Oxford Rotary Club Seniors of the Month

April

Sarah, daughter of Carol and Mark Freisleben, is a member of the Helping Hands Community Service Club and the LEOs Club of Lions International. She sings in the chorus and is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Sarah has been instrumental in coordinating the high school’s participation in the Stand Up To Cancer campaign and is a volunteer at Ware Presbyterian Village. Along with Zoe Detzel, now graduated, Sarah is a co-founder of the high school’s annual Confidence Week event and is chairman of the Confidence Committee.

Confidence Week, which was held from April 8 through 13, is designed to remind students that true confidence does not come through physical appearance and clothing but from what is inside of each individual. During Confidence Week, students are asked to attend school each day wearing only jeans and a plain white T-shirt, while girls are encouraged to eschew makeup and hair products.

During the past two Confidence Weeks, students have raised money for an area family whose child was diagnosed with leukemia and, this year, for the Chester County Suicide Prevention Task Force. This year’s Confidence Week began with school-wide assemblies by the nationally-known Explicit Truth organization that addressed the issues of self-esteem, peer pressure, teen suicide and making positive life choices.

For the high school’s recent Talent Show, Sarah choreographed a performance by members of the Confidence Committee that was awarded first place. The group donated the $100 prize to the Suicide Prevention Task Force.

This fall Sarah will attend Eastern University for international area studies in business.

Krysta, daughter of Ellen and William Stefanosky, is a member of National Honor Society, the Tri-M Music Honor Society and Helping Hands.

Krysta has played flute in the high school band since her freshman year and is currently a senior drum major. Since her sophomore year she has served as band librarian, organizing and keeping track of hundreds of copies of sheet music. She has been a section leader of the school chorus since her sophomore year and is member of the choral ensemble.

Krysta played Snow White for two of the three performances of the high school’s musical version of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and was featured in previous musicals “How to Succeed in Business” and “Beauty and the Beast.” She is a summer theater camp counselor with the Tidewater Players of Havre de Grace, Maryland, working primarily with teenagers and sometimes with younger children on an end-of-camp musical production.

At last December’s annual Holiday Festival, Krysta organized an activity for children to create greeting cards to send to patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Philadelphia. The activity was in honor of her late grandfather, a veteran of World War II.

 As a sophomore Krysta was selected to attend the 2011 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference, a workshop for outstanding high school students held at Temple University.

This fall Krysta will attend West Chester University to study theater and will work toward appearing in a Broadway musical or in a national touring company.

March

Both March Seniors of the Month have overcome health challenges to make outstanding contributions to their school and community.

Jacob, son of Laura and James Billings, was born with McArdle Disease, a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Though the condition limited his physical activities, Jacob has enthusiastically participated in music and arts programs throughout his years in Oxford schools.

Jacob has been a student in the Academically Talented Program since second grade and has taken AP art courses in high school, specializing in portraiture. He has participated in every high school production since his freshman year, recently playing the role of Sarge, the lead dwarf in the musical Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He played a dual role in last year’s How to Succeed in Business and was prominently featured in I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning and Beauty and the Beast.

Jacob sings in the chorus and is a three-year member of the choral ensemble. A mutli-instrumentalist, he plays in the guitar ensemble and is a percussionist in the concert and marching bands.

Jacob is a two-year member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and president of the Art Club. He has participated in the Chester County Futures Program since eighth grade.

This fall Jacob will attend West Chester University to study music education in preparation for a career as a high school music teacher or college music professor.

Caroline, daughter of Christine and John Hamilton, is president of the of high school’s chapter of National Honor Society and a member of the LEOs Club of Lions International, the Helping Hands community service club and Future Business Leaders of America. She sings in the chorus and played French horn in the concert and marching bands in her freshman and sophomore years.

A gifted athlete, Caroline has participated in track and field, cross-country and basketball since eighth grade, with a dream of one day becoming an Olympic runner. However, in her sophomore year Caroline began experiencing leg pain and was diagnosed with two conditions that limited blood flow to her legs.

Caroline’s health problems resulted in five surgeries, causing her to miss weeks of school but never diminishing her desire to excel both athletically and academically. She recently completed her fourth year on the varsity basketball team, serving as senior captain, and for two years has competed in javelin and long jump on the track and field team.

Caroline’s experiences, “some good and some bad,” with at least a dozen doctors, several hospitals, and many healthcare professionals sparked a desire to pursue a career in medicine, either as a pediatrician, ob-gyn or general practitioner. Her college choices include James Madison University, Villanova University, Bucknell University, the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary.

February

Devon, daughter of Jacquelyn Boatwright and John Stroup, came to Oxford for her sophomore year after graduating from Upland Country Day School. She is a two-year member of National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, and also serves on the Confidence Committee and Student Renaissance Committee, which help and encourage students to achieve success in school.

Devon has sung in the school chorus since her sophomore year and with the Chorale Ensemble since her junior year. 

Devon has played field hockey since fourth grade and has been a member of the varsity since her sophomore year. She was named captain for her senior year, receiving the Coach’s Award and being named to the All-Ches Mont League Third Team. She also participated in the All-Star Game between the Ches-Mont and Central League.

Devon plays indoor field hockey during the winter and has played on the high school’s club lacrosse team since her sophomore year.

After graduation, Devon will enter Honors College at West Chester University to study athletic training and plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.

Nicole, daughter of Beatrice and David Gallagher, is currently enrolled in French V and is president of the French Honor Society and vice-president of the French Club. An outstanding scholar whose core classes are all Advanced Placement, Nicole scored a 5 on the AP European History exam as a sophomore

Nicole is currently participating in two Academically Talented Program independent study projects. She is a three-year member of the high school’s varsity team in the Chester County Academic Competition, serving as captain in her senior year.

Nicole has participated in her schools’ morning news broadcasts since seventh grade and is currently a news anchor for WOHS. She is also a three-year member of the Helping Hands community service club.

After graduation Nicole hopes to attend Brown University to begin study for a career in archeology or anthropology. Her other college choices include Vanderbilt University, The College of William & Mary, Syracuse University and the University of Chicago.

January

Kerri, daughter of Lynne and Robert Mundy, is a member of the high school chapter of National Honor Society and president of Future Business Leaders of America, also serving as FBLA Region 9 secretary. In April she will attend the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition for the second year in a row, qualifying in the Desktop Publishing event.

Kerri is a member of the Chester County Student Forum sponsored by the Chester County Intermediate Unit, which meets monthly to research and discuss issues of importance to area students.

Kerri also serves on the high school’s Confidence Committee which assists students in achieving success in school.

Kerri has played field hockey since sixth grade and this past season was named to the All Ches-Mont League third team. She also participated in a recent game between the Ches-Mont and Central League all-stars. Kerri is entering her fourth year as a member of the club lacrosse team.

After graduation Kerri will attend Penn State University, Main Campus, to study communications with a minor in Spanish.

Alice, daughter of Lisa and James Ledger, is a member of the Helping Hands Community Service Club and president of the high school’s LEO’s Club of Lions International, serving as liaison to the Oxford Lions Club during her junior year. She has served on Student Council since her freshman year.

Alice is enrolled in the Allied Health program at Chester County Technical College High School, where students have clinical rotations at various area medical facilities. For the past two years she has volunteered at Jennersville Regional.

Alice has played flute and piccolo in her school bands for eight years. She is currently a member of the concert band and is flute section leader of the marching band.

Alice studied dance at the Oxford Center for Dance from first through 11th grades and has danced or acted in each high school production since her freshman year. Last spring she was choreographer for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

At the Jennersville YMCA, Alice works in the Kids Zone and with the Saturday Night Lights program for children in grades four through 12. After graduation she will attend Widener University to study pediatric nursing.

December

Aaron, son of Rebecca and James George, is a member of National Honor Society and the Chester County Youth Forum which meets monthly at the Chester County Intermediate Unit. He completed his fourth year on the cross-country team this past fall and will begin his fourth year on the lacrosse club this spring.

Aaron is member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 13 and is currently in the process of earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

For his Eagle project, he designed and built a welcome sign for St. John’s United Methodist Church.

After graduation Aaron hopes to attend the University of Delaware to study computer science.

Shannon, daughter of Sandra and Steven Wright, is a member of National Honor Society, the Student Renaissance Committee and Future Business Leaders of America. As a student in the Teacher Academy at the Chester County Technical College High School, she has observed and assisted teachers at Penn’s Grove Middle School and Bethany Christian School.

Shannon has played on the club lacrosse team since her freshman year. At Ogletown Baptist Church, she participates in Love Your Neighbor, a weeklong summer youth service cooperative.

After graduation Shannon plans to study elementary education at either Penn State or West Chester University.

November

Meghan, daughter of Molly and Ralph Brumbley, is secretary of the French Club and a member of the French Honor Society, secretary of the high school’s chapter of Future Farmers of America and a member of Future Business Leaders of America. She is the high school’s student representative on the Oxford Area Board of School Directors.

Meghan played on the varsity volleyball team since her sophomore year and was a member of the winter track team as a freshman and sophomore.

She also plays on the school’s club lacrosse team and for her senior year will be a member of the swim team.

Megan is a volunteer in the Rotating Homeless Shelter program at Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Cecil County, which provides food, clothing and lodging for approximately 35 area homeless persons for two weeks each winter. As supplies minister, she is responsible for raising funds to purchase items to stock the shelter as well as collecting and sorting food and clothing donations.

Meghan is currently enrolled in the Allied Health Program at the Chester County Technical College High School, where she was named a Student of the Quarter for the first making period. After graduation Meghan would like to enter the accelerated master’s program at Philadelphia University to study for a career as a physician’s assistant. Her other college choices include Penn State and the University of Maryland.

Dalton, son of Kimberly and Timothy Wolfe, is a member of National Honor Society and since his freshman year has been a member of Student Council, currently serving as president. He is a four-year member of the varsity football team, starting at center for two years and at linebacker for one year. He was named to the All Ches-Mont League Academic Team in 2010 and 2011. He has played on the club lacrosse team for four years and as a senior will be a member of the swim team.

Dalton is currently in the interview process for commission to the U.S. Naval Academy.

October

Katherine, daughter of Susan and Robert Biddle, moved to Oxford with her family as a fifth grader. She is a peer tutor in the high school’s life skills program, working with special needs students on lessons as well as art projects.

Katherine is a volunteer with the Special Olympics and a chaperone at dances held for life skills program students throughout the school year in Chester County.

Katherine has played field hockey since seventh grade and has been a goaltender on the varsity team since her sophomore year. She continues to play field hockey year-round for several athletic organizations, and has also played on the high school’s club lacrosse team since her sophomore year. This past summer Katherine participated in a trip to France organized by the high school’s art and world language departments, visiting Paris and Nice.

After graduation Katherine hopes to attend the University of Delaware to study secondary special education.

Dylan, son of Julie and Donald Farr, moved to Oxford with his family as a first grader. He is vice president of the Helping Hands community service club after serving as secretary as a junior, and treasurer of the high school’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America.

Dylan will manage the stage crew for the spring production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and since freshman year has volunteered in the annual used book sale to benefit the high school media center.

Dylan has participated in his schools’ music programs since fourth grade, starting on oboe then switching to saxophone. He is currently saxophone section leader in the marching band.

After graduation Dylan plans to attend college locally before enrolling in an out-of-state school, preferably the University of South Carolina. He plans to major in business administration or finance.