Stark State College Teen of the Month: Gina Cardinale, Hoover High School
NAME – Gina Cardinale
RESIDENCE – North Canton
AGE – 18
SCHOOL – Hoover High School
GPA – 4.393
COLLEGE CHOICE – Miami University
PARENTS – Nichole and Tony Cardinale
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS – Conscientious, high-achiever, community-centric.
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – Yearbook, 9-12; Teen Institute, 11-12; Agape Girls, 11-12; Anchored, 11-12; Link Crew, 11; National Honor Society, 11-12; Student Council, 9-12; Leadership Interact, 11-12; ASL Club, 12; Spanish Club, 10; Pep Club, 12; Social Justice, 7-9; Prom Committee, 11; Literary Magazine, 10; cross country, 9-12; track, 9-10; basketball, 9-10; Powder Puff; 12; guidance counselor's office aide, 12; tutor for world history, math, English and Spanish, grades 10, 12.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES – North Canton Cares Food Pantry; Crystal Park United Methodist Church, 11; North Canton Church of Christ Food Pantry, 12; NHS community cleanup service project organizer, 12; family church volunteer; United media team; serve day; Christmas party for deaf children, organizer, 2021; poll worker, November 2020; Church of the Lakes community fundraiser, 2015-2020; Akron Children’s Hospital toy fundraiser, 2017; and Compassion International sponsor a child, 2021-2022.
HONORS AND AWARDS – Academic letter; summa cum laude scholar; class officer, grades 9-12; assisted with graduation ceremony for Class of 2021; R.A. Horn Outstanding Achievement Award honorable mention, 12; National Society of High School Scholars, 11-12; seal of biliteracy for English and Spanish, April 2021; cross country teammate award, November 2021; artwork featured in Hoover’s Studio 525 and the Little Art Gallery, 12; and OSMA Awards honorable mention, Kent State School of Journalism & Mass Communication.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE SCHOOL? – I am always on the go! My schedule is booked to the brim with various activities: church, sports, clubs, work and social activities. Being the extrovert that I am, I love social interaction and enjoy spending time with friends and family whenever I have the chance.
FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY? – Although difficult to choose just one favorite high school memory, I would not be the person I am today without cross country. I joined this sport during my freshman year and carried on to my senior year. I ran on the varsity team several times during my junior year, however, that is not what mattered to me. The sport made me better as a person, not just an athlete. The biggest achievement I gained from this memorable experience was being recognized as the recipient of the Teammate Award at the cross country banquet my senior year. It was such an enriching experience and taught me that there is more in life than the need for personal gain.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW – I have dealt with the adversity of a sensorineural bilateral hearing loss since birth, and wear hearing aids to accommodate my disability. Despite this impediment, I have managed to show others that I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO AS A CAREER? – My long-term career goal is to become an independent financial advisor devoted to helping others with their financial decisions and investments. I believe I will have great success with this occupation due to my passion for math, great analytical skills, welcoming nature, and enhanced one-on-one conversational skills.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING TEENAGERS TODAY? – I believe the biggest issue teenagers face is the lack of necessity to care for our environment. Through my involvement in the "Community Cleanup" service project in the National Honor Society, I have obtained more insight into the lack of respect that Mother Nature is receiving. Trash is dispersed everywhere and teens are led to believe and accept this conception as normal. I hope to find different ways that encourage my generation to "be the change" for a cleaner community.
Other nominees
BOYS
ALLIANCE
Blake Hood
Nominated by Jeff Graffice, intervention specialist, varsity baseball head coach, varsity boys golf head coach; and Phil Yarian, math teacher, varsity assistant baseball coach, varsity girls golf head coach
CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC
James Brown IV
Nominated by Kevin Powell, teacher; and Jim Sicker, Science Department head
CANTON SOUTH
Braydon Noll
Nominated by Lucas Conley, English teacher and basketball coach; and Jeff Moore, principal
EAST CANTON
Matthew Bellamy
Nominated by Lisa Gothard, STEM and science teacher
HOOVER
Caden VanNatta
Nominated by Travis Ackerman and Missy Stertzbach, teachers
JACKSON
William Emley
Nominated by Julie Prato and Baylee Ralls, school counselors
LAKE
Ryan Moorhead
Nominated by Zackery McCoy and Dave Wood, teachers
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN
Benjamin Carlson
Nominated by Holly Amacher, English, history and health teacher, Model UN coach; and Julie Watson, cross-country coach
LOUISVILLE
Robert Ganser III
Nominated by Lisa Vaccaro and Denise Mast, English teachers
SANDY VALLEY
Zachary Smith
Nominated by Brian Schwall, mathematics teacher; and Lori Ann Trachsel, teacher/media specialist
TUSLAW
Ty Pratt
Nominated by Susan Pike, physical education teacher; and Katie Rowbotham, biology teacher
GIRLS
ALLIANCE
Jordan Kress
Nominated by Elizabeth Davis, Spanish teacher; and Chris Schillig, English teacher
CANTON SOUTH
Carrigan Horning
Nominated by Jeff Moore, principal; and Nicky Boyd, school counselor
HOOVER
Gina Cardinale
Nominated by Lindsay Johnson and Tiffany Walker, teachers
JACKSON
Isha Vasil
Nominated by Julie Prato, school counselor; and Stella Munoz-Rodriguez, Spanish teacher
LAKE
Mackenzie Ward
Nominated by Grace Franjesevic, physics teacher; and Frank Pilato, GenYes IT program coordinator
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN
Leah Klein
Nominated by Heath Lambright, chemistry and physics teacher; and Sharon Martin, English teacher and Academic Challenge coordinator
LOUISVILLE
Annika Anderson
Nominated by Susan Moser, math teacher; and Deb Slutz, English teacher
PERRY
Grace Nelligan
Nominated by Lea Daut, AP literature and comp teacher; and David Olszewski, Math Department
SANDY VALLEY
Savannah Ritter
Nominated by Lori Ann Trachsel, media specialist/teacher; and Craig Carnes, teacher/band director
TUSLAW
Olivia Hacker
Nominated by Brian Robinson, art teacher; and Corine Valentine, library specialist
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark State College Teen of the Month: Gina Cardinale, Hoover High School
