The Western Wayne School District is very proud of two of its 2015 alumni who soon will serve our country in the military.

Timothy Shaffer has been attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida and participating in Air Force ROTC Detachment 157 for the last four years.  He recently graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics.  He earned a pilot slot in his junior year and will be stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, next year to begin pilot training.  Upon graduation of pilot training, he intends to fly an F-35.

His former classmate Kyle Coons attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for 4 years, graduating as a Second Lieutenant in the Army with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at VMI, he marched in President Trump’s Inauguration Parade in Washington, DC along with the Governor of Virginia’s inaugural parade in Richmond, VA. He presented the colors at Martinsville Speedway for a NASCAR race and was part of a committee within the corps of cadets named the RDC, this group helps freshmen get accustomed to the VMI system.  He will be first stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. His first duty station will be Fort Drum, New York.

Both recent graduates credit their time at Western Wayne as one of the reasons they found success in their four years at their respective institutions. 

“All of my teachers were great at Western Wayne,” Tim said.  “The math and science departments in the high school especially prepared me for school. I have done really well in math and science in college.”

Kyle agrees that his time at Western Wayne helped to prepare him for his time at VMI.

“I learned leadership skills from serving as the captain of both the football team and volleyball team,” Kyle explained.  “Also, my AP classes taught me good study habits.”

Tim and Kyle had different collegiate experiences but each have the same end result of being prepared and ready to enter the military in their respective branches.

Tim’s experience at Embry-Riddle allowed him to have a normal university experience of attending his classes and being involved in other on-campus school activities along with his military training three days a week. He explained how it was a very equal blend.

Kyle’s experience was different in the respect that his college experience was immersed in military training every day in various ways.  He explained how the students dressed in military attire at all times while on campus along with training each day and going to their college classes. 

These two, very accomplished, Western Wayne alumni have a great mutual respect for one another and are proud of each other’s college achievements.  They explained how they chose to pursue becoming service men through different avenues but that they both learned so much already and feel prepared to continue their military training.

Tim feels excited to start his journey at Columbus Air Force Base this spring.

“I am really proud to be able to do what I’m doing,” Tim said.  “I know a lot of other people would want to be doing it.”

He is eager to learn more about aviation and explained that the feeling he gets on a flight is incredibly exciting.

“I remember one solo flight I did in college that was special,” Tim explained.  “It was right before the sun came up.  I was flying from Daytona Beach south past Kennedy Space Center.”

In addition, Tim feels very excited to be able to use the skills he learned in college when he starts his pilot training for the Air Force.

“I have always had a love for aviation that I couldn’t explain,” Tim said.  “I have also always been fascinated, from when I was younger, with American history and events such as Pearl Harbor.”

Kyle also is eager to begin his field artillery training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  His first duty station will be in Fort Drum, New York.  He feels he has learned a lot about leadership from his time at VMI that he will use in the future.

“VMI taught me that good leaders are confident with their decisions,” Kyle explained.  “I have also learned to lead by example.”

Western Wayne, faculty, administration, and staff wish Tim and Kyle the best with their future endeavors along with thanking them for serving our country.

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A trip around the world, a mystical forest, an animal kingdom, and the 60s era are just a few of the adventures you can take through the senior art displays at Western Wayne’s Annual Art Exhibit starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the high school gym.  The event is open to the public free of charge along with a free concert performed by the high school chorus and band at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

          The entire gym will be transformed into an art gallery featuring 13 senior art portfolios among many other pieces created by students in the high school program. The portfolios will be judged and winners will be posted along with awards given for best overall displays.

          One senior excited to have her portfolio displayed at the exhibit is Rachel Butler.  Her portfolio has the theme of traveling around the world.

          “My fascination with nature and cultures around the world has been my inspiration for my senior art display,” Rachel, who plans to study engineering at Penn State University next year, explained.  “I want to convey the feelings I get observing animals all over the world, along with each unique place.  For my senior display, I incorporated the places I have visited and the many destinations I hope to experience.”

          Her family has greatly influenced Rachel’s journey as an artist.

          “As I was growing up, my mother was always using her photographic and artistic skills around me.  This is where my inspiration to create arts had stemmed from,” Rachel explained.  “Over the years, I’ve realized I can use my creative side to bring happiness and joy to brighten someone’s day just by doing something I love.  My grandfather is one of my main supports of my art, he is always wondering what I’m working on and asking when the next art exhibition is so he can attend.”

          Rachel’s family members will be sure to enjoy her display along with that of many other talented seniors including Dayla Jones whose display features animals.

          “From domesticated to exotic, I have chosen a range of different animals for my portfolio. My love for animals does not just stop at your average pet,” Dayla, who plans to study conservation and wildlife management and minor in zoology at Delaware Valley College next year, explained.  “I wanted to bring my dream of becoming a wildlife rehabilitator and conservationist into each one of my pieces. Whether it be a regular, smelly skunk or the endangered snow leopard, all animals deserve the same compassion and care. I put this compassion and care into each of my works of art.”

          Dayla’s classmate, fellow senior, Kat Moore also puts a lot of passion into her love for the arts at Western Wayne.  She is an accomplished musician who served as one of this year’s Wildcat Marching Band drum majors and has won many awards for her music along with playing in music groups at Marywood University. 

          Kat explained that she likes to incorporate music into all of her artwork in some way or another.

          “It can be a song title, an instrument, or a musician,” Kat explained.  “My senior display revolves around music focused on the 60s era which I really enjoy.”

          Kat furthered described her inspirations for her artwork.

          “I wish to live a very colorful life, traveling and experiencing as much as I can. This is reflected in my art as I enjoy incorporating lots of vibrant colors into my pieces and/or focus on using a dominant color,” Kat, who plans to study music education at Ithaca College in the fall, said. “When deciding the theme of my display, I immediately thought of the heavy impact music has in my life. Music and art have the ability to convey a wide range of ideas and bring out a variety of emotions in everyone. This realization has forced me to continue to create art as it has the capability to bring out the best in me.”

          Another featured senior who believes that art has brought out the best of her in her life is Melody Gershey.  Melody’s senior display can be described as a mystical forest. Her mural which the display features is a mystical waterfall with a unicorn by it.

          “Ever since I was little, I have had a mystical view of the world. I have always wanted to believe that anything is possible, but as I grew older reality hit me, along with lots of working and bills,” Melody, who plans to study cosmetology at Empire Beauty School next year, explained.   “With art, I am able to keep my childish beliefs alive because with art, anything is possible. My portfolio consists of landscapes from summer, fall, and winter, then split into daytime and nighttime pieces. My daytime pieces are realistic. These pieces represent people who have drifted away from their imagination or artists who have lost their inspiration. Through my nighttime pieces, I explore surrealism. These pieces are for those few who still believe that anything is possible and haven’t been sucked into the drab of reality.”

          The entire Western Wayne community cordially invites the community to their annual Art Exhibit and Spring Concert.  It’s the perfect place to take your mind off reality for a bit and enjoy the work of these talented student artists starting at 1 p.m. in the high school gym along with enjoying music sung and played by our excellent chorus and band with a concert starting at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.  Both events are free of charge.