Wilkerson adds to honors as Indiana Academic All-Star

When Ben Wilkerson was named the 2020 Putnam County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar back in December, the world was slightly different.

The Greencastle High School senior was attending class daily with 500 or so schoolmates, and well-wishers were able to surprise him in the GHS library with news of the award.

Now, in the era of COVID-19, stay at home and social distancing, Wilkerson learned that he is one of 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars slightly differently.

Ben Wilkerson

“It was a week or two ago. Time is a little hard to judge nowadays,” Wilkerson said. “I got an email from Miss Diane Abel with the Indiana Academic All-Stars program saying that I had been selected as one of the top 40.”

Of course, Wilkerson still had to share the news.

“One of the first things I did was I went and told my parents about it,” Wilkerson said. “Then I also went and sent an email to Mr. Logan Kuhne.”

Kuhne, a math teacher at GHS who has had “a huge impact” on Wilkerson in the last few years, was the educator about whom Wilkerson wrote his essay as part of the award application. Not only did Kuhne teach Wilkerson’s very first class at GHS, he also gave the senior swing dancing lessons and taught him how to tango for a GHS theater production.

“He really makes math come alive. He taught me geometry and AP Calculus,” Wilkerson said. “I emailed him letting him know and I wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me.”

Just like when he was named a Lilly Scholar, Wilkerson was a legacy in the Academic All-Star program as well. Not only is he the second son of Scott and Beth Wilkerson, Ben is their second son to win both awards.

Ben said he could lean on brother Zach for advice about the Academic All-Star program and timetable.

“I always held out hope,” Ben said. “I did have the advantage that Zach was also selected as an Indiana Academic All-Star when he went through, so he advised me a little bit on the timeframe.

“It’s a really big honor and I’m very appreciative that I was selected for it,” he added.

However, Ben’s senior year at GHS is otherwise different than Zach’s, though older brother is going through the same thing in his senior year at DePauw University.

“It’s really, really weird,” Wilkerson said. “The week that we decided to not go to school anymore, the week started out normal and by Wednesday or Thursday it really grew incredibly chaotic. And by Friday we had canceled in-person classes for the next two or three weeks.”

Now that the cancellation extends for the remainder of the year, Wilkerson admits its a strange experience, but he isn’t spending much time complaining.

“I just want to say that the faculty and staff and Greencastle High School are going above and beyond the call of duty to work with each other and work with their students to make sure that everyone is succeeding,” Wilkerson said. “Now, this isn’t the most ideal senior year because of that but I know that the faculty and staff is doing everything they can to work with everyone and give everyone the closure that they are wanting.”

Regardless of the rather surreal ending to it all, Wilkerson is capping off a distinguished career at GHS.

Wilkerson was at the top of his class through three years with extremely high scores on the college entrance exams.

His community involvement includes building ramps with Servants at Work, counselor for Camp Invention, CUBES math volunteer and assisting with multiple youth sports camps. He even serves on the Youth Philanthropy Committee (this year as co-chairman) of PCCF, the very organization that chooses the Lilly Scholar each year.

Wilkerson has also distinguished himself in Academic Super Bowl competitions. He was the captain of the math team that won the state title last year, as well as a member of the state championship squad his sophomore year.

Wilkerson was also on a state runner-up science team last year and a third-place math team as a freshman.

With a continuing prohibition on large gatherings, there won’t be an in-person Academic Super Bowl for GHS to defend the math title. However, Wilkerson is still positive about the experience and a chance to still compete.

“They are still planning, I believe, on doing some kind of online version,” Wilkerson said, noting the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) already sponsors an online science bowl. “There’s a way to do it online. Whether it’s going to work for Academic Super Bowl, I don’t know.”

Still, Wilkerson knows that he and others will miss the chance to go to the state finals in West Lafayette.

“Obviously, there’s something to be said for striving to be on that stage at Purdue in May,” Wilkerson said. “I’m definitely going to miss it and I still want it to happen.”

Even if the Academic Super Bowl is canceled entirely, Wilkerson is happy with what he’s already learned in practices.

“The whole joy of Academic Super Bowl for me is learning something you don’t learn in high school and becoming a lifelong learner,” Wilkerson said. “We had gone over that before the cancelation of classes so we’ve already had that experience.”

Wilkerson is one of 40 high school seniors to be named a 2020 Indiana Academic All-Star.

In addition, 50 other students were recognized as Academic All-Star Regional Honorees, including South Putnam senior Abigail Teipen.

The students were selected from a field of 280 nominees from the state’s public and private accredited schools.

Academic All-Star distinction recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom first and foremost, but who also are actively involved in their schools and communities, and take on leadership roles in those activities. The program is produced by the Indiana Association of School Principals, with support provided by DePauw University, Indiana University Bloomington, and Purdue University, along with corporate partner Herff Jones.

Student awards will be awarded at a later date by DePauw University, Indiana University- Bloomington, Purdue University, and the Indiana Association of School Principals. Herff Jones provides the plaques awarded to the 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars and their Influential Educators.

The IASP Indiana Academic All-Stars program salutes academic excellence in the same manner that student athletes traditionally are honored. By providing a showcase for academically talented seniors, the sponsoring organizations hope to accomplish the following objectives:

• Give academic achievement the prestige it deserves;

• Motivate students to recognize the value of academic excellence;

• Provide students with an incentive for academic achievement, and

• Promote a positive image of Indiana’s young people.

Each public and private high school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education may nominate one senior for consideration as an Indiana Academic All-Star. From these nominees, a selection committee chose the regional winners (representing five regions in Indiana) and the 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars.

Selection of the school’s nominee is based upon the following considerations:

• A mathematical formula that combines the SAT or ACT composite score and the seven-semester grade-point average; and

• Academic achievements and honors, academic courses and academic extracurricular activities.

• Other extracurricular activities, community service and leadership qualities.