AKRON – Four Tippecanoe Valley High School juniors were recognized at the school board meeting Monday. The four, Travis Shull, Olivia Trippedi, McKenzie Murphy and Meredith Broyette, were named Rising Stars of Indiana by the Indiana Association of School Principals. According to TVHS Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen, IASP initiated the program this year to encourage students with this special recognition. After the meeting, Bendicsen said, “It was a challenge for me to limit the number of students I nominated to four. When I asked the teachers for recommendations, there was a list of 12 to 16 students submitted to me.” Each Indiana high school was invited to recognize up to four students based on academic achievement. Of those nominated, 90 will be selected as regional winners by the IASP selection committee and 40 will be chosen as Indiana Academic All-Stars. Bendicsen said this is a “predictive” award. He indicated that the four TVHS nominees display leadership abilities, participate in community service, and are all athletes as well as having academic success. He said, “Some have overcome challenges.” Bendicsen also said, “It would be hard to avoid following the success of the four as they complete their junior year and become seniors. Each student received a certificate from the IASP.
