Published: May 17, 2008 11:39 pm            

Dorsett, Lucas to receive Willard M. Kehrt awards

TERRE HAUTE — Brittany Dorsett and Tyler Lucas will be recognized today at the Terre Haute North High School baccalaureate program as the 2008 recipients of the Willard M. Kehrt Mental Attitude Award.

The two recipients both rank high in their class of 423 at the school. Dorsett is fourth with a grade-point average of 3.97 and Lucas is 14th with his average of 3.88.

Dorsett will attend Butler University and plans to major in public relations and advertising. “I hope to enter the entertainment industry. My dream would be to work in Nashville,” she said this week.

Lucas will attend Indiana University and will begin his next phase of school on an undeclared major. He plans to participate in club soccer — a strong sport at the school — and intramurals.

Dorsett and Lucas have been active in athletics and other activities at North.

Dorsett has been a member of the track team and cheerleading squad and has served as captain of both squads. She was the Gold Medal Award winner in cheerleading this year, earned All-America honors in cheerleading twice and helped lead the Patriots’ squad to win the national finals in her sophomore year.

She competed in the track sectional last week and qualified for the regional in the long jump, 100-meter dash and 400 relay. She hopes to qualify for another trip to the state finals this week. She has participated at state the past three years either as an individual qualifier or member of a relay team.

Lucas played soccer four years and also served as captain. He also played basketball three years.

In soccer, he earned academic all-state honors last fall and was Wabash Valley Soccer Player of the Year. He also has been all-district and all-conference and academic all-conference.

Dorsett has been a member of the Student Council four years and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was secretary of DECA and held memberships in Senior Senate, Interact and Link Crew. She has participated in Relay For Life and Walk America and various other projects in the community.

“Being elected fall homecoming queen was a great week. I will never forget it,” she said in recalling a top moment of her four years at North.

She also noted that the track team has had a “very good year” so far and hopes it continues two more weeks.

She considered it an honor to be nominated for the Kehrt Award and has a philosphy that goes along with what the award signifies. “Being negative will get you nowhere. It is fun to be positive,” she said.

In the past, she has worked as a lifeguard during the summer. She intends to do some babysitting this year. “I love to roller blade,” she noted.

Lucas was the center midfielder for coach John Welch’s soccer team. “Winning the sectional all four years was a highlight for me,” he said.

He has served as vice president of the National Honor Society, Junior Achievement Economics and Key Club. Other memberships include Student Council and DECA.

He has been a member of the Peer Monitoring program and considers that experience one of the most meaningful in his time at North.

“You learn not to take anything for granted,” he said.

He has worked at Lighthouse Mission and volunteered at a nursing home. He also has taken part in Trees Inc. and Kiwanis Club projects among others in the community.



Willard M. Kehrt Award

The Willard M. Kehrt Mental Attitude Award was established in 1996 after the former coach and teacher was killed in an auto accident.

It recalls the values and principles he stood for in his 33 years in the Vigo County School Corporation — 24 as teacher and coach at Garfield High School.

Criteria for the award includes:

• participation of at least two years in one sport;

• intentions of attending college;

• displaying leadership qualities;

• having a positive attitude toward athletics and school, and

• having a determination to be successful.

Winners of the award in the past have been recognized by Charlie and Bob Kehrt, sons of the coach and teacher, and by his widow, Virginia, before her death.

The award includes a $500 scholarship.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.