Springer School and Center honored three alumni with its Outstanding Achiever Award at the Annual Dinner Meeting on May 10, 2004. The award is presented to Springer graduates who have demonstrated leadership through their school, work, community or extracurricular activities. Nominees are high school age or older.

EMILY MOORHEAD '97 graduated this spring from Mariemont High School with a 3.8 grade point average. Next year, she will enroll at Miami University, majoring in Art and Psychology. In addition to her stellar grade point average, Emily has an impressive vita of honors and activities that span the arts, world affairs, and athletics. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a Scholar Athlete, and an Overture Finalist from among 100 participating schools, winning first place in the fine arts division (to name but a few of her many honors). Further, Emily was a class officer for three years, Team Captain for Cross Country and Track, Leadership Council President, and Student Council Treasurer. Her commitment to the greater community is evident by her many activities spanning musical entertainment for Dupree Nursing Home residents, her work as a Sunday School Teacher, and her involvement in the Outreach program with the St. Thomas Youth Group in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. Emily's accomplishments transcend this list - she has been a role model and source of encouragement for other students with learning disabilities and upon seeing the strategies she so effectively employs, her teachers have asked her to share these techniques with other students.

ANDREW BRINKMAN '91 traveled 1 hour 10 minutes each way every day to attend Springer, a tremendous commitment on his and his family's part to address his learning disabilities. Andy graduated from Blanchester High School in 1995, being the first student with learning disabilities at the school ever inducted into the National Honor Society.  He recieved a B.A. from Hiram College in 1999 with a major in Math and holds a State of Ohio Provisioonal Secondary Certification in Math for grades 7-12. While in college, he continued with his passion for sports on both the varsity soccer and track teams. He was also a student athletic advisor, and a member of the math and computer clubs.  Andy is now pursuing a master's degree in Education with an emphasis in special education from Wilmington College while working full time.  Andy expects to complete his degree in 2005.  Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Andy entered the work force as a high school math teacher. Since 2001, he has worked at Clinton Massie High School as a Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus instructor. Norita Aplin, in her letter for nomination, shared a story about Andy's persistance in developing a group approach to learning mathematics for his students who were struggling. At the time, his school was unable to afford to send Andy for the specific training he sought, so Andy taught himself and successfully implemented this approach, which is now an established program at the high school.  Andy is also the assistant men's soccer coach as well as the head goalkeeper and an Olympic Development Goalkeeper Coach. He is the assistant director of the Midwest Soccer Academy where he develops the skills of children of all ages and their love of the game. Bud Lewis, the head soccer coach wrote, "Andy is a real student of the game. . . but perhaps his greatest asset is his genuine enthusiasm, care and effort he gives in all that he does. He is an extraordinarily dedicated and caring coach and teacher." In a letter of recommendation, one of Andy's professors wrote, "I have known Andy for nearly three years now, as a student in my graduate classes here at Wilmington College and as assistant coach for the college's soccer team. He has been delightful to work with, exemplifying the characteristics of any student with whom you would want to work, with or without disabilities! He has been so generous about sharing with his classmates how his learning disability has affected his educational efforts as well as his life goals. The students in my Teaching Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs class consistently identify Andy's appearance and/or participation as one of their most invaluable learning experiences for the semester. They find him "inspiring" and he challenges their notions about what persons with learning disabilities are really capable of achieving."


JULIA ROGERS '92 graduated from Summit Country Day School in 1999, receiving the Country Day Award which is given to an individual who exemplifies the values and mission of the school. Julia graduates from the University of Cincinnati this June with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education maintaining and overall GPA of 3.75. During her college career, Julia served as President of the Student Council for Exceptional Children and on the UC College of Education Student Cabinet; she became a certified peer mediation trainer through the Center for Peace Education. Julia has volunteered at Springer in our teacher education programs, sharing her experiences and insights with local classroon teachers in an effort to demystify learning disabilities. Julia is a Golden Key Scholar and a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society. In a letter of nomination, Barbara Hunter wrote, "Julia is positive, proactive, and an outspoken advocate for educating children in the way they learn best." Her professors at UC clearly concur as Julia recently received the Pearl M. Wright Award Scholarship. This College of Education honor is awarded to a senior student "who best exemplifies high moral and academic standards of a primary teacher, who is sensitive, loving and understanding of little childern." It is the College's most distinguished award.