The valedictorian and the salutatorian of the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Class of 2012 will both study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Valedictorian Stephanie Kempf plans to study business, while Salutatorian Lukas Erdmann says he will be premed.
They will speak to their classmates during the June 1 graduation ceremony, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the W-F High School gym.
High School math teacher Jason Liegl will be the guest speaker. Musical selections will include the band playing “Carry on Wayward Son” and the choir singing “I Hope You Dance.”
District Administrator Scott Bleck and High School Principal Matt Wilbert will present the Class of 2012. School board members Doug Ehrenberg and Dan Kohl will present the diplomas.
Valedictorian
Kempf, who is the daughter of Tim and Shellie Kempf, said of her decision to head to Madison, “Since freshman year I’ve wanted to go there. Why I wanted to go there – I don’t know. I just did.”
She recently became interested in a possible career in business management after writing about the topic for a career investigation assignment.
During her high school career at W-F High School, Kempf, who moved to Weyauwega in seventh grade, was involved in FCCLA, forensics, the National Honor Society and the High School Quiz Bowl.
Renee Hunkins is her favorite teacher.
Hunkins is a family and consumer education teacher and the FCCLA adviser.
“I can talk to her about anything, and she’s very understanding about it,” Kempf said.
Before Kempf heads to Madison, she will do several things.
In June, she will travel to California to assist in teaching students who are going to Japan through an FCCLA and Youth for Understanding USA program.
Two years ago, Kempf went to Japan through the program. That was after going through an application process that included having to write five essays and be interviewed.
Kempf says she enjoyed going to W-F High School and that she looks forward to meeting new people in Madison.
Salutatorian
Erdmann is the son of Holly and Dr. Blaine Erdmann, he has gone to school in the W-F School District since kindergarten.
His mother is a special education teacher in the district, and the family, who lives in Scandinavia, chose open enrollment for their children.
During his high school career, Erdmann played basketball four years, golf one year and track one year. He has been heavily involved in FFA since middle school, is the secretary of the high school’s NHS chapter and also collects dats for the Lake Weyauwega study.
His involvement with the lake study means he has worked with high school science teacher Lynn Ponto.
She is among those who have impacted him during his high school years.
Erdmann said his mother has had the biggest positive impact on him.
“She always pushed me through school. I have to give her the biggest amount of credit,” he said.
Erdmann’s interest in medicine is related to his father’s career choice.
His dad is a veterinarian, and Erdmann has often accompanied his father on calls.
However, Erdmann is more interested in human medicine with the ultimate goal of being an orthopedic surgeon.
Of his decision to go to UW-Madison, he said. “My dad went to Madison, so I always wanted to go there.”
Erdmann, who is a cook at the Waupaca Ale House, also liked going to school in the W-F School District.
“I think high school went really fast, but it was definitely a lot of fun,” he said. “I’m definitely going to miss it.”