Senior Spotlight: Brett Heideman
By Melissa Kramer
In September of 2005, Kelly and Dean Heideman welcomed their oldest child, Brett Anthony Heideman, into
their lives. Brett has two younger siblings, Henry and Kendra. Brett is a member of Centralia High School’s
graduating class of 2024.
Throughout Brett’s high school career, he was involved in football, basketball, track, and StuCo. As a senior,
Brett served as the StuCo president. He was an active member of several activities, but his favorite was
football. Brett stated, "I enjoyed being around so many friends working out in the weight room and on the
practice field every day. There was never a dull moment with my teammates." It just so happens that Brett’s
most embarrassing moment happened during one of his first-ever football practices. Brett confessed, “I wore
only a girdle to football practice because I didn’t know how to put on the pants.” Brett has had a lot of great
memories during high school, but his favorite is also sports related. It was “going to state basketball and
playing cards.”
Known for his positive work ethic, Brett has had a few jobs: “I worked for Global Grain for one summer. Then,
the next two summers, I worked for J-Six.” His work ethic goes hand in hand with what Brett shares is his most
important trait. He explained, “Determination is my most important trait. It is important to me because I never
gave up and kept working hard, so I would get to play on varsity on our sports teams.” Perhaps he learned this
trait from his father who he admires ”because he always works hard.” Brett’s work ethic is also noted by Coach
Roger Holthaus: “Brett is one of the hardest-working kids I have ever been around. He will be a very successful
person in whatever he does.” Jessica Stallbaumer, StuCo sponsor, also shared a similar opinion of Brett: “Brett
has been a quiet but effective leader of StuCo. He has a quiet confidence but his actions speak louder than
any words. He has been a treasured member of StuCo these four years.”
Brett’s time at Centralia High has been filled with great memories and good friendships, but as he stated, “I will
miss seeing my friends every day.” When asked what advice he would give to next year's seniors, Brett
mentioned, “Have fun and enjoy all the fun moments.” We also asked him about the advice he would give to
next year's freshmen. He told them to “do [their] best and [they] will feel good about where [it takes them].”
Brett wants his class to be remembered for “being troublemakers but still hardworking and smart.” When the
school day became boring, Brett and his classmates would “get the teachers off-topic in the class to see how
long it took before they got back on topic.” There were also numerous good-natured pranks the seniors would
pull on others. One such instance was when several seniors “parked their trucks sideways to take up the whole
parking lot.”
During Brett’s time at Centralia, he had a lot of fun and interesting classes, but Brett said his favorite was
Culinary. He explained, “We would get to cook and eat a lot of different new foods.” After having reminisced
over the past four years, Brett wished “[he] hadn’t cared so much about small things. For example, when in 8th
grade, [he] had to paraphrase a chapter, and [he] wrote five whole pages front and back on it.” He noted, “I
think I wrote more than the chapter had written in it.” Brett also realizes how much he changed throughout his
senior year. In his words, he learned to “let loose and have fun.”
Brett plans to attend Manhattan Area Technical College to study HVAC.
Senior Spotlight: Derek Koch
By Scotty Long and Uriah Fairchild
Born in April 2006 to Steven and Denise Koch, Derek Thomas Koch is the youngest of six
children. His siblings are Lukas, Levi, Maegan, Sarah Koch, and Malori Henry. Derek adores his
niece Clara and six nephews: Glendon, Kasen, Emmett, Charlie, Kohen, and Kyler. As a
member of the class of 2024, Derek will graduate from Centralia High School and receive a
Precision Ag Certificate from Highland Community College Western Center.
Derek participated in FFA, FBLA, and KAY. His favorite organization was FBLA, which was
formed this year by Mrs. Misty Poe, CHS business teacher. Derek enjoyed FBLA: “We learned
about business in general, and we got to take field trips and learn about how people run their
businesses.”
Having many to choose from, Derek shared that “Mrs. Gleason was [his] favorite teacher
because even though [they] worked quite a bit, [they] still had fun.” Derek said that he believes
his class will be remembered for being “a fun group.” He continued, “We tried to have fun at all
times, so we will be known for being the ‘small class’ that the teachers always claimed felt like
the ‘biggest class.’” Being at Highland each morning was “one part of [Derek’s] school day that
was entertaining.” He said, “We were always finding new ways to have fun and to annoy
Thomas Eisenbarth, our teacher.”
Derek feels that his experiences have helped him gain confidence in himself and his abilities.
Because of this, he believes his most important trait is that he “doesn't care what other people
think of him.” Wisely he noted, “It's not good to change who you are; find the people you can be
yourself around.” It is for this very reason that Derek admires his classmate, Trey Morrison. He
said, “I admire Trey Morrison because he does not care what people think of him.” Believing
strongly that being genuine is better than not, Derek advised next year’s seniors to “Be
[themselves] and to have fun.” He warned the incoming freshmen: “Be yourselves; don't change
who you are to fit in.”
In addition to Trey, Derek also admires two of the most important men in his life. He stated, “I
also admire my dad and my grandpa because they are hard workers and do a lot for our family. I
love that Grandpa, in spite of his age, is still out helping do whatever needs to be done.”
Derek loves that he grew up on a hard-working farm with great role models, which impacted his
career choice of also becoming a farmer. He hopes to one day buy a farm and equipment of his
own. He added, “I want to be a farmer because I thoroughly enjoy running farm machinery. It
never gets old.”
Derek’s ultimate goal “is to have a successful life.” He wants “to be able to one day look at what
[he] has done and what [he] has earned and know that [he] worked hard to get it.”
In a few weeks, Derek will begin working for Snell Harvesting, a custom harvesting crew out of
Ellinwood, KS. There, he “will run a combine, grain cart, and possibly a semi.” Upon returning,
he would like to work for Ag Partners.
Pictures from the 4th & 5th Grade Field trip to the State Capitol Building.
Thank you Bright Beginnings Childcare Center in Centralia for letting the Family Studies class come visit this afternoon.
3rd graders created board games and they are demonstrating to their peers
This is a bittersweet time of the year for many. The doors of High School are closing, while the doors of college, jobs, tech schools, and whatever other dreams are opening for these young men and women. You are AMAZING AND Your principal believes in you and loves you all. 1st day and then todays last day pics-
Graduations to Morgan Allan for being a top winner in the Kansas Insurance department financial essay contest. Here is a nice article about the program and winners.
https://www.wibw.com/2024/05/09/three-high-school-students-receive-scholarships-kansas-department-insurance/
Discuss throwers are waiting patiently!
Boys are Geared up for javelin!
Good luck to our track Athletes at The TVL track meet today. Little windy but it is still a beautiful day outside. Go Panthers!!!
Here are some pictures of the 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade field trip to Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum and Lewis and Clark Site.
Centralia Track travels to Valley Heights today for the TVL track meet. Field events start at 3:00 pm. Prelims for Running events start at 4:45pm.
Good Luck Panthers!
The Panther Softball team has their last regular season game today at Riverside. Doubleheader starting at 4:30.
Ballpark Location: 303 E. St Joseph Street, Wathena, KS 66090
More pics from Awards night.
Congratulations to all students for receiving scholarships and awards last night at our 2024 Academic Awards Night. Thank you to all the families and organizations who support our students with scholarships. Instead of trying to list them all I have photos of our program and last nights ceremony. Thank you to Boosters and Hanna Bell Catering for providing the meal.
The Softball game at Blue Valley has been cancelled for today.
The Golf Meet for today has been postponed and the make up date is to be determined at a later time.
Parker Koch competed in the 1A State Forensics Championships in McPherson on Saturday. He participated in Extemporaneous Speaking (domestic and foreign policies). He performed very well in the preliminary rounds and advanced to semi finals and then to finals. Parker placed 5th overall and earned 28 points for Centralia in the Sweepstakes competition. Congratulations Parker!
3rd grade students made and delivered May Day Baskets to the residents at Eastridge.
Centralia Schools would like to announce this past Tuesday Maveryk Becker signed to play football at Baker University. Maveryk has been extremely successful within our athletic programs. Best of luck to him as he continues his career at Baker. Once A Panther, Always A Panther!
