Harrison High School proudly selects senior Kayla Morris as one of this month’s Harrison Press Students of the Month.
Kayla is an incredibly dedicated and driven student who has made a significant impact both at Harrison High School and across the state of Ohio. She has been the President of Harrison’s DECA Chapter for the past two years, leading initiatives that have helped make the chapter one of the best in the country. Kayla also served as the state DECA president for Ohio, guiding over 6,900 members across the state with passion and commitment. Kayla shares, “My biggest pride and joy is my DECA family; over 6,900 members across Ohio that I have led for the last two years.” Mr. Ward, the DECA Advisor, praises her leadership, saying, “Kayla has poured her heart into our DECA Chapter and Ohio DECA, making Harrison DECA one of the best in the country. She is dependable and always puts others first.” Mr. Dersham adds, “Kayla has an amazing work ethic and holds herself to the highest standards. She’s a true role model for others.”
Outside of DECA, Kayla is also heavily involved in athletics, having been a member of the Fall & Winter Cheerleading teams, Swim Team, and Track & Field. She adds, “I’ve been blessed to find my best friends through 16 seasons of high school athletics, and I love to crochet in my free time (something my grandma taught me), and serve tables at LaRosa’s Pizzeria!”
Her dedication to her team is especially evident in her role as a swimmer. Coach Brossart reflects on Kayla’s positive influence, he says, “Kayla has been an incredible blessing to our swim team—dedicated, hardworking, and always uplifting those around her. Her positivity will continue to inspire her younger teammates for years to come.”
Kayla advises other students to always prioritize family and friendships: “Find your people, and make sure you always put them first. Keep working hard and enjoy the process.” We are proud of Kayla and can’t wait to see what amazing things she will continue to achieve in the future!
Harrison High School proudly selects junior Joseph Toelke as one of this month’s Harrison Press Students of the Month. Joe is involved in all sorts of activities such as Ecology Club, Bowling, VEX Robotics, and Battle Bots. Outside of school, Joe enjoys spending his time coding, scrolling through Wikipedia pages, taking apart machines, and practicing photography.
Engineering teacher and robotics coach Angela Elsasser had this to say about Joe, “Joe Toelke is truly an inspiration to his classmates and his teachers! His passion for electrical engineering and wealth of knowledge make him an asset to all of his teammates in VEX Robotics and Battle Bots. He also works countless hours to inspire the next generation of engineers at the Robotics Summer Camp every year and with the newly formed Miami Whitewater VEX IQ club.”
Tech support worker Jack Maley shares, “Joe Toelke’s exceptional work ethic truly impressed me during our time working together. He is highly organized and thorough, always striving to improve efficiency and find better ways to accomplish tasks. His abilities were especially evident in his role in imaging over 6,000 devices, showing he can handle large-scale projects with precision and ease. His attention to detail makes him a standout intern.”
Steve Cucera, the manufacturing teacher, said “Joe is an amazing student! He is conscientious, hardworking and able to grasp concepts that are even difficult for his teachers. He has quickly become a “Subject Matter Expert” in my class and can problem solve and troubleshoot situations with all of the equipment in my lab.”
Joe wanted to share this with all the readers “Since there’s no ending quote mark, everything after this is part of my quote.” Thanks for the words of wisdom, Joe! I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE HERE CAUSE IT’S LIKE 97% QUOTES
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