NHS President Wilmot’s Outstanding Senior
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
It’s the end of the school year which means it’s time for senior pictures San Antonio, school prom, and award season! After a long, hard year, it’s always good to celebrate these things.
According to Wilmot Union High School instructor Gina Greil, senior Sawyer Wightman has gone above and beyond, helping those in the community while balancing sports and academic achievements.
Wightman, who plans to pursue a pediatric oncology career, was selected as Westosha Report’s Outstanding Senior among four nominated by the school.
The selection committee included an advertising sales representative and two other Southern Lakes Newspapers editors.
Greil, the Project Lead the Way teacher, recalls the time she met Wightman as a sophomore, and followed her progression up to National Honor Society President as a senior.
“Sawyer’s enthusiasm for her school is contagious,” said Greil, noting Wightman is from Burlington. “She is very involved in our community even while living in Burlington.”
Community involvement includes volunteering at the Sharing Center in Trevor, assisting at Burlington-based Love, Inc. and in the Nate Walter 5K run.
Furthermore, she served as a developmental volleyball coach for three years while achieving the balance of being No. 7 in her class, and earning varsity letters in volleyball and softball.
Her leadership qualities yielded her the title of girls volleyball team captain of the since her sophomore year, where she accrued a school record 1,012 digs through her four years as a varsity letter-winner.
Additionally, she persevered on the softball diamond, playing through a rare shoulder ailment that hindered her ability to throw as the Lady Panthers’ second baseman.
The shoulder required surgery, which left her out her entire season, with exception to Senior Night where she received a one-game medical clearance and batted 1 for 3.
Aside from community and athletic involvement, she also made contributions to the school, including membership on Link Crew, Be The Change Team, HOSA and supported the Panthers’ wrestling squad as team manager.
As she ventures towards higher education at Ferris State University where she earned an honors scholarship, she has two missions.
“I will be attending school in Michigan to play softball while studying to accomplish my dreams of working in the medical field,” Wightman stated in her application.
Wightman’s achievements would not be possible without the support of her parents, Craig and Tina and sisters Paige and Rylee.
“I would like to thank my amazing family and friends, as well as the awesome leaders and coaches for all the support and motivation throughout the years,” Wightman said.
While she forges ahead, Greil stated her absence will be felt next year, but noted Wightman has been one of the bright spots of her career.
“She is one of those kids who makes you want to be a better teacher,” Greil stated. “I’m really going to miss her in the halls at Wilmot.”
Other nominees for Outstanding Senior were, in alphabetical order, Rebecca Alter, Brendan Buhler and Emily Walter.
Rebecca Alter, the senior class president, is a four-year letter-winner in cross country and track, where she was a state qualifier.
When she was not on the track, Alter earned marks on the Honor Roll while becoming a scholar-athlete.
Throughout her Wilmot career, she was named Homecoming Queen and had been involved in Link Crew and won back-to-back National titles in HOSA competitions.
Alter, of Trevor, is the daughter of Ruthann and Jerry.
Like Wightman, Alter plans to pursue a degree in the medical field, starting with an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Brendan Buhler collected several achievements in state, national and international FBLA and DECA competitions while earning a 4.2 grade point average, No. 5 in the senior class.
In FBLA, where Buhler was a four-year member, he served as chapter president his junior year and vice president in both his sophomore and senior years.
For DECA, he served as Chapter President his junior year and vice president his sophomore and senior years.
On the state level, he held the title of vice president of brand management and had been a national officer candidate.
Outside the classroom, he volunteered at the Sharing Center, Special Olympics and also as a peer tutor.
The senior business leader added part-time jobs at Dairy Queen and Harvest Time Orchards.
The son of Laura and Roland Buhler, he expects to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where he plans to double major in marketing and international business.
Emily Walter, daughter of Scott and Michelle of Twin Lakes, earned accolades on the Honor Roll and received a New Freshman Scholarship to UW-Green Bay, where she expects to pursue a career in environmental science and engineering.
The four-year honor student remained actively engaged in the community, including two years with the Civil Air Patrol, Relay for Life committee for one year and continues involvement at Wilmot United Methodist Church.
Walter mixed community involvement with athletic participation, where she was on cross-country (four years), track (three years), trap shooting for five years and lettered one of the five. Additionally, she added arts to her arsenal that included four-year involvement in band including her role as president senior year, three years in the fall play, one year in forensics, state champion in a poetry contest, three years in the jazz band.
Like Wightman, she also demonstrated support for Panther wrestlers as the team manager and statistician for three years.