NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT -- Although they're in their senior year, Northwestern High School students Jeff Burkholder and Shannon Akers still have their noses in textbooks for a solid finish before graduation. Burkholder and Akers were nominated by their school administration for this year's Teens of the Month.
"Don't take your senior year easily," Burkholder said.
"Challenge yourself," Akers said. "It's like taking two steps back (if you slack off.)"
When scheduling classes, Burkholder said he looked to his older sister, Jana, who received extra scholarship money thanks to taking challenging classes, especially in her senior year.
"My sister, when she was graduating, she made sure her schedule was still (full). She took as much as she could, and that actually made her GPA go up a little bit," Burkholder said.
"It's not a joke. You need to focus on academics just as much as you focus on sports and such," Akers said.
When looking back at their high school careers, both Akers and Burkholder have fond memories of beating some of their biggest rivals in volleyball and football, respectively.
"When I was on JV, we beat Smithville, and when I was on varsity, we beat Smithville," Akers said. "This year, we beat them twice. ... When you beat Smithville, it's just a different feeling."
Burkholder said he is proud of the football team and its win against Norwayne High School, 30-0.
"It was pretty awesome. Once we got done with team prayer at the end, and you just stand up, no one from our side left. I put my hands up (in the air) and everyone just went nuts," Burkholder recalled.
One thing that added to the atmosphere of the game was the collaboration called Husky Hype to work on school spirit.
"I feel like it gets our student section more involved," Akers said, who helped decorate the stands and coordinate designated clothing to wear for the blowout against Norwayne.
As their high school careers are wrapping up, both admit they don't want it to end just yet.
"People always want to get through it, but I'm like, 'slow down,'" Akers said.
"I'm going to miss high school in general," Burkholder said. "I want high school to last a little bit longer. High school doesn't feel like school sometimes. It honestly just feels like you're coming to hang out with your friends. ... For the most part, I'm laughing all the time at school."
Akers plans to study radiology to become an ultrasound technician and Burkholder wants to study education, where he plans to throw shot put in track at the collegiate level.
Contact Abby Armbruster at 330-287-1632 or email her at aarmbruster@the-daily-record.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbyarmbruster
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