25 Years Later, Scholar Athletes Shine On
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 3, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Jennifer Bissell and Scott Kieser had ideas how their futures might unfold when they stepped onto the Pontiac Silverdome turf to accept the inaugural Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete awards on Nov. 25, 1989.
Bissell’s bio in the MHSAA Football Finals program mentioned the Vestaburg senior planned to attend Grand Valley State University and study broadcasting and public relations. Kieser, a senior at Unionville-Sebewaing, was set to attend Michigan Tech University and major in secondary education.
Inevitably when high school students are deciding on careers, some of those plans changed.
Kieser’s didn’t much; he did attend Michigan Tech, and after considering engineering during his first year stuck with education and is now a teacher and coach at Bay City Western High School. Bissell – now Dr. Jennifer Forrest – ended up with destinations different, nearby and then afar. She attended Central Michigan University on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon in Durango, Colo.
But the impact of high school sports – and what it meant to be named the MHSAA’s first Scholar Athletes – is not lost on either nearly a quarter century later.
“I vaguely remember ... watching the game from the booth, going out onto the field and the announcement,” Forrest recalled this week. “(But) I was very honored to get that award. It looked at both how well you did in school and participation in sports.”
“To walk on the field, shake Mr. (Jack) Roberts’ hand, see the award, it was a great honor,” Kieser said. “I was very lucky to have a lot of coaches in high school that inspired me and made me enjoy the learning in the classroom and all of the great life lessons I learned on the field, the basketball court and those arenas.”
The MHSAA has been fortunate as well to have Farm Bureau Insurance as its sponsor for all 24 years of the Scholar-Athlete Award. The program has evolved substantially from 1989-90 – when two students were recognized during the fall, winter and spring seasons – to this winter’s 25th celebration, during which Farm Bureau will award $1,000 scholarships to 32 student athletes based on their achievements both academic and athletic.
Each month building up to March's presentation, Second Half will catch up with some of the hundreds who have earned Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Now both 40 years old, the first winners certainly fit the bill. Forrest was a three-sport athlete participating in cross country, volleyball and softball and was president of Vestaburg’s student council. Kieser was co-captain of USA’s football and basketball teams, vice-president of his school’s student council and a member of the Tuscola County Leadership Forum.
And they’ve made good on the promise they showed and the awards they received as their futures lay ahead of them that Thanksgiving weekend.
Lists of exceptional accomplishments
The record board at Vestaburg High School still lists “J. Bissell” for fastest 5K time – at least one sign that Forrest’s legacy lives on in her little hometown.
One of her two older siblings still live there, her sister-in-law is a teacher at the high school and her niece Jaycee cracks up when people occasionally think the name on the leaderboard is hers.
During her days walking those same school halls, Forrest never pictured herself in an operating room. In fact, she never wanted to picture the possibility.
Forrest babysat for a doctor while in high school and decided she wanted no part of the doctor lifestyle with its unpredictable schedule and 80-hour work weeks. But she was interested in physical therapy, and despite her early leanings toward studying communications settled on CMU and its sports medicine program.
She spent three hours in the CMU training room most afternoons her freshman year, helping with the gymnastics and track and field teams among others. As a sophomore she worked in a physical therapy office, which she found to be a little monotonous – and so she started considering that occupation she figured was out of the question only a few years before.
Forrest did end up in medical school, at Wayne State University, but figured she’d become an emergency room doctor and definitely never a surgeon. And then she changed her mind on that one too – Forrest ended up going into orthopedic surgery, did a residency at University of California-Irvine, married another doctor from northern California and eventually ended up in Durango – a destination that seems meant to be for a family that loves biking and snow sports.
Each Memorial weekend Forrest races in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, which pits competitors against a steam engine traveling 50 miles (and climbing 5,500 feet) from Durango to Silverton.
“Partly because of my background in sports, I gravitated toward sports-related injuries,” Forrest said. “I enjoyed being in sports in high school, and I’m still a road cyclist, still into sports myself.”
Forrest’s bio now on the Animas Orthopedic Associates website lists her as practicing general orthopedics with special interests in arthritis management, joint replacement surgery, hand surgery, pediatric orthopedics and orthopedics trauma.
She and her husband have three daughters ages 6-9 who also are active athletically, and they make the trip back to Michigan at least once every few summers.
While her continued appearance on the Vestaburg record book surprised Forrest at first, her name also appears on another impressive list – among the CMU Admissions Office’s “notable CMU alumni” alongside CBS sportscaster Dick Enberg, various NFL and NBA players and the author of “Marley & Me.”
“I don’t think of myself as that,” Forrest said.
“I really liked science and medicine, and in the long run it all worked out fine.”
Back to school to make a difference
Kieser remembers being in sixth and seventh grade and dreaming of being on the varsity football and basketball teams. When he got his chance, he understood the importance of setting the right example for the younger hopefuls looking up to him.
He continued to do the same at Michigan Tech and has made guiding young athletes and students his life’s work at Bay City Western.
Kieser was the starting quarterback at Michigan Tech in 1993 and 1995 (missing 1994 with a broken foot) and was ranked among the top 50 nationally in Division 2 for total offense per game and passing efficiency. He decided to go out for the basketball team as a junior and started as a senior while earning the team’s scholastic achievement award with a 3.65 grade-point average while studying mathematics.
He also received both teams’ sportsmanship award, and was recognized by Burger King during his senior year as a Burger King National Scholar Athlete Award winner (the announcement appeared during the broadcast of the University of Michigan/Notre Dame game that fall). Tech’s football program received $25,000 for that accomplishment, and a scholarship in Kieser’s name is given to this day to an incoming freshman football player.
“Now that I reflect on it, that honor I won in high school really motivated me to continue that through college,” he said.
And beyond. Kieser teaches calculus and geometry at Bay City Western and is the junior varsity football coach. He hired in at the school right out of college in 1996 both as a teacher and the boys basketball varsity coach, a post he manned for seven seasons. All told, he’s coached some sport – track and field, soccer, baseball, football, basketball – at the high school, middle school or youth levels every year since he graduated at Tech.
He did consider engineering and the heftier paycheck that likely would’ve followed. But, “as I got a little bit older, I realized ... you’re not working for money (as a teacher). You’re working to help kids become the best they can be. Playing sports in college helped me mature, and I wanted to help as many other kids as possible reach their potential.”
He tries to teach his players to have pride in doing things the right away, respecting their opponents and the officials even despite the heated situations that arise in every game – the lessons he learned growing up across Saginaw Bay.
“I feel like the luckiest person in the world teaching and coaching and being involved I athletics,” Kieser said, “trying to encourage more kids to get involved, go out for a sport, do the best they can in the classroom, being the best they can be.”
PHOTO: MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts (far left) presents Scott Kieser with his Scholar-Athlete Award in 1989 at the Pontiac Silverdome, while Jennifer Bissell receives hers from Larry Thomas, the then-executive vice president of Farm Bureau Insurance.
2023 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class B
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 14, 2023
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected eight student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 34th year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 25 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Jordan Richie, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Carney Salo, Escanaba; Anna Smith, Clawson; Allison Tate, Whitehall; Jacob Fenbert, Dundee; Camden Johnecheck, Williamston; Isaiah Pelc, Portland; and Sreejay Ramakrishnan, Ada Forest Hills Eastern.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class B Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
(NOTE: If an athlete intended to play and was part of a spring sports team in 2020, that sport is counted among the athlete’s total although the season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
Jordan Richie, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, playing third of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Served as captain of all three teams and earned all-county and all-region recognition in track while running on multiple school record-setting relays. Participating in fourth year in Cranbrook Business Club, including as president for second year, and co-founded and serves as president of school’s DECA chapter – and earned all-state recognition in the latter. Carrying 4.2 GPA and achieved highest possible score on three Advanced Placement tests. Will attend University of Texas and study chemical engineering.
Essay Quote: “We have all lost. Every athlete has experienced the frustration of a devastating loss, the pain of seeing a medal in another’s hands and not one’s own. I have never played a perfect game or run a perfect race. I have watched helplessly as a volleyball flew off my hand and into the net on a game point. I have stood idle as a player blew by me to score a buzzer-beater. But, when the final score favors my competitor, I know that taking accountability for my mistakes and appreciating the heart and hustle of the winner will teach me greater lessons than a simple scoreboard.”
Carney Salo, Escanaba
Played three seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her third of varsity basketball and will play her third of varsity softball this spring. Helped softball and basketball teams to Regional championships and softball team reach Division 2 Semifinals in 2022; also helped volleyball team to multiple District titles. Earned all-state honorable mention and academic all-state in softball and all-league honors in volleyball and basketball, and served as team captain in all three sports. Serving second year on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Serving first year on student council, as class vice president. Participating in fourth year of Business Professionals of America and has qualified for state competition, and served as social media liaison for BPA chapter. Is undecided where she will attend college, but intends to study business administration.
Essay Quote: “Players are yelling at coaches, parents are heckling refs, and student sections are getting personal. I believe sportsmanship goes hand and hand with respect. You should treat others the way you want to be treated. Following this simple concept will ensure core values like caring, responsibility, and most importantly respect are being displayed.”
Anna Smith, Clawson
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, playing third of varsity basketball and will play fourth of varsity soccer this spring. Earned all-league and all-District honors in soccer and all-league in volleyball, and earned all-state academic recognition and made league’s all-academic team. Helped all three varsity teams to league titles. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third on student government, this year as secretary. Also serving fourth year on student senate and Trojans Leadership Council. Playing fourth year in school orchestra and attended Eastern Michigan University Honors Orchestra. Earned Clawson Youth Assistance Recognition Award. Will attend University of Michigan and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “The essence of an impressive sportsman stems back to one concept: the willingness to assist teammates. In order for a team to run cohesively, every player must sacrifice themselves for the good of the whole. This notion became extremely apparent following the diagnosis of my season-ending (knee) injury. Not only did I endlessly provide my own support throughout the next sports seasons, I felt that same emotion reciprocated. While I made an effort to attend all practices and games, ensuring my presence was not only seen, but felt, my teammates were displaying the same respect and encouragement towards myself.”
Allison Tate, Whitehall
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and competed in two seasons of track & field. Also played junior varsity tennis. Earned all-conference in cross country and all-conference academic honors in cross country and track. Served as captain of both teams. Also has figured skated competitively throughout high school. Participating in second year of National Honor Society, and for legacy project restarted school’s youth cross country camp. Carrying 4.2 GPA and on track to graduate as class valedictorian. Earned AP Scholar with Honor and National Merit Rural/Small Town Recognition. Serving fourth year as class president and also as student council president as a senior. Competed in three years on school’s National History Day and debate teams. Named National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar. Served as senior class representative of White Lake Interact Club, co-president of school’s environmental club, co-captain of quiz bowl team and school representative on Muskegon Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council. Undecided where she will attend college, but intends to study international relations.
Essay Quote: “And that is the very definition of sportsmanship ... the ability to compete as the best version of oneself, despite everything else. So, I suppose that, for me, sportsmanship is — in all of its forms — maintaining the tenacity, drive, determination, and self-awareness to ride out the cutting edges in the face of any and all adversity.”
Jacob Fenbert, Dundee
Played two seasons of varsity football, is wrestling his fourth season on varsity and will compete in his third season of track & field this spring. Earned all-state in wrestling, helping that team to three straight Division 3 championships and reaching Individual Finals twice. Earned all-league in football and helped team to playoffs, and qualified for 2022 MHSAA Track & Field Finals in pole vault. Served as wrestling team captain. Earned National Merit Rural/Small Town Recognition and is on track to graduate as class valedictorian. Participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participated in Boy Scouts throughout high school, and was selected to Order of the Arrow Honor Society and National Eagle Scout Association. Earned State of Michigan Conservation Award. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study mechanical engineering.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is not just shaking someone’s hand after a game or playing with courtesy and positive intentions toward others. Sportsmanship involves giving back to those within the athletic community so that they too can enjoy sports as much as I have. … I have only one (wrestling) season left and have come to appreciate all the wonderful memories the sport has given me. It is important to ensure my younger teammates get all they can out of the sport …”
Camden Johnecheck, Williamston
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, wrestling his fourth season and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state and academic all-state in both cross country and wrestling and reached MHSAA Cross Country Finals three times. Served or will serve at least two seasons as captain of all three varsity teams. Attended American Legion Auxiliary Boys State and was elected Speaker of the House. Participating in second year of Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and as chapter vice president, and participating in fourth year of school’s math and science academy and had research project selected for publication in science journal. Is unsure where he will attend college, but intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “As (wrestling) practices wore on, we continued to push each other. But my attitude had changed. Now I encouraged him and even thanked him for not holding back. I understood that we were just trying to make each other better. … Retrospectively, I understand how much I learned from this part of my life. In the beginning, I forced myself to return my partner’s kindness, even when I didn’t want to, which is the foundation sportsmanship. The more I did this the easier it became.”
Isaiah Pelc, Portland
Wrestling fourth season this winter, will play his second season of varsity baseball this spring and also played two seasons of subvarsity football. Earned all-state in wrestling and qualified for MHSAA Individual Finals his first three seasons. Earned National Wrestling Coaches Association/U.S. Marine Corps High School Scholar All-American honors three times, and academic all-state in baseball. Served as wrestling and baseball captain. Participating in fourth year of student government and has served as class president and student body president. Participating in third years of National Honor Society and Ionia County Youth Advisory Council, as NHS class trustee and co-chairperson of YAC. Has participated in Boy Scouts throughout high school, earning Eagle Scout rank and serving twice on Mackinac Island Governor’s Honor Guard. Participating in fourth year of BIONIC school suicide prevention and mental health group, serving as co-chairperson. Will attend University of Notre Dame and study business.
Essay Quote: “Throughout my high school career, I have witnessed and been a part of both outstanding sportsmanship and poor sportsmanship. I realized through many competitions that one cannot control their opponents, officials and the calls they make, the outcomes of the competition, and many other factors. But one thing I can control is my composure before, during, and after competition despite the uncontrollable factors that occur.”
Sreejay Ramakrishnan, Ada Forest Hills Eastern
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and will compete in his second of varsity track & field this spring. Also has played on school’s boys club volleyball team. Earned all-state honors in tennis three times and academic all-state all four seasons. Helped track & field team to Regional championship and 2022 Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals runner-up finish. Served as captain of tennis team and upperclassmen leader in track. Participating in second year of National Honor Society, serving as chapter president, and third on school’s Student Advisory Council. Participating in fourth year of student government, as co-president. Co-founded school’s Kids Food Basket club and youth action board. Playing fourth year in concert and symphony orchestra, as concert master and first chair violinist, and qualified for state competition in solo ensemble. Participating in third year of Model United Nations and serving as club treasurer. Won Grand Valley State University Teen Entrepreneurship Summer Academy pitch competition. Is unsure where he will attend college, but intends to study business, public policy and psychology.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is a pillar of integrity, virtue, ethics, and morale – though it is merely a choice. … It is commendable when an athlete shows composure and respect to their opponents. Learning from a loss and congratulating an opponent on a victory shows growth. Winning with humility and class is inspiring.”
Other Class B girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Elaina Bortolini, Kingsford; Claire Filpus, Houghton; Rylie Haist, Big Rapids; Lauren Harrold, Flint Powers Catholic; Devin Johnston, Almont; Tiffany Keller, Frankenmuth; Molly McNitt, Paw Paw; Matelyn Midkiff, Midland Bullock Creek; Rachel Niskanen, Negaunee; Ainsley VandenBrink, Holland Christian; Ella Wagner, Essexville Garber; and Chesney Wilke, Tecumseh.
Other Class B boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Michael App, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Aldo Barba, Tecumseh; Matthew Bowman, Milan; Evan Jose Evans, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Grant H. Harkness, Newaygo; Nathan Hooker, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; John Kersh, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Nicholas Liparoto, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Philip Nelson, Negaunee; James Oosterhouse, Holland Christian; Jacob Pallo, Ada Forest Hills Eastern; Aiden Eric Smith, Adrian.
The Class C/D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 7, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 21.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.3 million spectators each year.