Discus Award Winner
Winners Gallery
PHOTOS
Paul Barnhart
12th Grade, IN
ATTRIBUTES
Academics
A strong academic performance has always been important to me, and I’ve strived to study hard and take challenging classes. I currently have a 4.16 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale because I’ve taken Honors and AP classes. My favorite classes are Math classes, but I also enjoy Science, History, and Social Sciences such as Sociology and Psychology. I’ve always taken the highest level of Math classes because my goal is to be a high school Math teacher. I also hope to eventually get a Master’s Degree in School Psychology. I’ve been a member of the National Honor Society for 2 years, and I was recently awarded a Conference Indiana Academic Award, which is given to Varsity athletes who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. My most challenging classes have been AP Chemistry, Honors Physics, and AP Calculus.
Faith
My Christian faith is vital to me. I’ve participated in my youth group, volunteered in a local soup kitchen, and helped to set up an annual display of Christmas lights/music for the public. However, my most significant chance to put my faith into action was a mission trip to the Dominican Republic during Spring Break 2009. While there, my group and I helped to build two houses, and we visited nearby communities, where we learned firsthand about the hardships in the lives of the local Dominicans. It opened my eyes to the needs of people outside the U.S. I was so moved by my experience, that I went back a year later. I helped to build a church/community center directly across from the houses we helped to build earlier. I feel blessed to have been involved in such a life changing experience.
Athletics
I’ve been involved in basketball during all 4 years of high school. I was a member of the freshman basketball team, with 2 amazing coaches who showed me what real sportsmanship is. When I decided that I wouldn’t continue as a player any further, I was approached by the head coach of our high school girls’ Varsity basketball team, who asked me to be a manager for the JV and Varsity teams. I accepted, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve been a manager for 3 years, and I’ve loved it. I’ve never been comfortable in the spotlight, so this gives me a chance to serve these wonderful ladies in quiet, unassuming ways. My favorite activity is to stay after practice to rebound for individual players as they practice shooting, so I can help them to improve.
