CNE senior honored by Chamber at ‘Salute to Leaders’ event
By Dick Maloney
Above and beyond. Up and over. Or, if those fail, just break through. Whatever it takes. One Clermont Northeastern High School senior will find a way.
Ivy Stephan is the 2023 winner of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce’s “Up and Over” Leadership Award; she was honored as part of the group’s “Salute to Leaders” ceremony March 29 at The Oasis in Miami Township. The man who nominated her described Stephan as an obvious choice.
Steve Thompson is CNE’s Student Success Coordinator. In that role, he has established a relationship with Chamber Vice President Andrew McAfee; they have worked together on a speed mentoring program, “Lunch and Learn,” during which representatives of local companies speak to students about employment opportunities, and an interview skills workshop for seniors.
When given the opportunity to nominate someone for the Chamber award, Thompson had plenty of options from CNE’s Class of 2023.
“At the time, Ms. Stephan was looking to apply to the United States Military Academy at West Point,” Thompson said. “Ivy eventually wants to become an (intelligence officer) and work for one of the ‘three-letter’ agencies. I see her being the director of the Central Intelligence Agency by 2053 to be honest.
“Nonetheless, she was a no-brainer for the award. Ivy is the secretary of our schools National Honor Society, volunteers countless hours for (National Honor Society) and the Leo Club, she was on our league champion girls soccer (team) and dominating girls wrestling team, I can go on and on,” Thompson said.
More specifically, Stephan is vice president of the senior class, secretary of National Honor Society, vice president of the school’s Leo Club (a youth organization of Lions Club International), and has served as president of a non-school affiliated 4-H Club. She also represented CNE last year at the West Point Society of Greater Cincinnati’s Leadership and Ethic Seminar in February in Springdale
“I just like to step up and be the person that helps lead the group to make decisions,” Stephan said when asked about her involvement in so many activities, adding that sports are her favorite activity.
Stephan comes from a military family; she is fourth-generation U.S. Army, in fact, or will be in August, when she reports to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She applied to and achieved the “fully qualified” status for admission to West Point, but only half of the 2,500 who reach that level are admitted, and there was no seat for her, so she enlisted to active duty.
Three months from report date, Stephan admits to a mix of excitement and anxiety.
“I'm excited to be able to serve I like the military that like my dad, my grandpa, and great grandpa served in. I have a passion for this country, but I am nervous to leave my family because I have younger siblings so I not be able to see them grow up,” Stephan said.
Her leadership and desire to help impact those far beyond CNE’s campus. Stephan helped organize a “small food pantry” at her church in Sardinia, in Brown County.
“It's a box that's outside of our church and it gets filled weekly by people by volunteers and anyone from the community goes and takes from it and I've had a lot of people report how thankful and grateful they are to be able to use that,” Stephan said.
High School Principal T.J. Glassmeyer said CNE has “been blessed” to have Stephan as a student.
“Her leadership, character, dedication and hard work have made a lasting impact. The skills that made her a successful student and leader at CNE will help her as she leaves high school and enlists in the Army. Ivy has an incredibly bright future ahead of her and we are lucky to count her as one of our graduates,” Glassmeyer said.
Thompson had praise for Stephan’s classmates as well.
“This is a remarkable class. As I mentioned in the speech March 29 at the Oasis Convention Center, 26 out of the 114 seniors have over 4.0 grade point averages, while they participate in multiple clubs/organizations, and sports,” Thompson said.
Stephan will spend the next three months preparing for the military by “spending as much time as she can” with family and friends.
Those who have worked with her have no doubt that Stephan will succeed in her chosen career.
“Ivy is the epitome of a student who goes above and beyond anything she's asked to do. No matter how big or small the task is,” Thompson said. “I believe that if Ivy couldn't get ‘Up and Over’ something, she has the resilience, character and tenacity to do whatever it takes to find a way through it.”
Similar to one of Stephan’s role models.
“Dolly Parton, because she came from like poverty and made a life and a living for herself, but also gives back a lot too,” she said.