R.K. Thompson top winners announced

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

While all 10 finalists in the 2013 exemplify the R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards motto of “doing the best with what they have,” Mesa Brummette and Nikolas Wolford, both seniors at Van Wert High School, were chosen as the top winners during the 43rd annual R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award Banquet Tuesday night.

Both winners were surprised and grateful for being selected as this year’s R.K. Thompson winners. Finalists receive $500 in scholarship money, while the two top winners earn $1,000 in scholarships.

“I’m really excited to get this award,” Brummette said, adding, “I’ve put a lot of effort into my high school career.”

The daughter of Paul Brummette and Michelle Gould said she was also glad to see several of her classmates honored as finalists this year.

In addition, the VWHS senior, who plans to attend Wright State University after first joining the U.S. National Guard, said it was comforting to hear other students’ biographies and know she wasn’t the only one who has had to overcome challenges in her life. “It was nice to know that there are others in the same boat as me … it shows that I’m not alone.”

Wolford, the son of Bryan Wolford and Shannon Stegaman, attended the R.K. Thompson banquet two years ago when his sister was a finalist, but was a bit shocked when he was named the top boy winner. “I’m kind of overwhelmed,” he said, adding, however, “It’s nice to have recognition now and then.”

Wolford, a 4.0 student and accomplished athlete who will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in the fall, said that, while the $1,000 scholarship won’t be needed for his actual education costs, it would come in handy to pay other costs, such as $2,000 in uniform expenses he will have to pay himself.

Other boy finalists this year included Jordan Daniels, son of Ted and Janis Daniels; Nicklaus Germann, son of Eric and Karen Germann; Caleb Markward, son of Kenneth and Marie Markward; Isaac Young, son of Jay and Christina Young.

The other four girl finalists were Sarah Aurand, daughter of Guy Aurand and Cheryl Howell; Kendall Dye, daughter of Douglas Dye and Johnna Robers; Briana Hanes, daughter of Christopher and Robin Dunning; and Haley McAbee, daughter of Bonnie McAbee and Michael McAbee.

With both of the top winners this year seeking some involvement in military activities, it was appropriate that this year’s keynote speaker would be a career military officer.

In his speech during last night’s R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards banquet, Lt. Colonel Jon Gerold talked about the famous “A Message to Garcia” inspirational essay written more than 100 years ago, noting that the essay was written to inspire people to “accept difficult tasks without asking why.”

Gerold, a 1986 graduate of Van Wert High School who is also a West Point graduate and a U.S. Army officer for the past 22 years, said the message was appropriate, because that’s what the R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards were all about.

Gerold, who knew Roger Thompson Jr. through his years in the Boy Scouts, said he had a hard time deciding what to talk about at Tuesday’s awards banquet.

He said he kept asking himself: “What can I possibly tell (R.K. Thompson finalists) about self-reliance that they don’t already know?”

Noting that he was very impressed with this year’s finalists, while also adding that he wasn’t nearly as self-reliant when he was their age, Gerold managed to inspire this year’s finalists through advice he provided from his own military career.

He also quoted Brummette’s personal motto: “we are not what our circumstances make us, but, instead, what we make of our circumstances” as a great attitude to have in dealing with the challenges life brings to everyone.

The R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards were begun by Roger Thompson Jr. to honor his father, Roger Thompson Sr. Today, the event honors both men, who each spent most of their lives working with young people.

Eunice Thompson, the widow of Roger Thompson Jr., said she was happy to see the many people who attended this year’s event and honored the finalists for what is actually a reward for good character, not their other accomplishments. “It’s not being an athlete or being a singer, it’s who they are,” she noted.

David Thompson, son of Roger Thompson Jr., thanked those who came out – including retired Aeroquip executive and original Vantage board member Jim Robey, who has attended all 43 banquets — when he announced this year’s winners of this year’s top awards.

Thompson also thanked the Van Wert Service Club, which does “the heavy lifting” in selecting the finalists and organizing the annual event.