By Patricia Bogumil
Editor Emeritus
The nominees for this year’s Outstanding Senior award at Union Grove High School are Miranda Dam, Olivia Wilde, McKenna Wisch and Bret Wolter.
All four candidates were nominated by high school staff for consideration for the award. Staff at the Westine Report then reviewed each student’s application and made the selection.
All four nominees for this year’s honor have worked hard in high school, excelling in their coursework, donating tons of time and talent to community service and developing themselves into young adults their parents and community can be proud of.
After careful consideration by staff, the Westine Report selects Bret Wolter as the Outstanding Senior for the Class of 2015.
He is the son of Mary and James Wolter, Caledonia, and will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year, studying chemical and biological systems engineering.
Wolter has been on the high school’s academic “A” Honor Roll each term all four years. He was named a 2014 Racine County Sports Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete and ran on the Broncos’ cross country varsity team all four years, and three years on the varsity track and field team.
Looking back, Wolter said one of the most important decisions he made in high school occurred even before he started class his freshman year.
Wolter said his decision to run cross country and track made a huge impact on his success in high school.
Running practice starts in the summer before classes begin, Wolter explained, so he entered high school with the support of a group of new friends he met in cross country.
“Running really helps with discipline,” he added, explaining that learning to work very hard even while uncomfortable is a trait that also helps when doing school work.
Wolter’s acquaintance with runners in other schools also developed connections that stretch beyond high school. Wolter’s roommate at Madison next year will be a fellow runner and friend from Wilmot High School.
He credits his parents for their support in helping him do well in high school and also gives a shout-out to three teachers: Polly Wiedoff, his calculus teacher and Key Club advisor; Aleid Allen, Advanced Placement biology; and Heidi Edwards.
“We have a lot of great teachers,” he said, “but these are special for me.”
Looking to the future, Wolter said he’d like to get involved in undergraduate research and later do post-grad field studies with biological systems and chemistry that are connected to his engineering degree.
“I’m very interested in genetically modified organisms,” he said, a field he believes has huge potential for important work in determining how these organisms impact humans in both positive and negative ways.
“I hope to have the opportunity to contribute something self-transcending in the next four years at a large research university and intend on attending graduate school to prepare myself for larger contributions to the world,” he said.
Miranda Dam is the daughter of Holly and Tuan Dam, Caledonia. She looks forward to attending UW-Madison next fall to study biology, with possibly a background in the fine arts in order to pursue her interest in becoming a published author.
“I then plan to apply for admission into medical school and become a pediatric oncologist,” Dam said.
Although becoming a medical doctor is a difficult path requiring many years of schooling and much financial debt, “I believe this profession is truly a way to make a difference in this world, and I am willing to work as hard as I must to fulfill my potential in the medical field,” she said.
Among her many accomplishments in high school, Dam has been on the high school’s “A” Honor Roll all four years, receiving academic letters and medals those years. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Forensics team, Key Club, Student Council and Science Club.
Dam has participated in varsity tennis three years, helping the Broncos win two consecutive conference championships.
At her church, she was elected to the parish council as a youth representative; volunteered as a first-grade religious education teacher; served on a mission trip to aid the underprivileged; and volunteered through Wheaton Franciscan Hospital’s “volunteen” program.
Olivia Wilde is the daughter of Paula and Kevin Wilde, Racine. She looks forward to attending the University of Southern Indiana this fall, majoring in engineering with a dual degree or minor in chemistry.
Her future goals include becoming an engineer. “I enjoy problem solving,” she explained, “and I want to use the knowledge I attain to help improve society, even if it is in small ways.
“I also feel it is important to give back to my community. I hope to be a person that others respect and look up too.”
Wilde said she hopes that, in attaining a long, happy and successful career as an engineer, she’ll inspire younger people who also are aspiring to get a degree in the engineering field.
Among her many accomplishments in high school are earning the distinction of class salutatorian; four years on the “A” honor roll; member of the National Honor Society, Math Academic Bowl Team, Science Club; and volunteering as a teacher’s assistant.
In sports, Wilde has participated in varsity volleyball and soccer.
She has also been a Junior Achievement volunteer at Union Grove Elementary and Yorkville Elementary schools; and a volunteer for the Volunteer Center of Racine, Relay for Life, Regency Mall gift wrapper, Ridgewood Senior Center, assistant volleyball coach for 7th grade at St. Catherine’s Middle School and a variety of fundraising activities.
McKenna Wisch is the daughter of John Wisch and Katy Flynn Wisch, Racine.
She looks forward to attending UW-Madison this fall to study pharmacy and minor in creative writing.
But, before then, she will be touring this summer with a professional Irish dance company and collaborating and choreographing with Irish dance legend, Colin Dunne. She will also be continuing work with the company in college.
Wisch is a head show captain and student teacher with the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and holds competitive rankings for Irish dance, including as a Top Ten soloist in North America, winning with the MidAmerican Regionals team, and qualifying and competing at the World Championships on multiple occasions.
She has performed at international music and dance festivals in France and Italy and also volunteers to dance at local events and assisted living centers.
Among her many accomplishments in high school are four years on the “A” honor roll; two-year membership in the National Honor Society and Academic Bowl team; volunteering as a tutor for chemistry and advanced placement chemistry; Science Club member; and recipient of the Southern Lakes Conference Academic Excellence Award and Milwaukee Brewers Student Achievement Award.
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