Dr. Scott D. Hanback

1989

 

As a member of the marching band, Scott represented Jefferson High School at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Walt Disney World and other venues.  He also played trumpet for the symphonic band, First Edition Show Choir and other groups.  Upon graduation, Scott attended Taylor University earning a B.S. in Education, Purdue University earning a M.S. in Education, and Indiana State University earning a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. Scott started his teaching career at Mintonye Elementary School in Lafayette as a third grade Teacher; then became an Assistant Principal and Principal at Hershey Elementary School, Principal of Wainwright Middle School, Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County in Wabash, IN, and then Superintendent of Tippecanoe School Corporation.

Scott earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Administration at the age of 31, beginning a career as a Superintendent of Schools at age 33, ultimately leading the 13th largest K-12 school corporation in the State of Indiana at age 36.  The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents named Scott the 2013 West Central District Superintendent of the year,

The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendent’s Association elected Scott as its President in 2015 to serve as an agent for the superintendency to help influence significant decisions pertaining to the education of all school children in the State of Indiana.  He is a founding member of the steering committee for the Community Commitment to Education: Read to succeed.  Through his leadership, the Tippecanoe School Corporation received the prestigious Lighthouse Energy Stewardship award for continual improvements in energy conservation efforts, including being the first Indiana school district to power school buses with propane fuel.  He facilitated the creation of the Instructional Improvement Block (IIB) – a daily professional development time for teachers.

Scott has served various community groups, including the Lafayette Family YMCA Board of Directors, Ivy Tech Community College Regional Board of Trustees-Lafayette Chairman, The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette Board of Directors and Public Schools Foundation Tippecanoe County Board of Directors. 

 

John C. Vellinger

1984

 

While attending Jefferson High School, John earned two varsity letters in swimming, played on the basketball team, and was a member of the National Honor Society.  He was selected to attend Hoosier Boys State and was elected Outstanding Citizen.  John also was selected for an United States Air Force ROTC Scholarship.

Begun while an eighth-grade student at Tecumseh Junior High, John’s science project, nicknamed “Chix in Space”, launched aboard the ill-fated Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986.  For this famed experiment, he designed and built the hardware and trained astronauts Christa McAuliffe and Barbara Morgan to operate it.  Following the devastating loss of the Challenger, his experiment went on to successfully re-fly on Space Shuttle Discovery in March 1989.  The project was so successful that Vellinger, along with the Discovery crew, were honored at the White House by President George H. W. Bush. 

A publicity campaign centering on his “Chix in Space” experiment was conducted world-wide by Kentucky Fried Chicken, which had sponsored the project.  News outlets picking up the story included Time magazine, Science magazine, USA Today, Business Week,  Forbes, The Washington Post, Weekly Reader, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and many, many others.  In all, coverage of the experiment totaled more than 25 million media impressions.  Lesson plans about the experiment also were developed and distributed to schools throughout the US.

After graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis on biomedical engineering, John went on to co-found Techshot, Inc., in 1988. At Techshot he managed the development of innovative new equipment for commercial, government, and medical applications that have the potential to aid in the treatment of major diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis.  He designed research equipment that has flown on the International Space Station (ISS), seven space shuttle missions and three sub-orbital rocket flights. Vellinger trained Astronaut John Glenn to operate equipment he developed for the Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-95 in 1998.  The company has become a leading provider of devices and technologies that enable humans to explore the universe beyond our planet, including the first medical diagnostic X-ray machine ever flown in space.

Besides NASA, government customers include the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Commercial customers include Fortune 100 companies such as Procter & Gamble and the Coca-Cola Company.  He also co-founded IKOTECH, LLC a medical device company, and Techshot Lighting, LLC, a manufacturer of rugged and energy efficient LED lighting systems.  Vellinger has earned seven US Patents and one international patent and has authored numerous technical publications.

John is also very active in his community and church.  He has been on several mission trips – building houses for families in Mexico and remodeling orphanages in Ukraine.  He also works in the community with teenagers and mentors them through his internship programs at work and speaking engagements.  John encourages students to dream big and touch the stars!

 

TENECIA S. WADDELL

1997

 

 

While at Jefferson High School, Tenecia was on the Jeff Booster Staff as reporter, illustrator and editor.  She was one of the founders and elected President of the Minority Awareness Coalition.  Tenecia was recognized by the honor society and was a part of the challenge art program.

After graduating a semester early, Tenecia pursued higher education at both Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue University.  She started her career in law enforcement by becoming a Corrections Officer with the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department in 2001.  In 2008, she answered the calling to protect and serve and became a Police Officer with the Purdue University Police Department becoming the first and only African-American Female Police Officer in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.

Tenecia has a true commitment to serving the community.  She has quietly accomplished so much through her volunteer activities.  To highlight a few; she teaches self-defense classes, has been featured as a presenter and guest speaker at various engagements,  Tenecia reads to children at local schools, mentors at-risk youth, participates in the Shop with a Cop program and assists yearly with the PALS children summer camp and created a gang awareness program for them.

She has a passion for striving to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement by being involved in the schools, participating in or hosting community events and being accessible to the public.  Tenecia was a founding member of the Dog Park Association of Greater Lafayette and is co-founder of Delivering Smiles Tippecanoe which raises money to assist local public safety employees in times of emergency need.  Tenecia is on the Ultimate Pink Party committee (annual fundraiser for the YWCA Women’s Cancer Program).  She is a past board member of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sexual Assault Prevention Coalition and a 2014 LSC Task Force VI committee member. The Purdue University Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff has also appointed Tenecia to its executive board. 

Tenecia graduated Cum Laude and with Phi Theta Kappa Honors from IvyTech with an AS Degree in Criminal Justice.  Tenecia’s proudest accomplishment is being the mother of three sons Ameer, Naseer and Xavier Detrick, two of which currently attend Jefferson High School.  Through her perseverance and dedication to her family, career and community, Tenecia has made a positive impact by being a role model of great ethics and integrity. She is an inspiration and continues to give back to the community.

Awards: 

2014 YWCA Salute to Women Honoree – Woman of Innovation Honoree

2014 Awarded State of Indiana Proclamation for Achievements

 

Gilbert H. Young, Jr.

1966

 

While at Jefferson High School Gilbert was a member of the Jeff Concert Band for three years and its president in his senior year.  He played trombone as a member of the Jeff Orchestra and of the Pep Band during his junior and senior years. 

Gilbert attended Purdue two separate times and graduated with honors in History from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana in 1975.  In between Jefferson High and Bethel College he served in the US Navy and Navy Reserve for eight years, serving as a Signalman aboard destroyers.

Tapping into his love of US History, Gilbert has taken on the role of Theodore  Roosevelt – circa 1915 and has performed across the country as the 26th President.  He performs regularly at Mt. Rushmore,  Devils Tower, the Strasburg Railroad, and numerous historical museums.  His resume’ includes performances at the Smithsonian Museums of American History, JFK Library, Lincoln’s homes in southern Indiana and Springfield, IL, the Bremerton Navy Club in Washington state, the National Women’s Rights Historic Park as well as hundreds of schools,

Historical societies, festivals and other venues.

He became involved in his community and state as a board member, officer, organizer, and/or a participant in over sixteen state and local organizations and projects over the years.  Gilbert has served on PTO’s, veterans organization boards, historical organization boards, community improvement boards, is a charter member of community vintage baseball clubs, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War camps, and the Indiana Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and is a life member of The Mt. Rushmore Society, and Huntington County Historical Society.   He is currently chairing Huntington County’s Indiana Bi-Centennial Celebration.  These venues and about ten other projects and organizations validate his belief that service in your community and to your fellow citizen is the best way to serve your God, your family, and fellow man.