NEW PALESTINE — Two of the top 40 students in the state during the 2020-21 school year are from Hancock County.
New Palestine High School senior Aubrey Campbell and Eastern Hancock High School senior Lainie Lawrence have been selected as Indiana Academic All-Stars by the Indiana Association of School Principals.
Forty students across Indiana earn the award each year. Students must display academic excellence in the classroom; be involved in organizations supporting their school or community; and take leadership roles within those organizations to be considered.
Aubrey and Lainie were thrilled to be selected to represent their schools. Aubrey plans to study nursing at IUPUI; Lainie wants to be a chemical engineer.
For Aubrey, learning she was chosen for the award was one of those surreal moments and something she didn’t expect, despite all her hard work.
“I was really excited to hear about it and was kind of proud,” Aubrey said. “It really is a great honor and kind of came as a shock to actually get it.”
Officials informed her New Palestine High School hadn’t had an Academic All-Star in some 30 years.
Aubrey credits educators at NPHS, whose teaching approach fits her learning style. She cited Lisa Harden, a math teacher, as one of the people she recognized as an “influential educator” in an essay she submitted to be considered for the award.
Aubrey is currently second in her class, with a 4.27 GPA, and will be speaking during commencement exercises in May. She never thought that would happen.
“I’m not the most well-known student in our class, so this is all pretty interesting to me,” Aubrey said.
Her high school career has been busy. Aubrey was involved in marching, pep and concert bands, playing the clarinet and the bassoon. She also participated in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir since 2012.
Lainie, who also has a 4.27 GPA at Eastern Hancock, is headed to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She, too, was surprised at being selected when she considered the outstanding students across the state, even though she was named last year as a Rising Star by the association.
Rising Stars of Indiana is a non-competitive recognition program designed to honor high school juniors for their academic achievement. Each Indiana high school can recognize up to four individual students as the best and the brightest up-and-coming seniors. The students then have a chance to be an Academic All-Star their final year of high school.
“Last year they told me I was considered a ‘Rising Star’ and might have a chance at this, but I wasn’t sure I was going to get it,” Lainie said. “Being selected as one of the Top 40 in the state this year is immense. I still can’t fathom it.”
A self-proclaimed “nerd” who loves to learn, Lainie has prided herself on being a perfectionist when it comes to getting top grades.
“My A’s are my thing,” she said with a laugh.
Lainie has been part of the student council and the school’s language arts and math academic teams and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“That’s all been so much fun with us nerds uniting having a grand old time,” Lainie said.
She loves to bake and spends a lot of time volunteering, and she is a member of VOICE, the state’s anti-tobacco program for students. Lainie is also a 10-year member of the Hancock County 4-H program.
She was also awarded one of the prestigious Lilly Scholarships in December.
Lainie also named a influential educator from Eastern Hancock in her essay application, but she didn’t want to identify the teacher until the award is handed out in May.
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Rising Stars of Indiana honors high school juniors for their academic achievement. Here are the Rising Stars of Hancock County’s Class of 2022:
Eastern Hancock High School
Gracie Beaudry
Noah Coachard
Isaac Lewis
Luke McCartney
Greenfield-Central High School
Elizabeth Coleman
Allison Lowe
Lauren Silcox
Josh VanOsdol
Mt. Vernon High School
Riley Britt
Kiley Hunziker
Molly Reece
Lillian Woolston
New Palestine High School
Alex Alonzo
Zachary Au
Sophia Schroer
Luke Whitaker
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Academic All-Star distinction recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom and who also are actively involved in their schools and communities, and take on leadership roles in those activities. The program, now in its 35th year, is run by the Indiana Association of School Principals, with support provided by DePauw University, Indiana University Bloomington, and Purdue University.
Selection of schools’ nominees is based upon the following considerations
–The student’s transcript, with a focus on advanced placement, dual credit, international baccalaureate and advanced college placement classes taken/grades received
–Academic achievements and honors, academic courses and academic extracurricular activities
–Other extracurricular activities, community service and leadership qualities.
Student awards will be presented in May with plaques.
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