Wayland Union High School students will be recognized for academic achievement at the annual Scholastic Honors Night/Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at the Fine Arts Center.
Students in grades 9-12 who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher will be recognized for their achievement.
Featured guest speaker is Andrew Murray, class of 2004. During his time at Wayland, Andrew participated in Student Council and PALs. He also wrote editorials, short features, and in-depth stories for the PawPrints newspaper and the yearbook.
Wayland Union High School students will be recognized for academic achievement at the annual Scholastic Honors Night/Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19at the Fine Arts Center.
Students in grades 9-12 who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher will be recognized for their achievement.
Andrew played football for three years and was part of conference, district, and regional championship teams. His true love was being a part of the basketball program as a practice player and team manager.
After delivering the honors address at graduation and walking the stage in 2004, Murray spent two years in general study at Grand Rapids Community College. When not in class, he coached seventh and ninth grade basketball and ninth grade football in Wayland.
His education journey continued at Michigan State University, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English, minor in history, and focus in secondary education.
After student teaching for a year at East Kentwood High School, he returned to MSU to complete a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration, studying higher education and student development. He spent time tutoring and mentoring student-athletes at MSU, advising students as a resident assistant, working in intramural and recreational sports, and discovering his current career, academic advising.
He’s been an academic advisor at MSU for nine years and is currently director of academic advising for the College of Arts & Letters.
Two new members also will be inducted into the Wayland Union Schools Alumni Hall of Fame – Joan Miller and Dennis Nickels (posthumously), both from the Class of 1964.
The Alumni Hall of Fame award began in 2001 and receives nominations from the public. Individuals must have made an important contribution to Wayland Union Schools, the WUS community, or to society in general.
The public is invited.
COVER PHOTO: Andrew Murray, Wayland High School Class of 2004, will be guest speaker at the Scholastic Honors Night.
Previous WHS Alumni inductee are:
2001 — Claude Smith – 1928
2002 — Joe Miller – 1975
2003 — Daryl Fleser – 1955 2004 — Dorothy DeWeerd – 1946
2005 — Fred Hilbert – 1930
2006 — Francis Beuschel – 1955
2007 — Tom Tarnutzer – 1965
2008 — Clayton Jackson – 1966
2009 — Ethel Aubil – 1935
2010 — Art Johnson – 1968
2011 — Julia Smith – 1927
2012 — Hugh DeWeerd and Dr. Michael Deweerd, – 1945 and 1968.
2013 —Patrick Coughlin – 1989
2014 — Teresa Permoda- 1972
2015 — Norman Fifelski (1965) and Roger Merren (1967)
2016 — Cheri Ritz (1977) and Roger VanVolkinburg (1972)
2017 — Embriette Hyde (2006) and Mary Jane Merren (1967)
2018 —Beatrice (Rairigh) Smith and Dick Miller (1962)
2019 — Jackie Straub (1965) and Frank and Marylin Bastion
2020 and 2021 — William and Eric Hooker (posthumously), Lisa Schroeder Banas, and Alan Baugh.