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Past valedictorians tell of life since high school

Staff writer

After the speeches, ceremonies, and post-graduation celebrations are done, life will take members of the Marion High School class of 2011 along different paths.

Valedictorians from 10, 20, and 30 years ago shared what they have been doing since leaving the halls of MHS behind.

Paul Loney, class of 1981

Paul Loney was co-valedictorian with Ron Wineinger.

Loney knew from the time he was in elementary school that he wanted to become a physician, and he followed in his older siblings’ footsteps to achieve that goal.

He attended the University of Kansas, and in 1985 graduated with distinction. He also attended medical school at KU, completing his degree in 1989. He then attended the University of Louisville for his residency for emergency medicine, finishing in 1992.

“I didn’t have an idea of being an emergency physician until medical school,” he said.

Loney has been a full-time emergency room physician since 1992, including the past 16 years at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Unpredictability is a major aspect of working in an emergency room, he said. He might have a heart attack patient in a room next to a patient with a sore throat, he said.

Loney credited his parents, former Marion County resident Leona, who now lives in Lawrence, and the late Jim Loney, with teaching him a work ethic that has served him well.

“Most of it came from my parents,” he said.

He said his education at MHS prepared him well for the math and science classes he took at KU.

“I arrived at KU in Lawrence with every tool I needed,” Loney said. “There were no deficits.”

He said the small town atmosphere and small classes in Marion were good for him. Looking back, his favorite school activity was choir.

“I remember being real active in choir and really enjoying that,” he said.

Loney and his wife, Catrina, have six children. Their oldest daughter, Elise, is set to graduate from Lawrence Free State High School this month as a co-valedictorian.

Attempts were made to contact Wineinger for this story.

Julie Sellers, class of 1991

Sellers’ education has taken her around the globe since graduating from MHS in 1991.

She earned bachelor’s degrees in French and Spanish and a master’s degree in Spanish from Kansas State University, but not before spending a summer in the Dominican Republic and three summers in Mexico studying abroad.

She also spent a year in Spain as a Rotary scholar. While taking classes, she also spoke to Rotary Clubs in Spain about Kansas, and when she returned to the U.S., spoke to Rotary Clubs about her experience in Spain.

Sellers went on to earn a second master’s degree in international studies at the University of Wyoming. She then earned a doctorate in adult learning and technology from the University of Wyoming.

She is in her first year as an assistant professor of Spanish at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, W. Va.

“I love it,” Sellers said. “It’s a small university, and I am the one and only full-timer (Spanish professor), so there’s a lot I get to do.”

She also is a federally certified Spanish-English court interpreter — a skill that she uses part-time.

“It’s a whole other ballgame,” Sellers said of court interpreting.

It requires a high level of fluency in the language, the ability to translate as many as 200 words per minute, and there is some terminology she doesn’t use much outside of the courtroom.

“In all my years of teaching, I never had to say ‘double-barreled sawed-off shotguns,’” she said.

In 2004, she published a book, “Merengue and Dominican Identity: Music as National Unifier,” which she described as one of the highlights of her achievements.

Sellers said she had teachers at MHS who dramatically simplified her college career.

“I cannot say enough good things about Mrs. (JoAnn) Good as a language teacher,” she said.

When she arrived at Kansas State, she was able to test out of the lower-level Spanish classes. She also appreciated the English classes she took from Nancy Methvin. Methvin’s teaching prepared her for college writing and allowed her to take advanced English classes immediately at the university.

“I was able to graduate in three years,” Sellers said.

Robert and Leah Sellers of rural Florence are her parents.

“Being from Florence was always hard, because it meant either the drive or school bus,” Sellers said.

Philip Vaske is her husband.

Ashley DeForest, class of 2001

2001 valedictorian Ashley DeForest, now Dickey, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Kansas State University in 2005, before attending law school at Baylor University.

She graduated from law school in 2008, and now she works for law firm Winston & Strawn LLP in Houston. Dickey specializes in intellectual property litigation, particularly as it relates to patents and trademarks.

The high school experience that best prepared Dickey for her career was an extracurricular activity, she said.

“I was into debate in high school,” she said.

But her favorite memories are of running cross-country.

“Those are my best memories — the people, running every day,” Dickey said.

She said that determination is a crucial factor to being successful. When asked what advice she would give MHS students, she said it would be to figure out what they want and then make it happen.

“Think about what you want to do with your life — give it some thought and consideration — then go for it,” Dickey said. “You can choose your own path.”

Chuck and Cathy DeForest of Florence are her parents. She is married to Doug Dickey.

Last modified May 12, 2011

 

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