Travis Hermstein has packed a lot of living into his four years of Iola High School. HERMSTEIN credits his competitive spirit, in and out of the classroom, as a major reason for his success. HE WILL attend Kansas University — he comes from a family filled with KU grads — in the fall.
He’s been a part of several clubs, including the Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the IHS Site Council. He has competed in cross country, basketball and is in his final track and field season.
He also works in his spare time at China Palace, and is involved with several activities through his affiliation with Iola’s First Christian Church.
But the centerpiece, from day one, was keeping up with his grades.
“It actually started around middle school,” he said. “That’s when grades started to matter a little more. When I got to high school, grades got to be a big part of me. From day one, I always wanted all A’s.”
Mission accomplished.
Hermstein and his fellow classmates will become the latest batch of IHS graduates during commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday in the IHS gymnasium.
“I take academics pretty seriously,” he said. “My dad’s a teacher, and he’s well respected, I just like to prove people I can make good grades also. I just always wanted to work hard in everything I do, including sports and school.”
That includes sacrificing some nights when the opportunity arose to spend time with friends.
“There were nights where I couldn’t go out with my friends because I had to study for a big test, or I had to finish homework,” he said. “ I mean I like hanging out with friends also, but I can persevere through,” he said. “I think I’m ready to see what’s out there.”
In his younger days, Hermstein envisioned himself like his father — the elder Travis Hermstein — a social studies teacher at IHS.
That was until he started learning about his mother’s job. Melanie Hermstein works as a laboratory technologist at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.
“She does a lot of analyzing blood,” he said. “That kind of influenced me on what she does. It’s interesting, something in the science field.”
Recent classes in chemistry II, dealing with organic chemistry, carried further appeal.
“I’m planning on studying either geology or chemical engineering,” he said. “I kind of fell in love with chemistry this year. I’d like to do something in the science field.”
Hermstein will room in a dormitory with fellow IHS classmate Andrew Waldman.
He has a few simple words of advice for successive IHS graduates.
“Enjoy high school as much as you can,” he said. “It goes so fast.
Competition drives Hermstein
