Milan names Grand Marshals for July 4 parade
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Milan Lion’s Club have come to know three Milan High School Students, over the past three years. Due to their (the three youths) tireless and selfless efforts to improve the Milan community, the Milan Lion’s Club has invited MHS Graduates: Trenton Langferman (’24 graduate); Ava Honnert (’24 graduate); and Ariel Haessig (’23 MHS graduate) to be the Grand Marshalls for the 2024, Milan Lion’s Club – 4th of July Parade.
Trenton Langferman, 2024 graduate, is headed to Purdue and a doctorate in pharmacy. Unfortunately, Langferman is unable to attend the 2024 Milan Lion’s Club – 4th of July Parade, due to previous family obligations.
Ava Honnert, another 2024 MHS Grad, is available for the parade. Honnert and Langferman were recruited into RYO (Ripley Youth Outreach) by then RYO President, Ariel Haessig, MHS 2023 Grad, three years ago.
Honnert describes her involvement – “I was a sophomore and Ariel (a year older than me) and I were friends. A lot of the RYO participants were older, and had already graduated.” Amy Streator, RCCF (Ripley Co. Community Foundation) asked Haessig if she knew anyone who would like to be involved and Haessig approached Honnert and Langferman – who immediately complied.
RYO assists Ripley Co. Youth to become involved at the beginning level of a project and follow it – or plan for – its completion and maintenance. The RYO teams (select high school students from Ripley Co. participating high schools) must raise $10,000 in one – ONE – month. Each team raises $10,000 to be matched by a grant, associated with RCCF.
Haessig, Honnert, and Langferman identified needs at the Daren Baker Veterans Memorial Park: general updates, new murals (2), memorial flag pole, Wi-Fi (with the assistance of SEI Data), picnic tables, trash cans, landscaping, and new paint on building(s).
To accomplish the $10,000 (fund-raising) task – the RYO teams (10-15 students – met once or twice weekly, in their individual groups of two to three students) relied on the fund-raising direction of Amy Streator and RCCF. The Milan Lion’s Club was one of their first presentations. They (The Milan Lion’s Club) donated generously to get the fund-raising effort off to a good start.
Haessig and Honnert both stress the success was greatly due to direction on where to seek grants, where to make presentations to get donations, and how to, in general, provide the proof of the need, plans to implement, the costs associated with implementation, and upkeep.
Over this month RYO had several groups of students working on specific projects throughout the Ripley Co. area. Streator assigned Langferman, Honnert, and Haessig to the Milan Park because of their proximity and familiarity. Their “hometown connection” provided even more impetus. They made 12 presentations during the 30-day period.
All stated, while it was frightening to speak publicly, at first – in front of strangers – the more they did it the easier it was. Also, they all are passionate about the need and the project. They were speaking in front of their community and friends, so they all appreciated the experience and enjoyed it.
The matching grant (up to $10,000) is “My Community My Grant” and the Milan trio blew their goal out of the park. These three industrious and far-sighted young folks raised just under $25,000 – with the RCCF-MCMG $10,000 match is almost $35,000.
Haessig and Honnert voiced their careful planning with the Park Board, to accommodate native pollinators and eliminate invasive species. All three voiced their appreciation for being able to be involved with a project of this magnitude and with such longevity. With the funds they raised, there will be a portion of their donations for upkeep and maintenance.
Honnert will be staying local and attending Ivy Tech for her first two years of college general eduation requirements. She graduated with a 4.1 GPA, academic honors, National Honor Society, and even had a “Hoxworth Cord” as an honor for blood donations throughout high school.
Haessig just finished her first year at Butler University. She is majoring in Health Sciences on the PA (Physician’s Assistant) Track and minoring in Sports Coaching. She is not letting the grass grow under her feet just because she is out of college for the summer. Haessig is a life guard at the Batesville Memorial Pool and assists to coach Milan Aquatics Swim Team.
Haessig, Honnert, and Langferman all voice a similar “hometown theme.” Honnert states “These projects are our wants & desires for our own town. We all were raised here – our whole lives. …Improving our town with all these years of work and investment has been great.”
Haessig stated in response to ‘what do you love most about this project,’ “…growing up here my whole life – knowing we could fix it and make it better so the next generation will be able to experience it also.”