It’s not as if Bridgeport High School seniors Maggie Lohmann and Jacob “Jack” Funk haven’t performed in pressure situations in front of a whole lot of people before. Both are student-athletes, while Lohmann has been in front of packed crowds in school plays and Funk has done the same as a member of the Indians band.

 

Yet, both know that there’s something a little bit different about an upcoming performance. Earlier this week, Lohmann and Funk learned that they would be the student speakers at graduation for the Bridgeport High School Class of 2016 on May 22.

 

The pair were named as 2016 Mr. and Miss Bridgeport High School. The honor, which has the only two speeches given after valedictorian and salutatorian status was eliminated several years ago, comes as a result of a vote of the BHS faculty and staff. Both said they were honored to be chosen by teachers and staff.

 

“I love performing, particularly doing the plays, and I really like being up in front of people,” said Lohmann. “I know this is a different type of situation. I’ll almost certainly have some nerves to deal with.”

 

Funk echoed those comments.

 

“There may be some nerves involved because I know this is a different type of experience as opposed to running in front of a bunch of people at a cross country meet. As much as I love running, to have the chance to speak in front of your class at graduation is very meaningful and much more personal,” he said. “I’m really excited and really appreciative to have this opportunity.”

 

One thing that will help both is that they are more than just casually familiar with the graduation experience. And both have their graduation perspective as a result of their mothers.

 

“I’ve been attending Bridgeport High School graduations with my mother (Amy, a Bridgeport High School English teacher) since I was three-years-old,” said Lohmann. “I’ve only missed one graduation since then.

 

“This one is bitter sweet because I’ve seen so many students talk about graduation and give speeches and I’ve always wondered what it would be like,” she continued. “As excited as I am to actually be one of those giving a speech it still seems crazy, but it also lets me know that my high school experience is about to end. When I was nine and at a graduation, I looked my mother and told her I was half way there. It just feels like I said that yesterday, but here we are.”

 

Funk’s mother Amy also has brought him to many graduation events. However, it’s her involvement with West Virginia University’s Dental Hygiene program that has had him surrounded on a regular basis by caps and gowns.

 

“I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I’d like to speak at graduation and I guess part of it was from watching my older sister graduate a couple of years ago,” said Funk. “On top of that, I helped out at last year’s Bridgeport graduation and have been to many graduation ceremonies with my mom for the same thing for her dental hygiene program and WVU,” said Funk.  “When you go to so many and hear people speak you start wondering what you might say if you had to get up there and speak.”

 

Now, neither student has to wonder. Although they haven’t prepared their speeches, the thought process has already started.

 

“I’m not quite sure yet and I don’t have anything specific in mind,” said Funk about what he might say. “I’ve always felt the best speeches are the ones where you reflect on your past in a manner where your classmates can relate to what you’re saying. You want your words to have some kind of impact.”

 

Lohmann’s comments were similar.

 

“I have some ideas, but Bridgeport and Bridgeport High School are the two things that have shaped me into who I am. I’ve been here since I’ve been a little girl so it’s going to be hard to put that into words,” said Lohmann. “I don’t know where I’ll end up after college, but I know Bridgeport will always be my home. That’s something I’d like to incorporate into my speech.”

 

Lohmann will attend West Virginia Wesleyan and will do general studies for the start of her college career. Since she began writing more in Mrs. Alice Rowe’s journalism class she’s gotten to like that genre of education, but she still hasn’t opted out of something with a medical path while studying in biology.

 

Funk’s future, as far as what he’ll study, is a little more secure. He’ll attend the Air Force Academy and study in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in mathematics.

 

Lohmann is the daughter of Amy and Mike Lohmann. She has a younger sister Claire. Funk is the son of Fred and Amy Funk. His older sister is Danielle and he has a twin brother Andrew, who not surprisingly is also a senior at Bridgeport High School.

 

Listing all of the accomplishments of both would be a daunting task. Below are the biographies of both Lohmann and Funk that were part of their student of the month selections.

 

MAGGIE LOHMANN:  She serves as Student Body Publicist and has been involved with Student Council as an executive board member for the past three years. She is also a member of the strings program, journalism program, cross country team, and National Honor Society. Maggie has performed in both the West Virginia All­ State Orchestra and WVU High School Honors Orchestra. She attends Bridgeport United Methodist Church, where she is an active member of the Youth Group and music program. She dances at Annabel Timms School of Ballet, volunteers as a Buddy for the Bridgeport Little League Challenger Division, and writes for Connect-Bridgeport. She has also appeared in several musicals at Bridgeport High School, most recently in Peter Pan and The Addams Family. During the summer of 2014, Maggie attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar and the West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts. This past summer, she was the West Virginia representative at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington D.C. Maggie was voted this year's Homecoming Maid of Honor.

 

JACK FUNK: Throughout his four years at BHS, Jack has maintained a grade point average above a 4.0, earned his Academic Letter his freshman year, and earned his Academic Lamps his sophomore and junior years. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was chosen as the BHS ambassador for the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Conference. Jack also serves on the Junior Engineering and Technical Society (JETS), the Science Bowl academic teams, and is a member of the Drug-Free Club and RAZE. Being active in school activities, Jack has participated in several athletic teams during high school. During his four year tenure on the Varsity Cross Country team, the team earned the title of two time state champions and state runner up this year. He was named on the Big 10 first all-conference team his junior and senior years, second all-conference team his sophomore year, and served as co-captain his senior year. He also participated on the Track and Field team for four years, swim team for three years, the freshman basketball team, and soccer team for one year. In addition to academics and athletics, Jack has played trombone in the BHS Jazz band for four years, earning first chair and being all county first chair trombone since his junior year. Jack also played in the BHS Marching band and served as class representative during his freshman and sophomore years. Currently, Jack is employed part-time at Ford Funeral home. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo by Noah Hall. Middle photo, by Michelle Duez, show Jack  Funk competing in cross country, while Maggie Lohmann is shown below working in Mrs. Alice Rowe's class; photo courtesy of BHS Journnalism Department.