Hats Off to Russell Seniors Ashlee Steele and Jonah Craft
Kathy Clayton
The Ashland Beacon
Senior year is a time of anticipation, excitement, uncertainty, and apprehension – a gamut of emotions for young people on the cusp of adulthood. Ashlee Steele and Jonah Craft of Russell are two bright, talented seniors looking back on their achievements and forward to the possibilities unfolding before them.
Their list of awards and accomplishments is long. Steele has participated in a wide variety of activities from leadership positions, music, golf, STLP (Student Technology Leadership Program), and recently won the Janet Bromley Award for excellence in the arts for her entry in a competition at the Huntington Museum of Art.
Craft has participated in a number of organizations, played sports, worked with children as a little league baseball umpire and started a podcast. Both were selected for the Governor’s Scholars program at Morehead State University, and both have outstanding grades.
“I always kind of knew, since elementary school, that I wanted to be in a leadership position, that I had the type of personality for leadership,” Ashlee said. “I’m not at all afraid to stand up in class or in front of a group of people and speak.”
Besides the prestigious art award, one of her impressive awards was finishing first in the state in the STLP competition in 2021, with a project called VRED, which involved using virtual reality in the classroom. As Beta Club President, she attended the state convention, where she placed in painting and on-site drawing, where she had two hours to complete an art piece.
Ashlee was selected for the Ashland Alliance Youth Leadership program and later served as a senior representative. She was elected student government treasurer for all four years of high school. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Rho Kappa (social studies honor society), and is vice-president of the Art Honor Society.
“And, I was on the golf team and play cello in the orchestra,” she noted. She has volunteered at The Neighborhood as well.
She will attend the University of Louisville this fall, on a GSP (Governor’s Scholars Program) scholarship, majoring in fine arts, “or maybe a double major or minor in art history.” Her favorite teachers are former art teacher Tiffany Botts Perry (now a school counselor) and English teacher Robin Campbell.
“I feel like I’m ready to take the next step,” Ashlee said. “It’s sad leaving high school behind, but I’m ready to move forward.” Her advice to other students is to “always be yourself and don’t be afraid to speak your mind.” Ashlee is the daughter of Dwayne and Dawnetta Steele.
Jonah has a long list of accomplishments during his high school years. He was a Governor’s Scholar at Morehead State University. “I participate in a lot of different organizations,” he said, citing FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), KYA/KUNA (Kentucky United Nations Assembly) Beta Club and the Russell Academic Team’s social studies team.
“I’ve lived here all my life, but moved to Russell from Greenup to go to school at Russell,” he said. “They offer so many choices and variety in classes. I value that.” He played soccer his senior year and baseball as an underclassman, and has volunteered at The Neighborhood.
“I love hanging out with my friends,” Craft said, “and I love working with kids, teaching them how to hit a baseball. I umpire little league. I love working on my podcast, Spin-Off. I work on that with my best friend. The subject is sports, but it’s also about anything.” He said they plan new material and have guests on the podcast.
Jonah also plans to attend the University of Louisville. “I want to be a lawyer, so I’m taking the pre-law track, majoring in business – get a business and law degree. I’ll probably be a title or corporate lawyer.” He said his favorite teachers are social studies teachers Bryan Gross and Chelsea Park, who also is a Beta Club advisor, and Sherry Sias, the KYA (Kentucky YMCA Youth Association) leader.]
“I’ve enjoyed my time in high school,” Craft said. “It’s definitely been a fun experience for me, and I’m excited for my future. I loved my GSP experience, so I’m sure I’ll love college. I want to experience facing challenges and solving them on my own.”
His advice to young students is “You can only truly fail if you stop allowing yourself to succeed.”
Jonah is the son of Paul and Amy Craft and has two brothers.