Standout to speak at IHS graduation
Given the role Chanel Coyne plans to fill with the National Guard, her role as speaker for Sunday afternoon’s Iola High graduation ceremonies seems appropriate. COME EARLY Sunday is the recommendation of IHS administrators. Doors will open at 1 o’clock, and if past commencement exercises are an indication gymnasium seating will fill quickly.
“I want to be an assistant chaplain,” Coyne said, an Army slot she will start to learn soon after receiving her diploma.
She will spend 10 weeks in basic training in South Carolina this summer and complete her 16-week active duty obligation in summer 2014, after her first year at Kansas State University. Between the two stints she will respond to weekend drills with Headquarters Company, 891 Engineer Battalion here before transferring to a unit in Olathe.
Coyne was selected by her classmates to speak on their behalf. Her religious leanings came from “being led to God” by the Rev. Jared Ellis at Fellowship Regional Church in its Saturday night services, where “I really feel comfortable.”
Her life as a high school student has been busy. She has led cheers at IHS athletic events, participated in Future Business Leaders activities, directed the Student Council as its president, and sang with the IHS Singers.
“I’ve just done a lot of things in high school,” she bubbled, including playing the part of Marty in “Grease,” one of the more ambitious of stage presentations Iola High students have taken on in recent years.
For a time Coyne thought being a teacher was in her future — until she did volunteer work as a mentor earlier this year.
“I don’t think I’d like working with a roomful of kids every day,” she laughed, but does want to have an opportunity to help children.
She intends to major in communications and social science at K-State and then enroll in post-graduate study of speech pathology, which would have her work one-on-one with children.
“I’d like to go to Iowa (University) after K-State, because it’s supposed to have the best speech pathology school, but I’ll probably end up at K-State or KU,” she said.
Coyne is the daughter of Michele and Steve Zartman.
Principal Stacy Fager will introduce valedictorians and salutatorian before Rotary President Judy Works announces the winner of the Rotary watch, which goes each year to the top academic ranking senior. With Eric Heffern, Elijah Grover, Jason Tidd and Jordan Strickler all having 4.0 (straight A) grade point averages, the winner will be decided by ACT scores.
Coyne’s speech will precede senior class members singing “Unwritten” and Fager presenting the class for graduation. Tony Leavitt, Board of Education president, will award diplomas.
Holding to tradition, the IHS band will conclude ceremonies with “The Victor.”
