: Speaking by phone from California, where she was enjoying one of her rare vacations, Aarika said, “I think it’s important to always be true to yourself.” And as someone who, at least so far, has done almost exactly what she set out to do, she cautioned students not to be afraid to change their minds. “Some goals stay the same, but some change and it’s OK if they change.”