This month, Kokomo/Tipton Magazine is introducing five candidates for the launch of the first Fortitude Scholarship contest. Each student has a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or above and plans to attend college/military/trade school upon graduation in 2025. Most importantly, all have shown fortitude in some way while in school. Despite working through challenges, these students have been able to maintain attendance, grades, and involvement in school activities. Their struggles did not go unnoticed; each was nominated by the teachers and administrators of their high school.
Brooke McKoon, Taylor High School
Family and friends are the grounding force in Brooke McKoon’s life. She was born in Auburn, Indiana, and lived there until she was 3 years old. Then she and her parents, along with her two older sisters and brother, moved to Kokomo. At the time her mother’s father was ill, and the family of six wanted to be by his side and offer help and support.
Unfortunately, in September of 2021, when Brooke was just beginning her freshman year of high school, her brother, Johnathan, passed away. His death was the result of a tragic car accident. The high school community rallied around the McKoon family. The kindness and caring Brooke felt enabled her to resume her activities and studies.
This past summer, when she wasn’t working as a cashier at Mac’s Express on Center Road, she often had friends over to swim. The McKoons have a pool where Brooke loves to hang out with family and friends.
Taking art classes is something she enjoys. She’s equally interested in both realistic and abstract painting. Creating landscape scenes is a favorite outlet, but she doesn’t see it as a career. “It’s always going to be a hobby – something I like to do,” she says.
Another class that motivates Brooke is history. However, going over to Taylor Elementary with other high school students has been a high point in her day. She works as a teacher aide while interacting with the younger students.
“After I graduate I’d like to study criminal justice,” she says. “I could play it safe and stay close to home by going to Indiana University Kokomo like one of my sisters did, but I’m also thinking of Ball State University. At some point I want to be a 911 operator. It’s because of my brother’s accident. I want to be on the other side of that and be the one that helps people.”
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Sophia Poe, Western High School
Refusing to fall behind is a driving force in Sophia Poe’s life. She has always lived in Kokomo and dotes on her 5-year-old sister, Ella, who she calls her best friend. Her mom, Amy, a nurse practitioner, is her biggest cheerleader, but she also gets love and support from her dog, Lola, and guinea pig, Eeyore.
Ongoing medical issues that arose during her first two years in high school caused her to miss a great deal of class time, yet she has managed to keep up her GPA. During her freshman year it was discovered she had two conditions. One, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, causes a fast heart rate, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The second illness is polycystic ovary syndrome, which is responsible for the development of cysts on the ovaries, which may burst.
In the middle of her sophomore year, Poe lost sight in her right eye. She also deals with allergies. In addition, she receives iron infusions for anemia.
Dance and cheerleading are major interests, but her participation in these activities has had to be modified. This fall she hopes to resume jazz and lyrical dance classes, as long as she can perform the moves without full exertion. “All can do is use my arms and say stuff,” Poe says regarding cheerleading. “I can’t do stunts, run or jump.”
Sophia enjoys math and science. However, her favorite class is veterinary science at Kokomo Area Career Center. She loves animals and works as a kennel attendant at the Pet Care Clinic.
“After high school I want to go to vet school at Purdue University,” she says. “I’d like to become an animal ophthalmologist. I want to be a veterinarian who specializes in treating eye disorders.”
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Tate Strebin, Tri-Central High School
Tate Strebin has lived in Kokomo for most of his life. He was born in West Lafayette but moved when he was 1. Sports have always been a huge focus. He puts in time weightlifting and played baseball as a freshman. In recent years he has enjoyed competing in discus and shot put on the track team. However, his real passion has always been football.
When Tate was 9 years old, his mother passed away. During the years following, dealing with her death led to anxiety and temporarily stopped him from enjoying the sport he loved. A true fighter, he was able to beat the issue with the help of family and friends, and Tate returned to playing.
He is involved with student council and has a heart for volunteering. He and his football buddies have gone into Indianapolis and handed out backpacks full of clothes to homeless people. He’s always willing to lend a hand, saying “I’m strong, and if people need help moving something, I’m glad to do it.”
Math and science are Tate’s favorite school topics. He enjoys working with equations, formulations and calculations. Chemistry labs give him the opportunity to use math.
“Math is involved in so many things,” he says. “It’s why I like chemistry. The equations we use affect how the chemicals react with one another. You can see the results in the real world.”
After recently visiting Purdue, Tate was impressed by the campus and the class laboratories. He would like to study mechanical and industrial engineering, or perhaps business. “I would like to have a career that uses my abilities that I could enjoy and be happy with,” he says.
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Taliah Wright, Kokomo High School
School involvement, community service and family anchor Taliah Wright’s world. Her parents moved to Kokomo right after they were married, and she has lived here her entire life. Her mother, Kelly Wright, has taught in the area for many years and is currently director of Head Start. The Wright family is present at many community events.
Until she passed away last January, Taliah’s youngest sibling, Bella, was always with the family. Even though she suffered from Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, and was wheelchair bound, Bella went everywhere the Wrights did. Since she had been doing well and had been very heatlhy, her death was unexpected.
“I love helping my community,” says Taliah. This year she will serve as vice president of Girls League, a community service group. She is on student council and is a member of Kokomo Leadership Academy, an organization of upperclassmen that strengthens school culture by mentoring freshmen.
Taliah babysits and also has experience working other jobs. This summer she worked at Moo Stache Ice. She also coached soccer and baseball for 2- and 3-year-olds at Playpen Sports Academy. “It was really helpful to me to work with kids since I want to be a teacher,” she says.
In fact, besides math, her favorite class is Tomorrow’s Teachers. Run by Indiana University Kokomo, the class visits early-childhood, elementary and middle schools. By shadowing teachers, students get an idea of what teachers do, and whether they would like to pursue the career.
Wright says she knows for sure that she wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become an educator. Indiana University is at the top of her list. However, she would still like to visit other universities.
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Jiesue Phifer, Tipton High School
Jiesue Phifer was born in China, and until she was adopted at age two and a half, lived at an orphanage in Nanchang. After coming to the United States, she initially resided in Westfield, but now lives in Tipton. She faces problems by finding solutions. Her approach might look different, but her determination wins out.
Due to arthrogryposis, a joint condition she was born with, she has limited use of her arms, wrists and hands. She has had multiple surgeries to unlock her arms and fingers, but her ability to use them is still restricted. However, the congenital disease has not affected her ability to achieve academically or athletically.
Jiesue’s interests include hanging out with her friends, reading and crafts. Since middle school she has enjoyed watching people play volleyball and is the manager for the Tipton High School volleyball team. One of her duties is to score the libero, an important player on the team who wears a jersey that is a different color than the rest of the team.
This is the seventh year that Jiesue has competed as a diver for the Tipton swimming and diving program. She also participates in the RipFest Diving program, an organization dedicated to helping divers improve their skills. “I have been fortunate enough to score well enough in meets to earn points for my team,” she says. ”I have even placed first at a few meets.”
Two of Jiesue’s favorite school subjects are math and business accounting. She loves to work ahead. The enjoyment she experiences from the camaraderie of her classmates is evident. “We all get excited to solve a problem before anyone else,” she says.
She is thinking about pursuing a business major in college. However, she has a lot of travel experience and is interested in hospitality. Her dream job would be to work on a cruise ship, perhaps in accounting.
