Julie Rebecca Wisner

Julie Wisner recalls being very young when she was first told her father had been Salutatorian of Lowell High School's class of 1967, but not too young to vow she would beat him. "And she did it," said Gerald Wisner. She will graduate in June as Valedictorian, the top ranked student in her class at Lowell High School. And she has forged yet another link to her father's past by being selected as the 31st Roger B. Chaffee Scholar.

She was chosen from a field of 37 applicants from 15 high schools through the Kent Intermediate School District. The applicants included seven class valedictorians and 11 students with grade point averages of 4.0 or better.

In her father's speech to the 1967 Lowell graduating class, Gerald Wisner mentioned the Apollo 1 fire, that killed astronauts Roger Chaffee, Gus Grissom and Ed White only five months earlier.

"I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was about how they had lost their lives pursuing their dreams, going for all they could be. I told our class that this was the moment when we begin to pursue our own dreams and that we should make the most of it, like the astronauts."

Julie has been dreaming and building for her own career since long before she saw her first space shuttle landing during spring break in Florida. Engineering was a natural for a young woman who loves mathematics. Aeronautical or aerospace engineering has become her higher possibility. She will enter the University of Michigan's engineering program next fall. "We toured the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral and I saw all these incredible buildings and equipment and I thought, maybe someday I could design and build and work on these things. It would be incredible," she said.

Her mother, Kay Wisner, a teacher, has always called Julie, her valedictorian, even after that first shaky kindergarten report card. It's been all A's ever since. She maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout high school and is a member of the National Honor Society.

She also has made time for band and athletics. She plays French horn and serves as drum major. She plays volleyball, soccer and runs track, where she earned all-conference and all-region honors in the long jump. She volunteers at church, and as a dairy farmer's daughter, she remains an active member of the Lowell area 4-H.

Her parents say she is "well rounded," but even they marvel at how much their daughter can accomplish. Tomorrow, she will play in the state band festival at Lowell, compete in an invitational track meet, then attend her senior prom. "I just don't like to waste time," she said. "I don't see much television." Growing up on an active dairy farm, Julie also performs a whole series of farm "chores" each day. Her dad mentioned that although he is so proud of her academic skills, he is most impressed with her hard work.

Lowell high school teacher, Michael Michaud, also describes her as, "the fiercest competitor I know." And he's not just talking about athletics. He also teaches advanced placement calculus, where he says he's never seen her "relax" from her compulsion to learn and achieve.

"I am more likely to hear Julie's voice politely question a mistake I've made on the board," Michaud said.

"Polite, respected, well-liked, and friendly," also are the terms Michaud uses to round out his description of Julie Wisner. "Julie is a scholar!"

The Scholarship was presented to Julie at the 1998 Chaffee Dinner. She will receive $2,500 and join the long list of science, mathematics and engineering students who have received the Scholarship that commemorates the memory and aspirations of the Apollo 1 astronaut and Grand Rapids native.