SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 2018 • KOKOMO TRIBUNE
SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
T
wo local high schools
were recognized as four-
star schools by the Indi-
ana Department of Educa-
tion.
Eastern and Western high
schools were both recognized
by the IDOE for excellence in
ISTEP pass rates, school grades
and high graduation rates.
The IDOE recognizes four-
star schools each year based on
several criteria.
Four-star schools have re-
ceived an “A” grade for the
2016-2017 school year, and
have achieved high pass rates
on ISTEP tests for grades 3-8
and 10.
Brad Fugett, principal of
Eastern High School, said he’s
excited his school received the
recognition, but it doesn’t
change anything with how the
school operates.
“It’s more of a recognition of
the hard work and the achieve-
ment that our students have
done more than how we grade
ourselves,” Fugett said. “We’re
happy to be recognized.”
Randy McCrackin, superinten-
dent of the Western School Cor-
poration, said he’s also proud of
his teachers and students.
“We’re also proud of our
other buildings who contribute
to the success of the high
school by preparing our stu-
dents,” McCrackin said.
The four-star school award
has been given by the IDOE
for 30 years, according to the
department.
“Receiving designation as a
Four Star School signifies a
pursuit of academic excellence
among students, educators, and
the administration,” said Jenni-
fer McCormick, Indiana super-
intendent of Public Education,
in a press release.
“I am honored to recognize
these Four Star Schools for
their hard work and dedication
in preparing their students for
a bright and prosperous fu-
ture.”
2 LOCAL SCHOOLS EARN 4 STAR RATINGS
BY HALEY CHURCH
KOKOMO TRIBUNE
S
cholarship, leadership and
talent embodied in Indi-
ana teen selected as Dis-
tinguished Young Woman
of America for 2018.
On Saturday, June 30,
Aaryan Morrison, of Kokomo,
was named the Distinguished
Young Woman of America for
2018 and presented with a
cash scholarship of $30,000 at
the conclusion of the Distin-
guished Young Women Na-
tional Finals in Mobile, Ala-
bama.
Morrison earned a $1,000
cash scholarship award for in-
terview and a $1,000 cash
scholarship for scholastics.
She was the first Howard
County contestant to represent
the state of Indiana in the com-
petition in 21 years.
“I’m so, so incredibly over-
whelmed. I’m trying very hard
to hold back tears right now,”
Morrison said shortly after win-
ning. “I’m so indebted to my
amazing support system for
helping me get here and keep-
ing my mood and energy up
throughout the week. I could
not have done it without them.”
Following that selection pro-
cess, which began at Indiana
University Kokomo’s Havens
Auditorium, Morrison traveled
to Mobile along with 49 other
state representatives to partici-
pate in community activities
and prepare for the 61st an-
nual national competition.
There she amassed a total of
$33,000 in cash scholarships
through her participation in
the Distinguished Young
Women program at the state
and national levels, the release
continued. In addition to serv-
ing as the national representa-
tive of Distinguished Young
Women for the next year, Mor-
rison will attend Harvard Uni-
versity and pursue a career as
a United Nations Development
Programme Administrator.
“I would like to one day
work for the United Nations,
but not as an ambassador. I’d
like to work in their humani-
tarian development program,
which works at the grassroots
level with initiatives all over
the world to help develop com-
munities — whether it’s helping
someone get back on their feet
after a natural disaster or other
circumstances,” Morrison told
the Tribune in February. “For
me specifically, I’d like to work
in sub-Saharan Africa and fo-
cus on women and children.
As a first generation Ameri-
can, Morrison said she is incred-
ibly passionate about Africa,
where her parents are from.
Morrison is the Kokomo
High School Class of 2018 salu-
tatorian. She is the daughter of
Bronwen and Kismet Morrison.
“The whole week has really
helped me realize that my sup-
port system is so strong right
here at home, and sometimes I
just forget about that because
I’m such a go-getter, do-it-by-
myself sort of type,” she said
back in February. “Having that
constant reminder that every-
body is behind me in this
community, from my friends
at the studio to my family, has
been really great.”
Begun in 1958, Distin-
guished Young Women has im-
pacted the lives of more than
765,000 young women. Its mis-
sion is to empower high school
young women by providing
scholarship opportunities, de-
veloping self-confidence and
teaching crucial life skills
needed for success in college
and beyond.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
KOKOMO GRADUATE NAMED 2018 DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA
EDUCATION
SPOTLIGHT
AND THE
WINNER IS:
Aaryan
Morrison
cries tears of
joy just after
finding out
she was
named the
Distinguished
Young
Woman of
America for
2018. (
Photo
provided)
