A senior at Northwestern was one of 11 Clark County students who were recognized as being peace makers.
Andrew Franzen was given the Martin Luther King Peace Maker award at a ceremony Jan. 16 at Clark State Community College’s Hollenbach Hall.
Franzen was nominated for the award by his fellow students.
“I was pretty excited, but I didn’t know what it was at first,” Franzen said. “My classmates said it was because I was all about people and put people first.”
Lori Swafford, Northwestern Jr./Sr. High School principal, said she wasn’t surprised that Franzen was chosen.
“He’s an excellent student, an excellent athlete and a great role model,” Swafford said. “To have all those things together – I was not at all surprised he was the one chosen.”
Franzen said he just tries to focus on loving his fellow students.
“I think in this school it’s pretty easy since we have pretty awesome students,” he said.
The award was given out as part of the City of Springfield’s 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon.
Clark State and the City of Springfield started the program in the 1980s. Each Peace Maker is nominated for the award and a committee of representatives from Clark State, the City of Springfield and Wittenberg University determines the recipients.
“The students are recognized through their teachers, counselors or staff at the high schools,” said Corey Holliday, director of Community Outreach for Clark State. “The accomplishments range from national merit scholars, Bill Gates scholars, Mr. John (Stephens) Legend, to the local guy in a high school that is just a good person.”
The award was especially meaningful for Franzen’s grandfather because he had two grandchildren receiving the award. Franzen’s cousin, Tori Store, received the award from Emmanual Christian Academy.
The ceremony also featured Shirley Murdock as the guest speaker. She is from Toledo, Ohio, and is a Gospel singer and songwriter.
Franzen plans to attend Moody Bible Institute after graduation to study to become a pastor.
“I think it’s always hard to choose one student because there are a handful of students who stand out and stand up for other student,” Swafford said.
“I have had the honor of coaching Andrew for the last four years,” Harry Husted wrote on Facebook. “I couldn’t imagine another individual more deserving of this award. He was the first, and most likely only, freshman that I have ever had voted as a team captain.”
