Lake County Gazette

Zolan Schieler has been named the October Student of the Month at Antioch Community High School (ACHS). Schieler received a complimentary pizza from Antioch Pizza and a gift certificate to the Sequoit Pride store as part of the recognition.

Teachers and staff at ACHS offered several comments on Schieler’s achievements and character. Samantha Kanya said, “Zolan Schieler is an icon. He is thoughtful, curious, and just an all-around brilliant student. You name it, Zolan is great at it, and he manages this level of excellence all while being incredibly humble and unassuming. I always look forward to talking with him and hearing his perspective, and I am so happy to have him as a student this year. When it comes to AP Literature, he is THE Top Banana!”

Kelly Taylor added, “Best-dressed banana. 10/10. I knew that Zolan was one of my soul English students when he wept at the ending of Of Mice and Men. Me too, Zolan, me too! Zolan is an avid reader and brilliant writer. However, it is his engagement that sets him apart from the rest. If I needed someone to come in character for an activity in English 1 Honors, I knew Zolan would bring the knitting needles. He leads by example and is an exceptional human being. Count yourself blessed if you have been fortunate enough to have Zolan in one of your classes.”

Lindsay Edwardson said, “Zolan Schieler is absolutely one of the coolest people, if not THE coolest person, I have ever met. He was the best-dressed banana I've ever seen! He is so multi-talented but is also so incredibly kind that you don't feel intimidated by his intelligence. He is eager to ask questions and find answers. If you looked up 'lifelong learner' in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Zolan. I feel so lucky to have had Zolan in class last year and cannot wait to see what awesome things he does in his future!”

Christopher Bailey commented on Schieler’s participation in athletics: “Zolan was a valuable member of both the XC and track and field teams at ACHS. Zolan was a great teammate—always encouraging others, working hard, and bringing a positive attitude each and every day to practice.”

Michael Riggs highlighted Schieler’s leadership: “Zolan is a treasure. He's super smart, but also very humble and down to earth about it, and he's a hard worker. I didn't know if he'd actually go through with dressing as a banana that one time at band camp, but he pulled through. He was selected as one of the drum majors for the Marching Sequoits this year and he's really grown into a leadership role and found his voice.”

Dr. Michael Berrie spoke about Schieler’s academic achievements: “I recently worked with Zolan on his application for the National Merit Scholarship. His performance on that test placed him among the top 16,000 test takers of the 1.4 million nationwide who took the test. This puts him in some rare air as far as his intellectual aptitude is concerned. During the application process, I requested testimonials from his teachers and coaches. While all spoke of his remarkable intelligence, the theme that shone brightest was Zolan's ability to connect with others. He is somebody who makes others better because he cares about them and sets an example that inspires others. We are very fortunate to have Zolan at ACHS.”