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Abner enjoying IHSAA experience
NP senior finds committee work very beneficial
Extracurricular activities are designed to supplement high school curriculum offerings and assist students with multiple goals -- including the acquisition of knowledge, the ability to compete against peers, providing forums to expand a student socially and to help choose a career direction.
North Putnam senior Kaelynn Abner has been given a rare opportunity by the Indiana High School Athletic Association to do all of those things over the past year.
Abner is one of 18 students statewide who form the IHSAA's Student Advisory Committee, which the organization says allows those students to "receive hands‐on experience in various areas as well as serve as a voice to the IHSAA staff."
The SAC meets four times annually -- twice each semester -- and is responsible for:
* hosting meetings with student peers at the upcoming Fall Area Principals Meetings;
* assisting with the awards ceremonies at IHSAA state championship events throughout the school year;
* planning and administering the annual IHSAA Student Leadership Conference in June; and
* to engage in and support the activities of Special Olympics Indiana including the Unified Track & Field State Tournament.
Other SAC functions include the development of an IHSAA Captain's Handbook, as well as assisting in the creation of multiple public service announcements addressing good sporting behavior which will be utilized during 2016-17 state championships events.
Abner was one of nine juniors chosen last year to be on the committee, and nine additional juniors have joined the returning members this year to fill out the committee.
"When I first found out last year, I was so excited," Abner said. "I felt so accomplished. I had never heard of it until I went to a fall student leadership conference and they explained it a little bit there."
Abner filled out an application, and is glad she did.
"I decided it was a cool thing to be part of," she said. "It's good to have more of a say in athletics."
The SAC, which began in 2001-02, represents the entire IHSAA membership of 408 schools, and its structure reflects that of the IHSAA Board of Directors in terms of classification and districts, according to the organization..
Each year, the IHSAA receives nominations from school principals on behalf of student‐athletes from IHSAA member schools. From that group of nominations, 20 are selected for interviews by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee, Executive Staff and returning members of the SAC.
North Putnam principal Jason Chew had no doubt that Abner would be a great addition to the committee, and he has enjoyed what she has brought back to the school.
"Kaelynn exemplifies what it is to be a student athlete for NPHS, as she excels on the field, in the classroom, and gives of herself freely to give back to the community," Chew said. "Kaelynn was able to spearhead our Champions Together program last year, where we raised over $1,700 for Special Olympics of Indiana."
Chew noted that Abner coordinated and hosted a unified flag football game and a unified basketball scrimmage to raise the money, and is also involved with several different clubs and activities at the school.
"We are excited to see her remain involved as an IHSAA Student Advisor," he said. "Through this experience, Kaelynn has become a better leader for our school, and has brought new ideas to the administration on how we can help our student athletes at NPHS."
Abner said one of her goals was to be successful enough to get an IHSAA banner for the school's gymnasium, signifying success in community service projects.
"They encourage all of us to get the banner," she said. "You get a banner if you raise $1,500. The whole school has to be involved in the program, it has to be student-led and you have to put on an awareness program."
North Putnam will get its banner during the upcoming school year.
Abner doesn't know exactly what she wants to do career-wise, but her involvement with the Special Olympics program through the SAC will definitely lead her to stay involved with special needs children no matter what her specific job is.
"I have learned so much through this program," she said. "I have done some work with special needs students before, but this is a step further. It has made me realize I want to do this in college."
Abner is considering being a special education teacher, but if she winds up going in a different direction she definitely plans to continue as a volunteer.
"I'll definitely be majoring in something involving special needs kids," Abner said. "Until recently, I don't think I realized how much I had accomplished. Organizing the events and putting on all of the programs has been a really big eye opener.
"It's a lot of responsibility, but it's been great."
Abner said specific committee duties for the fall leadership conference include choosing and contacting speakers, organizing breakout sessions, conducting their own breakout session and also speaking at the fall principal's meetings.
"We can tell them what we think needs to be improved in athletics," she said. "The principals' meetings, we also talk to principals and students about the sportsmanship score and how people are supposed to conduct themselves."
Abner's primary sport is soccer, but she has experimented with others during her high school career.
"Sometimes I pick other random sports," she said. "Last year, I swam. Two weeks ago, I joined the cross country team. I'm doing it to get into really good shape for college."
Abner helped the Cougars to complete a long-standing goal last fall.
"We did well last year," she said. "I don't think we ever moved on from the first round of the sectionals, but we won our first match and did. We were really excited."
Abner is one of seven seniors on this year's team, which has only 12 total members -- a risky number in a sport where 11 players compete at a time for each side.
"It's a lot of fun to have my classmates there," she said. "I've never seen a more unified team before. We go to football games together, go out to eat and do everything together."
Abner is also the president of the school's Key Club, and ranks seventh in her graduating class with a 4.1 GPA.
She has committed to play soccer for the University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA school in Florence, Ky.
"I love it there," Abner said. "I want to be sort of close to home, but not too far away. It's the perfect mix."
She sees a lot of similarities between the Patriot players and her high school crew.
"Team is so close, like a family," Abner said. "That's important to me."
The Patriots got a new coach last year, she noted, and showed great improvement.
"They won two matches the year before and last year they won 10," she said. "They are hoping to win the conference this year."
Abner plays forward for North Putnam, but expects to be switched to center back in college.
"I play center back for my travel team [based in Avon]," she said. "I'm looking forward to getting to continue to play in college."
2016-17 IHSAA Student Advisory Committee
Seniors
Kaelynn Abner, North Putnam
Brandt Callahan, Bedford North Lawrence
Kyrsa Galyan, Monrovia
Matthew Godfrey, Guerin Catholic
Will Hayesm Terre Haute South
Isaiah Lehman, Lakeland
Haley Nestor, Borden
Hannah Potter, Noblesville
Madison Vauters, Mooresville
Juniors
Taylor Hall, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks
Matthew Cotner, Highland
Carter Filchak, Bremen
Alexis Brown, Oldenburg Academy
Warren McWilliams, Evansville Central
Myra Miller, Indianapolis Cathedral
Kylie Shourds, South Spencer
Maci Weeks, Eastern (Greentown)
Korbin Zvorkel, Wes-Del