Being at the top of your class takes grit.

That’s something St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s salutatorian Nathan Emmert knows.

“I have always strived to be towards the top of my class,” Emmert said.

His interests peaked during math and science classes. He said he was able to take the study skills he learned there and apply them to other subjects to maintain his high standards.

This led to Emmert receiving his SJ-O Academic Letter Award each year, becoming an Illinois State Scholar and being recognized by the National Honor Society.

But it wasn’t all assignments and test scores that made Emmert stand out.

As a member of the soccer team, he was named to the Illini Prairie All Conference Team and News-Gazette All-Area Honorable Mention his senior year. He was also won second place in the mixed media division of the Okaw Valley Conference, third place in graphics in the Illini Prairie Conference along with being the Spanish Club leader his senior year, and participating in Math Club.

Emmert took his art skills outside of school, earning the State Fair Superior Award, Champaign County Bronze and Silver Clover Experience Award in 4-H.

He’s also been involved in youth group, missions trips, vacation bible school and food packing events through his church.

“It was important to get involved to take a break from school work, gain leadership skills, and become a more well-rounded person,” Emmert said.

Being part of the SJ-O community is something that was more than just going to school, too.

“I enjoyed being a student at SJ-O,” he said. “It is a big enough school to have many activities and opportunities to get involved in, but small enough to be able to know the teachers and other students better.”

Emmert will attend Valparaiso University next year, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

“I will continue to push myself to do my best in college and not give up when things get difficult,” he said.

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“I’m proud of all of us, not just myself, Katelyn (Blankenship, salutatorian) and Kylie (Neuman, valedictorian), I think the effort really speaks to the ambition of my class as a whole,” he said.

“Ever since our class walked in our freshman year, we’ve been competing for these positions. There were lots of nights spent encouraging friends and mourning when somebody dropped off of the perfect GPA train.”

Graduating with a 4.0 GPA was something Cook had his sights set on as a freshman.

The accomplishment was realized through both arbitrary goals, like writing an essay he was proud to turn in for English class, to earning recognition as an Illinois State Scholar.

Cook said his drive came from his parents.

“Both of them contributed in their own ways to establishing me a strong educational base in my early childhood as well as piquing my curiosity about the world as I grew up,” he said. “It’s humbling to know that I come from such a supportive background on top of my other privileges.”

Growing up in a high school with around 300 students, Cook knows that the relationships built between students and teachers carries more than a grade on a paper.

“There was the constant love and help coming from my parents, sister, and friends, but the contributions from my teachers were perhaps the most impactful,” he said.

“The environment at Oakwood was so incredibly supportive.” he said.

“I remember writing one of my teachers an email explaining that I was having a bad mental health night and couldn’t complete an assignment. (I got)  an immediate, caring response.

“My teachers donated so much time to project, extracurricular activities, and just being available in general, and for that I am profoundly grateful.”

Cook’s four years at Oakwood included time as the OHS student council secretary, National Honor Society secretary, co-captain of the Scholastic Bowl team, OHS band section leader, copy editor for the Oakwood Times, an actor in the drama department and member of the WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team. He also organized a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as the school’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

Along with being chosen as an Illinois State Scholar, Cook was a state-qualifier in the IHSA Journalism competition and selected as EIU’s Phi Beta Kappa Young Scholar.

“High school taught me how to be involved, and along with it how to manage my time,” he said. “When I was having fun in my activities, I was contributing to our school’s culture and reputation, which brought me pride.”

Pride is something Oakwood is built on.

“Oakwood’s tagline of “generations of pride” is no joke,” he said.

“Growing up in the district, I took the attitudes of those around me for granted. Only as I’ve grown up have I realized that the citizens of Oakwood truly do hard and good work to make a supportive environment for the youths.

“We grew up surrounded by parades, parties, community events, dances, activities organized by parent committees, and with booming pep assemblies.

“From our births here, we are brought up to interact with one another and to care for and contribute in our community. In this regard, Oakwood is special. Its size does nothing to limit how large its heart is.”

Cook said that is something he will take with him as he attends the University of Illinois at Chicago.

He will major in mathematics in hopes of becoming an actuary after graduation. Cook already has his sights set on returning to graduate school at some point in his life to pursue a doctorate degree that will allow him to become a college professor.

“You have to care about something to be successful,” he said. “Wherever you invest your passion in energy, whether it’s in yourself, a hobby, or your community, that is where you will see your results. It’s also the place where you will have the most impact.”

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