By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Some people have the ability to do everything well. Jay Dee Schafers, a senior at Marion High School is one of those.

She is involved in many extra-curricular activities while maintaining a high grade-point average.

Schafers has been in every high school musical and play since her first year. She played a leading role in last year’s play and had leading roles in this year’s musical and play.

“I love making people laugh,” she said. “I think being willing to go out and make a fool of myself helps a lot.”

Her family has always been there to cheer her on, including her parents, Kelly and Travis Schafers, and “tons” of grandparents and great-grandparents, along with uncles and aunts.

“My grandma Tillie greets me with a smile, a flower, and a can of pop after every performance,” Schafers said, smiling.

The bright-eyed, dark-haired teenager has been the president of her class as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and served as vice president as a freshman.

She has served as a flag team captain all through high school.

As a member of the student council, she helps plan activities for spirit week and helps prepare and decorate for dances and other special school activities.

As a member of Key Club, she takes part in numerous community service activities, such as raking yards, assisting with Art in the Park, and helping with pancake feeds. Club members also write letters to soldiers and send cards to people in nursing homes.

In forensics, she performed in duet acting and prose, finishing fifth in prose in state competition this year.

Schafers has been a member of the Singers (originally Swing Singers) for four years. She choreographs the dance routines in their performances. She also assists with small dance parts in musicals.

On to college

Schafers recently auditioned at Butler Community College in El Dorado for scholarships in dance, singing, and theater. She had to choose among them and accepted the first offer that came, a theater scholarship that will cover tuition and books. She will be required to participate in four theatrical performances — two plays, a musical, and a children’s theater — the first year in order to receive the money. She can audition for theater again the following year and will receive the same funding.

Schafers will foot the bills for housing, summer courses, and several school fees.

She plans to earn an associates’ nursing degree in two years and then go on to Wichita State University or the University of Kansas to continue medical training.