Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY – Whitko seniors received awards, honors and scholarships during the high school’s annual awards program Thursday evening..
Held in the gymnasium this year, Superintendent Dr. Amy Korus announced the awards, the award recipients and the award representatives before family and friends, according to a news release from Whitko Community Schools.
“Tonight is one of the most meaningful celebrations of the school year,” Korus said. “as we come together to recognize the hard work, leadership and accomplishments of our students. These students have demonstrated excellence, not only academically, also through their character, perseverance and commitment to Whitko and our communities.”
More than 40 scholarships were presented from universities, foundations, organizations, businesses, families and individuals who believe in investing in students.
The Class of 2026 honors and scholarship award winners are:
Alena Hindbaugh – Steel Dynamics Scholarship, Academic Honors, Top 10%, Whitko Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship, Whitko Scholarship Fund
Alex Platt, Alexus Craun, Brooklyn Thomas, Caden Abbott, Kalli Hapner, Kendal Bollinger, Luis Anaya, Sophie Augustus – Blood Drive Cords
Alivia Anderson – Academic and Technical Honors; Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech
Caden Deneve – Mick Bishop Award
Caitlin Beer – Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech, Top 10%
Carmine Gayheart – Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech, Academic and Technical Honors, Whitko Scholarship Fund
Caspian Love – Academic and Technical Honors, Blood Drive Cords
Catherine Deckena – Academic Honors
Caylee Clark – Blood Drive Cords, Ernie Lee Wallen Memorial Scholarship, Whitko Scholarship Fund, Delta Theta Tau - Theta Kappa Chapter, Cleveland Township Fire Department
Ella Thomas – Academic Honors, Top 10%; Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech, Semper Fidelis Award, Pierceton Chamber Scholarship
Ethan Yates – Academic and Technical Honors; Ed Pequignot Award, Ted and Loretta Easterday Legacy Award, Distinguished Athlete Award, Justin Hostetler Award, Whitko Scholarship Fund, Steven L Sickafoose Memorial Scholarship, Cleveland Township Fire Department
Grace Burnworth – Academic and Technical Honors, Blood Drive Cords, South Whitley Community Facilities, Whitko Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship, Justin Hostetler
Grace Shoemaker – Blood Drive Cords, Max and Kathryn Beigh Educational Endowment Fund
Hannah Moore – Pierceton Chamber Scholarship; Ernie Lee Wallen Memorial Scholarship, Homer J. Shoop Memorial Scholarship; Larwill Lions Scholarship; Justin Hostetler Scholarship, Whitko Scholarship Fund; Pierceton American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship
Jacob Forshtay – Marine Corps
Jessica Kajune – DeMoney Grimes Life Science; South Whitley Community Facilities; Simon and Donna Dragan Scholarship; Orizon Real Estate/Ducks Unlimited; SRC Scholarship; Justin Hostetler
Kira Sordelet – Salutatorian, Top 10%; Academic Honors, Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech, Ted Eugene & Mary Alice Long Award, Blood Drive Cords, Steel Dynamics Scholarship
Kyara Gibson – Academic Honors, Whitko Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship; Larwill Lions Scholarship
Landon Smith – Technical Honors, Eppelmann Family Memorial Scholarship
Lillian Coil – Technical Honors; Indiana Core Certificate and Associate’s in Criminal Justice
Lillie Sickafoose – Valedictorian; Top 10%; Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech; Academic and Technical Honors, Scholastic Excellence Award, Active Impact Scholarship, Keystone Cooperative Scholarship; Whitley County Farm Bureau Scholarship; B.V. and Flossie Widney Memorial Scholarship; Gene C. Carter Memorial Scholarship; Philip and Leta Shriver Scholarship; Ag Plus Craig Sherbahn Annual Memorial Scholarship; Whitko Scholarship Fund; LuAnn Warner Memorial
Reese Stonebraker – Top 10%; Academic and Technical Honors, Ted & Loretta Easterday Legacy Award; Tenney Family Scholarship; Pierceton Chamber Scholarship; Whitko Scholarship Fund
Ryan Rose – Top 10%; Academic Honors; Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech
Sally Meyer – Academic Honors, Indiana Core Certificates, Ivy Tech; Whitko Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship
Taylor Long – Top 10%; Academic and Technical Honors, Homer J. Shoop Memorial Scholarship; Justin Hostetler Scholarship; Whitko Scholarship Fund
