Magnets: Band and Theatre

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Shannon and Dan with their children Alex (l) and Lily
What do you get when you blend a flair for the dramatic, an expert clarinetist, scientific prowess, and engineering savvy? You get Shannon (Mayne) Hendricks, a night-shift pharmacist in Columbus with a beautiful family and a deep-rooted gratitude for her Stivers career.

Shannon’s pursuit of higher learning began in seventh grade at Stivers when a teacher nominated her for the Wright Stepp program, an intensive four-year summer learning institute at Wright State University that prepares students for careers in math, science, and engineering and offers a full scholarship upon completion. Shannon took advantage of the scholarship and in 2006 graduated magna cum laude with dual degrees - a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and a bachelor of science in chemistry. Shannon didn’t stop at two degrees – in 2010, she graduated cum laude as a Doctor of Pharmacy from The Ohio State University.

Currently Shannon resides in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and children, Happily married for almost five years, Shannon and Dan met while working together at McDonald’s during high school, but did not start dating until years later. Dan has continued his career at McDonald’s and is now a restaurant manager. Shannon and Dan are the proud parents of two adorable kids, Alex (2) and Lily (9 months). Shannon says her children “are the light of my life!”

As a pharmacist for Cardinal Health, Shannon works the night shift seven days straight and then has seven days off. “Having a week off every other week is pretty awesome,” says Shannon. “I help nurses with any questions they have about the medications their patients are taking. I also review patients’ medications during their hospital stays to ensure that they are taking the correct medications at the correct doses without any risk of drug interactions.” Although Shannon works long hours in a high-intensity atmosphere, she says, “I love my job!”

When asked how Stivers helped prepare her for life after high school, Shannon said that it gave her a concept of the real world that many of her pharmacy school classmates were lacking. “Stivers gave me exposure to diversity that I have not been able to experience since. Cultural, racial, religious, sexual, educational, and artistic diversity, all in one building, coexisting as a big family.” Shannon says that these experiences have made her better equipped to assist patients from a variety of backgrounds because she sees them as equals. “These are skills my diverse Stivers family taught me.” Shannon also credits her success to influential mentors who guided her through her academic career – Mrs. Schaetzle and Mrs. Murdock for honing her English skills, and Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. Huff for developing her math skills. “I owe a great deal of thanks and gratitude to the many teachers who gave me their time and energy so willingly.”


 
Magnet: Creative Writing
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Emily Freed (right) with her younger sister, Amanda (Stivers Class of 2005)

I had the privilege of attending Stivers with Emily Freed, and when I think back on our high school days, I am immediately reminded of Emily’s amazing talent for writing, her impeccable attention to detail, and her ability to juggle a multitude of extra-curricular activities and hobbies while maintaining a flawless GPA. When I caught up with Emily recently, I quickly realized that those wonderful traits are still propelling her to succeed.

Emily graduated with Highest Honors from Purdue University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Political Science. In addition to making the Dean’s List for all eight semesters, she participated in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Honors Program, served as a CLA Ambassador, and was president of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Upon graduating from Purdue, Emily relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to work for Stryker, a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturing company.  In just seven years, Emily has earned four promotions. As an Associate Regulatory Affairs Manager, Emily manages a team of six personnel in the areas of document control, change control, and other quality-system related activities. Although the majority of her career has been focused on regulatory affairs, Emily briefly worked in information technology, where she focused on general project management and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Emily is also attending grad school at Purdue to earn a certificate in Regulatory and Quality Compliance.

Although Emily stays busy with her thriving career and her graduate studies, she makes time to contribute to the community. She currently serves as a volunteer advisor and an advisor coordinator for her sorority and is the co-chair of a strategic planning committee. Emily also mentors foster children enrolled at Western Michigan University.

I asked Emily how her time at Stivers helped prepare her for the real world. “Stivers gave me the opportunity to work with people of many different experiences and backgrounds, which has definitely come into play following graduation,” she says. “In addition, it gave me an incredible appreciation for the arts, something which I am now passionate about supporting in my local community.”

Emily enjoys living in Kalamazoo with her dog, Polly, who she refers to as the “world’s best yellow lab rescue dog!” Kalamzoo is “a lovely microcosm of the ‘Midwestern’ city,” says Emily. “We have two universities in town, which contributes to a great arts and restaurant community.”

We are excited to share the accomplishments of Stivers grads! Interested in being featured? Click here.