By FRED KRONER
There are words to describe Madison Doan.
“Organized,” is one, according to Oakwood High School consumer ed teacher Amy Brant.
“Determined,” is another one, according to Oakwood Spanish teacher Pam Yergler.
“Leader,” Brant added.
This week, another word was officially added to the list.
Salutatorian.
When the Oakwood Class of 2022 graduates on Sunday (May 22), Doan – the second-ranked student in her class – will be one of the speakers in a ceremony to be held at the Oakwood Grade School.
“I like talking to groups of people,” said Doan, who was President of Oakwood’s National Honor Society as a senior. “When you know what you are talking about and are comfortable with the material, you are the one in control.”
Being in control has been synonymous with Doan’s years in school.
It comes with being organized, determined and a leader.
“Where I really saw Madison stand above the rest was in National Honor Society,” Brant said. “This past year, we only had four members of National Honor Society, with Madison being the President.
“She took the lead on all the projects we accomplished, including an apparel fundraiser around Homecoming, a pet drive to benefit the Vermilion County Animal Shelter, and our National Honor Society banquet.
“With this being my first year as NHS sponsor (following in the footsteps of Dawn Lee), Madison really stepped up to help make this first year run smoothly.”
Doan was the first recipient of the Oakwood High School National Honor Society Scholarship.
Though she was involved in gymnastics and cheerleading in her younger years at Oakwood, Doan eventually became immersed in volleyball.
“I began to involve myself in volleyball year ‘round by playing the school season as well as travel volleyball,” Doan said. “Going into high school, volleyball took over my life and it was all I wanted to do. It was my happy place.
“Volleyball is a sport that my sister and I have been able to bond over and any time we needed a break from anything going on, we knew we could resort to volleyball.”
Doan was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and played for the Comets’ Vermilion County championship team. Through sports, she learned lessons that benefitted her beyond the time she was competing.
“Sports allowed me to advance in time management skills as well as how to self-discipline,” she said. “There are a lot of things that benefit students from playing sports, if the coach is willing to teach them, and my coach was without a doubt on top of that.
“It was much more than just playing volleyball. It was about growing up to be a great person after I left high school. I have been the type of student that will always use the last 10 minutes in class to get a head start on my homework in order to reduce the amount of work I had to do at home after practice, yet I spent a lot of time (at home) still getting work done.”
The sacrifices were made willingly, Doan said, with an eye to looking down the road.
“I have always done well in school, and have always been encouraged by my family to do my best with everything I do to set a foundation for my future,” Doan said. “There were many times throughout my high school career that I had to choose schoolwork over doing things with friends.
“A lot of my weekends were spent doing homework, and a lot of week nights were spent up late getting assignments done. It was all to maintain the grades that I needed, so in a sense it was all well worth it, but at the same time I do wish I could’ve given myself a break every once in a while.”
Her efforts did not go unnoticed.
“Ms. Doan was always prepared and organized,” Yergler said. “She is meticulous in all of her efforts and I could always count on her to have done quality work.
“As a person, she is on the quiet side, but when the topic interests her, she is forthcoming with both her knowledge and her opinions.”
Brant found Doan to be a willing contributor in class.
“Madison provided a lot of good insight into our classroom discussions,” Brant said. “She would provide thoughts along with examples to help educate her classmates.
“Madison is a leader in every sense of the word and is very organized. She is always willing to help others.”
Doan wouldn’t settle for just doing the bare minimum that was required.
“When other students were satisfied with one or two sentences, Madison pushed herself to provide five or six,” Yerger said. “She chose to squeeze every last drop of value out of the tasks I assigned, and especially excelled in the more artistic assignments.
“However, Madison’s most distinctive characteristic is her eloquent kindness. Being a first-year teacher is always rough, but Madison took the time to write numerous thoughtful and encouraging letters to me vocalizing her appreciation of my hard work.”
Brant said there are abundant examples of Doan going above and beyond the call of duty to be helpful.
“Madison stepped up to help me in my accounting class during the month of April while we played Monopoly and recorded our transactions into accounting financial reports,” Brant said “She acted as our banker and documented everything for myself and my students.
“This is just another example of Madison being a leader, organized and motivated.”
In life, Doan hopes to find herself in position to help others.
She plans on enrolling at Danville Area Community College (while also interning as a student-clerk at the Federal Court House in Urbana) and then transferring to a four-year university to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“In 10 years, I see myself working a job that allows me to help a stranger every time I go into work regarding their health,” Doan said. “I hope to be making an impact on lives each day in any way I can.”
Her years in high school provided her a head start on establishing relationships.
“I have been able to create such great bonds with coaches and teachers within the Oakwood School District,” Doan said. “I have always felt that each of my teachers and coaches have always wanted the absolute best for me.
“I have been able to rely on teachers to express built-up emotions that come with the stress of growing up, and I have not been able to thank them enough. I think that you can create a great relationship with coaches and teachers with the right amount of respect. Without respect, there cannot be a foundation made for a relationship with anyone in life.”
Teachers such as Yergler respect Doan for her work ethic and attitude.
“Madison is determined and she doesn’t shy away from self-sacrifice,” Yergler said. “If she deems it necessary, she will forego social and leisure activities more often than her counterparts. She is willing and able to go the extra mile and does so routinely.
“Madison is a multifaceted young woman and it’s relatively difficult to put her into any kind of predetermined box. She marches to the beat of her own drum and that drum keeps a complex cadence. Again though, her level of empathy is uncommon. She is exceedingly caring in her own quiet sort of way.”
Doan said several classes stand out among her most enjoyable ones while attending Oakwood.
“My favorite classes within high school have been my science classes (Biology/Anatomy/Chemistry), Art, and Spanish,” she said. “I have enjoyed my science classes due to it being a topic of interest, as well as the way in which my teachers have been able to explain and teach the material in a way that will engage everyone.
“I have enjoyed my Art classes because it is a time that I can spend at school in a safe, accepting environment expressing myself in many forms. Lastly, I have enjoyed my years in Spanish because I enjoy learning things so different from what the normal curriculum includes, the communication we got to have with students in Spain, and the teacher who I admire the most.”
Brant said that the traits that served Doan well in high school can be to her benefit moving forward.
“Madison is very-well rounded and has great study habits,” Brant said. “These attributes along with her leadership skills, organizational skills, and motivation helped her to excel in everything she did in high school.
“I have no doubt she will also excel in life.”
