The Top 10 students will help lead the May 24 graduation ceremonies at 7 p.m. for the 228 members of the TKHS Class of 2018. The 228 members of the Thornapple Kellogg High School Class of 2018 will graduate at 7 p.m. May 24. Ceremonies will take place in the stadium, weather permitting, or move into the gymnasium, if necessary.
Adam Johansen, the top academic student in the class, will give the opening welcome to his classmates, with Liz Cutlip giving the senior class address. Cass Kramer will introduce guest speaker TKHS teacher Cary Saxton.
Tess Scheidel, the student with the second highest grade point average, will give the closing remarks, followed by Sam Ogrodzinski leading the tassel ceremony.
The top 10 students for the class, in alphabetical order, includes:
Chloe Adams – Adams is a member of National Honor Society and has volunteered at Kid's Food Basket.
She enjoys reading, photography, kayaking, spending time with family and friends, going to the beach and playing piano. She enjoys studying anatomy, biology and physiology.
She lists her greatest accomplishment in high school as being named among the top 10 in her class.
Adams plans to attend Michigan State University to major in human biology. She then intends to pursue a master's degree and become a physician's assistant.
Adam Johanson – Johanson has been involved in Science Olympiad, Vex Robotics, FIRST Robotics for four years, Environmental Action Council and National Honor Society. He has participated in the EAC-sponsored cleanup of Chief Noonday Road and a segment of hiking trail off the road. He's assisted the TKHS library in hosting the Google CS First Program, introducing local elementary students to computer science, and assisted in running and organizing a program at Star School in Hastings, teaching basic computer science using Lego Robotics kits.
His hobbies include robotics, mathematics, computer science and assisting the community and environment.
He lists his greatest accomplishments at TK as actively pursuing and excelling in honors and Advanced Placement classes during high school.
Johanson plans to attend the University of Michigan for computer science and hopes to obtain a masters or Ph.D. in order to pursue a career in research.
Cass Kramer – Kramer has been active in Science Olympiad, Environmental Action Council, BPA, and National Honor Society. He received the AP Scholar Award and was named to the Grand Rapids Community College President's List.
Outside of school, he does a lot of volunteer work in the community and is an Eagle Scout.
He enjoys hiking, camping and skiing.
Kramer lists his greatest accomplishment in high school as being able to take dual enrollment and several AP classes.
He plans to attend Stanford University to pursue a mathematics degree.
Megan Logan –Logan has been active in National Honor Society, jazz band, symphonic band, marching band and ski club.
She enjoys spending time with her dog and skiing.
She lists her greatest accomplishment in high school as auditioning for and being accepted into the high school jazz band.
Logan plans to enter the Frederick Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University but has not yet determined a major course of study.
Sam Ogrodzinski – Ogrodzinski has been in marching band and jazz band and participated in seven theater productions. He has been a member of Business Professionals of America, Environmental Action Council, Science Olympiad, National Honor Society and was a member of the cross country and track teams.
He has received the student of the month award several times and earned a Donor for Life award for volunteer time at blood drives.
Outside of school he works as a blood drive coordinator for National Honor Society, helped set up the Thornapple Arts Foundation Jazz Festival, participated in the Grand Rapids Youth Fire Academy, helped raise funds in support of veterans at the annual Stripes and Stripes Veteran Fundraiser and participated two years at the Aquinas Jazz Camp.
His hobbies include being with family, playing music, being part of the community, tapping maple trees for sap with his father. He also is interested in learning Spanish to further help the community.
Among his accomplishments in high school are being a blood drive coordinator, receiving fifth-place honors at the state BPA, maintaining a high GPA while balancing extracurricular activities, becoming a member of NHS, taking many AP and honors courses and being a member of the jazz band.
He plans to attend Michigan State University to major in neuroscience and hopes to later attend medical school and become a doctor.
Maddisen Robirds – Robirds has been active in cross country, earning the most improved athlete award. She has been honored as an NHS member and by being named student of the month and Rotary student of the month.
Robirds has volunteered at Middleville's Heritage Day event and Kids Food Basket on several occasions.
Her hobbies include reading, running, spending time with family, camping and bike riding.
She lists her greatest accomplishment in high school as her academic success and receiving all A's and AP credits.
She plans to attend the University of Michigan to major in biomedical engineering.
Tess Scheidel – Scheidel has been active in many high school sports during her four years. She played four years of soccer, earning the Lady Trojan Character Award, individual Academic All-State, and served two years as team captain. She played four years of basketball being named All Barry-County player for two years and serving as team captain. She also played two years of volleyball and two years of cross country. She is the vice president of the National Honor Society, is an MHSAA Scholar Athlete Class A finalist, participated in the Close-Up trip to Washington, D.C., was named student of the month four times and was honored as a Rotary student of the month.
Her activities include Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentor, Teens Against Tobacco Use, volunteer worker for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, volunteer coach for fifth and sixth-grade girls’ basketball, and is an active member at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church.
She enjoys reading, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, playing sports, and spending time outdoors hiking, going to the beach and hammocking.
She lists her greatest accomplishment at TKHS as being able to balance a hectic academic schedule including taking several AP classes while being a three-sport athlete. She also is proud of being a top 10 student.
She will attend Grand Valley State University in the Frederik Meijer Honors College where she plans to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences.
Emma Shea – Shea has been active in high school sports. She was an Academic All-State student in volleyball; earned the most valuable player award for track in 2016 and 2017; was conference champion in the discus in 2017; All-Region honors in long jump, shot put, and discus in 2016 and 2017; Gull Lake Invitational Champion in 2017 and 2018; National Honor Society secretary; and earned highest academic honors.
Outside of school, she has been involved in 4-H, St. Cyril choir and served as a Pennock volunteer.
She enjoys photography, hiking, reading and dogs.
Shea lists her greatest accomplishments in high school as being the OK Gold Conference champion in discus, being named All-State Academic in volleyball and earning highest academic honors.
She plans to attend Hillsdale College where she will compete as a heptathlete for the women's track team. She plans to study theology and biology.
Breann Stahl –Stahl has been active in high school, playing tennis her freshman year, and cross country and track her senior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, earned student of the month honors, attended the Close-Up trip and is a member of the TK Packers. She also has been teaching sign language.
She is a four-year member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, was hockey captain for four years, plays lacrosse, enjoys babysitting and assists a former elementary teacher in the classroom. She also visits patients at Thornapple Manor.
Her hobbies and interests include traveling, music, sign language, playing and coaching hockey, and training, playing with and taking her dog for runs.
She lists her greatest accomplishments in high school as knowing she gave her all and was involved with her community, built relations with teachers, and made great memories.
Her future plans include attending Michigan State University where she hopes to study medicine to become an ear, nose and throat doctor so she can perform cochlear implants. She also hopes to continue using sign language, coaching and refereeing girls’ hockey and training service or therapy dogs.
Brianna Vanderstelt – Vanderstelt has been involved in the French club, Art club and Science Olympiad. She also spends a lot of time volunteering at animal shelters.
She enjoys horseback riding, writing, concerts and music, and sleeping.
She lists her greatest accomplishment in high school is growing throughout her high school years into a person she can be proud of being.
Vanderstelt plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to major in psychology and minor in criminology. She hopes to work in the prison system.