Weir Student Media will be introducing a Senior Signoff series. The series will include struggles they have faced and achievements during their high school years. Seniors were sent out a survey earlier in the month and were asked to answer a handful of questions. To ensure fairness, all senior names were entered into a generator and randomly selected.

John Wansack 

The past couple of years have been tough between Covid, schoolwork, sports, and other obligations. John stated,” we had to deal with cancelations from sports and school through the years.”” Spring sports even lost a whole season.” he replied. Something positive that came out of Covid-19 John mentioned was,” We expanded our use of technology and now more people understand it.”

Throughout all four years of high school, Wansack has played soccer and track. He was a member of the Drama Club and Pep Club for a year. John was inducted into both NHS and NTHS in his junior year.

A teacher who has impacted Wansack throughout his high school career was Deanna Williams. “Mrs. Williams has made class so relatable with one another and makes it feel like a safe place for each one of her students,” said.

Wansack took his team to OVAC Championships, winning a Sectional Championship, earning first team All-OVAC, second team All-Region, and honorable mention for All-State.  In addition to these accomplishments, Wansack said, “The thing that I am proud of the most is receiving my Eagle Scout Award.”

Wansack will attend WVU for the next four years. He is majoring in exercise physiology and plans to become a physical therapist. What he will miss the most are, “his friends that he won’t see on his next adventure.”

Wansack advises undergraduates “to find something that you love and to plan your future early.” He recommends to start taking classes related to your major and find something that you love.

“I am John Wansack and I am signing off.”

Elena Mastrantoni 

Elena has faced many challenges between first-year student and junior year because of Covid-19. “When we were switching from in-person to virtual on a daily basis and Covid-19 played an important role through my challenges as well. She states that,” to overcome these challenges she worked on herself through these stressful times and prioritizing on her mental health.” She had some struggles she faced, but she achieved, “on maintaining straight A’s, even through the years that involved Covid-19.”

She was inducted into NHS in her junior year with her fellow peers. She is also athletic as a member of the varsity soccer and varsity track for four years and basketball for two years.

Through her high school years, Mastrantoni has had two teachers who impacted her: math teacher Alisa Hannah and science teacher Lucas Flaus. She stated, “They both forced me to become a better person and to have more confident within myself.”

Mastrantoni will attend for the next four years. She is majoring in biochemistry with a pre-med track. After her four years are up, she will attend medical school and wants to become a pediatric oncologist.

Mastrantoni said she will miss her teachers most when she leaves high school adding, “They all had a great impact on my learning experience and helped me along the way.”

In the next five years, Mastrantoni sees herself “in [her] second semester of medical school, working hard, and studying.” Mastrantoni advises undergraduates, “Work before you play.”

“I am Elena Mastrantoni and I am signing off.”