Carroll Salutes 2020 Alumni Entering the Armed Forces
Carroll High School is proud to be the first and only Catholic high school to have earned the Purple Star Designation as a military-friendly school through the Ohio Department of Education. In addition to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for families in the armed forces, Carroll takes pride in its graduates who choose to enhance the Patriot part of their Carroll Patriot identity by serving in the armed forces.
Having grown up in a military family, Todd Jokerst ‘20 has always wanted to give back to his country in a similar way. Todd’s dad is a Colonel in the Air Force who works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a reservist doing research. “The military has been very good to my dad,” Jokerst said, “so I feel an obligation to serve.”
Todd will start his studies as a mechanical engineer at Georgia Tech with an ROTC scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees plus a book stipend of $750 each semester and a monthly allowance that grows from $250 monthly as a first semester student and grows to $400 monthly by graduation. Upon graduation, Todd will enter into the navy as an officer. He hopes to become a surface warfare officer, a naval helicopter pilot doing search and rescue missions, or a SEAL special warfare officer.
As he begins his coursework at Georgia Tech, Jokerst will already have a head start in his leadership training, as he has had many opportunities to lead his peers at Carroll. As swim team captain and a House Captain during the COVID-19 pandemic, Todd has gained valuable skills that will benefit him in service. “You have to adapt to situations. You have to see what comes at you,” said Jokerst, “you really have to make do with what you have."
Thankfully, Carroll graduates who choose to serve in the armed forces have an entire toolbox of valuable resources and experiences upon entering the military. Taylor Smith '20, who enlisted in the army, starts Advanced Individual Training on August 24th and will be putting the skills she learned in computer courses at Carroll to use as she trains to be a social signaling specialist. Her specialty, an Information Technology role, maintains the technology used for various missions and ensures cables are hooked up properly in order to launch missiles.
“Whenever I’m done with my contract, my skills will still be useful,” states Smith. After Advanced Individual Training, she plans on attending the University of Cincinnati. Like Jokerst, Smith will also be receiving full tuition for her commitment to serve.
Taylor’s time at Carroll and the military recruiters she met there paved the way for her to embark on a career in the army. Though this will be a new chapter for Taylor, she is thankful to have fellow Carroll alumni like Jared Ritter ‘18 and Jacob Heil ‘18 giving some insight into what life in the Army will look like and advice for the journey ahead. Taylor also acknowledged Carroll High School’s commitment to honoring alumni and community members who are active and veteran members of the armed forces throughout the school year. “Carroll definitely recognizes the contributions of people in the military,” said Smith.
On this Independence Day, Carroll High School wants to remember, honor, and thank America's active duty, reserve, and retired military members, especially the Patriot Alumni who have served our country as part of the United States armed forces.
2020 Alumni Entering the Armed Forces
- Paige Bey: Army National Guard
- Todd Jokerst: Navy
- Alexis Ortiz: Marine Corps
- Kenneth Smith: Army
- Taylor Smith Army National Guard
- Franklin Smith-Custer: Coast Guard
- Janelle Soto: Army National Guard
Twins Times Two -- a new set of Bartlett sisters begin their Carroll careers as older sisters graduate
Many younger siblings of Carroll students desire to create their own individuality while having to navigate through sibling comparisons. When the Bartlett twins begin their high school careers this fall, they are already prepared to be compared to the “Bartlett twins”.
Incoming freshmen Mikayla and Elyssa Bartlett ‘24 have been looking forward to starting their journeys as Patriots, especially after seeing their identical twin sisters, Victoria and Olivia ‘20, and brother, Nathan ‘23, enjoy their time at Carroll. In their excitement, Mikayla and Elyssa, also identical twins, are already preparing to tackle any confusion that may happen the first few days of school, as it has happened throughout their lives. “Elyssa and I are taller than Olivia and Victoria, so people often think we’re the older set of twins,” states Mikayla. “People also think that Elyssa, Nathan, and I are triplets… because we all look alike.”
Along with the twin confusion, both sets of Bartlett twins are used to receiving often strange questions from peers who have not experienced life with a twin. Olivia, for example, has fielded questions regarding whether or not she can telepathically communicate with her twin, Victoria. Both sets of twins have answered their share of unique questions. “I know people are just curious about twins,” said Mikayla. “It’s funny sometimes, interesting to hear what people have to say.”
“I love having an older set of twin sisters. They’re my role models, and I want to be like them when I grow up.”
-Mikayla Bartlett '24
For their older sisters, it took some time to get used to the new twins in the family. “They took all the attention away from us, recalls Olivia. “They were the new, younger grandchildren. Everyone else had thoughts like, ‘A second set of twins? That’s fascinating!’ But it’s been a really good time growing up with them. Us five siblings are really close, and they obviously understand the twin thing, the twin bond.”
Mikayla and Elyssa feel fortunate to have older sisters who have shared those same experiences. “I love having an older set of twin sisters,” Mikayla said, “They’re my role models, and I want to be like them when I grow up.”
Having graduated this past spring, Victoria and Olivia are ready to start their college careers at Wright State University. Though they ended up choosing the same university, they are pursuing different majors, as Olivia plans on studying chemistry and environmental sciences and Victoria is majoring in Spanish education. Both are looking forward to college and anticipating some adjustments, as this will be the first time taking different courses than their twin. “We’ve lived our lives with a built-in best friend,” Victoria says, “We’re not going to be able to share...all the same experiences.”
Though they are headed down different courses of study this fall, Olivia and Victoria agree that their younger sisters are going to enjoy their time at Carroll, both in and out of the classroom. And, having witnessed their sisters’ love of Carroll school spirit, especially at football games, House events, and Catholic Schools Week activities, Elyssa and Mikayla are ready to join the Patriot family and carry on their older siblings’ legacy. “(Olivia and Victoria) are known for being nice to everyone, and I want to continue that,” says Mikayla. “(They) were always referred to as The Bartlett Twins, so I’m excited to be that now.
Mitch Johnson '20 named to B.A.S.S. Bassmaster All-State Fishing Team
Mitch Johnson '20 is one of two high school seniors in Ohio chosen to represent the Buckeye State on the 2020 Bassmaster All-State Fishing team.
According to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), "the students were selected for the honor based on their success in bass tournament competition, academic achievement and leadership in conservation and community service." A panel of judges will choose 12 members of the 49 students who earned all-state honors nationwide for the All-America team. Those students will compete in a one-day Bassmaster All-American High School Bass Tournament held during the 2020 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest currently scheduled for June 5-9 on Lake Fork in Quitman, Texas.
Carroll fishing club advisor, head wrestling coach, and Health/Physical Education teacher Jason Ashworth nominated Johnson for the award.
Carroll senior provides coronavirus "relief" through STEM Education
Zach Merz ‘20 has turned one of his hobbies into a project to help doctors, nurses, and first responders across the country fight the coronavirus pandemic. After his mother saw a social media post with instructions on how to make ear reliefs for medical masks, Zach researched ways he could use his 3D printer to produce his own pieces. He found the file with instructions online at a site called Thingiverse that has free digital recipe cards for countless projects created with 3D printers, lasercutters, and CNC (computer numerical control) machines. Zach fired up his 3D printer to create the reliefs which use hooks to pull elastic bands off the wearer’s head for more comfort by reducing pressure around the ears.
From start to finish, printing one relief is a ten minute process. Not only has Zach donated an estimated 400 ear reliefs so far to local hospitals, veterinarians, and schools, but he is finding ways to get some to hard-hit areas like New York, Michigan, Florida, and Chicago.
“Just seeing how a simple thing that I could print quickly and get it out to people,” Zach recalls, “I thought that was pretty cool.”
Zach started working with 3D printers in junior high school when they first became affordable at a consumer level.
“I started out by printing knick-knacks, but [my knowledge] grew through Carroll Science Day. During my freshman year, I learned Computer Aided Design to make 3D models but my junior year was when I really found the power of 3D printing,” Zach says. “[Carroll Science Department Co-Chair] Mrs. Laurie Fuhr really challenged me to think outside the box in AP Physics. Mrs. Fuhr and the Science Day helped me figure out how reliable my printer could be.”
His project “Strengths of 3D Printed Composites” focused on developing a plan to test the strength of different plastics blended with materials like steel, brass, carbon fiber, cork, and wood. Zach’s engineering research won the Thomas Edison Award at Ohio’s State Science Day in 2019.
“I had to make the test specimens to test each one’s strength, and I had to make nine of each material,” Zach says. “I had to figure out how to make them quickly and of good quality. I was able to figure out what material and what settings I needed so that I could easily put it [in the machine] and just hit reprint after every cycle.”
Zach’s research of making those test pieces inspired the process he uses to make the reliefs efficiently. He just bought more material to continue production and plans on printing reliefs as long as people need them.
Thank You and God Bless you all including our Son, Kenneth (KJ) Smith...
Congratulations graduates! Heartfelt thanks for serving our country! Be assured of my prayers for your future endeavors. May God bless you! Peace be with you all!