Where Are They Now

Lauryn Foster-Wheeler Benge

Lauryn graduated from Sidney High School in 2016 and attended Blufton University.  She feels that her greatest achievement to date was graduating with her master’s degree because her great-grandfather, Eugene Wheeler, always told her to take her education seriously and to get as much out of it as she could.  “I wanted to take the advantage that not many of us get or take seriously.  My master’s degree opened up so many options for me.”

Lauryn has given back to the Sidney Community primarily by donating to the Black Achievers Scholarship Committee.  “I think the results of my education somewhat gives back to BASC because I made sure that I graduated rather than getting the BASC scholarship and not graduating from higher education. I am always grateful for the funds that went towards my education, and I felt like I would have taken that money for granted if I did not graduate.”

Lauryn’s career goals in the next decade and a half include advancing in her current position as a Human Resource Associate while coaching soccer and getting her Society for Human Resource Management Certification to become a certified human resource professional.  She also aspires to become an athletic director at a high school with the possibility of moving up to the collegiate level.  “I also would not mind going back to Human Resources.”

Jenna Foster-Wheeler

Jenna graduated from Sidney High School in 2017 and attended The Ohio State University in Columbus.  She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in education in Sport Industry in three years and, at the same time, earned an Associate of Arts degree from Edison State Community College.  In August of 2021, Jenna enrolled in graduate school at Ohio State and received her Master of Science degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Sports Management.

Jenna chose the sports industry for a career because, as a former student athlete, she feels that “I have always been spirited about sports.  I’m also passionate about having a career in this field because, despite the increase of female participation in sports today, there is a persistent decline in female representation in administrative positions. I believe the lack of female representation in sport administration causes females to be discouraged from working in the industry.”

Jenna was also inspired by Ms. Maggi Williams, Sidney’s school athletic director for several years.   Ms. Williams became a mentor to many female athletes and demonstrated that it is possible to be successful in the sport industry despite the gender disparity.

Jenna is engaged and currently searching for new work but was previously employed by the Classic for Columbus organization as the Chief Administrative Officer.”

Jenna overcame adversity when she graduated with her master’s degree a year early while society was still trying to navigate the “new COVID world.”  All of her classes were online, and “I was taking more classes than a typical graduate student due to the accelerated route I chose. It was difficult to time-manage [and] stay motivated.  Online lectures were long, and the workload felt heavier than usual compared to undergrad.  Also, being strictly taught online seemed less effective than in-person interaction with classmates and professors.” 

Fortunately, Jenna was able to adapt and adjust her learning strategies, and the following semesters then became less difficult to manage.

Jenna feels that her greatest achievement to date was, despite COVID, “graduating with my master’s degree a year early with a 4.0 GPA.”

Jenna has supported the Sidney community and high school athletics “by purchasing fundraiser items that, in turn, helped support businesses in Sidney. I would eventually like to do more to contribute/give back to BASC.”

Over the next fifteen years, Jenna would like to work in a collegiate athletic setting, expand upon her networks and connections, advance her professional development and character, be promoted, and eventually by year fifteen become an associate athletic director.

Riana WIlliams

Riana, a 1996 graduate of Sidney High School, continues to be a beacon of light for her family, school, and community.  She led her team to the regional basketball tournament, was elected to the SHS National Honor Society, and graduated with a straight A average while attending Sidney High School. 

Riana carried that torch of “hard work equals quality results” into college where she earned a BA in Economics from Wright State University in 2001 and dovetailed that degree with a BS in Nursing in 2007.  In August 2016, she graduated from Chamberlain University with an MS in Family Medicine with a concentration as a Family Nurse Practitioner. 

Helping others has been the trademark of Riana and the Williams family for decades.  In her initial rotation at the VA in Dayton, Ohio, she immensely enjoyed caring for our nation’s veterans and their families. 

As an ER nurse, Riana was at her best during the toughest times, easing pain and suffering.  Meeting patients for the first time in a critical situation and caring for them was a rewarding experience. 

To date, Riana’s greatest achievement has been the obtainment of her Master’s Degree as a Nurse Practitioner.   This advanced degree allows her to provide a more focused and comprehensive health care service to the veterans entrusted to her. 

Riana has and will continue to donate to the BASC annually.  It is a project she believes in and pays it forward.  Her next goal is to earn a fulltime position as a Nurse Practitioner under the auspices of the Department of Veterans’ Services. 

Lonnie Shropshire

A UC grad in 1992, Lonnie has been married to his wife of 26, producing three beautiful, educated and productive children.  He has forged a career in retail with an eye on value at ALDI’S as a trouble shooter and upper management supervisor. 

He is also the proud owner of Believe Carpentry and Properties LLC in Mason, OH, where he currently resides.  For the past two decades, Lonnie has enjoyed building character in kids while coaching basketball and football to youngsters in Warren County. “Shrop”, as he was known during his career at Sidney High School, is very generous in his “payback” to BASC with an annual sizable donation.  Lonnie Shropshire was the recipient of a BASC scholarship in 1987.

Kenleigh Immel

I was recently offered a position at Wendy’s Corporate Fitness Center as their Exercise Specialist! I have waited for this position to open since I interned there in college. So it has taken a three year wait to get myself back there, but after some professional trials and tribulations, I am so thankful to be back where I feel that I’m changing the lives of people who will appreciate my professional expertise. It is the equivalent to a management position at this facility and after experiencing how difficult that can be as a female, I am so grateful for the opportunity.

I will continue to do personal training at a lifetime fitness nearby when I have time. I will be coordinating the group fitness program, instructing small group training sessions, and doing personal training at Wendy’s! I’ll also be leading health and wellness incentive programs to enhance the lifestyles of corporate employees who otherwise wouldn’t take time to be proactive with their health. So this year has been off to a productive start for me!

Dominque Mensah

Dominque J. Mensah, a 2004 graduate of Sidney High School, began her college career as a pre-law student at The Ohio State University in Columbus.  Two years later, Dominque transferred to Edison State Community College and changed her major to accounting.

In 2007, “I had a little boy who was a great source of motivation for continuing school and working on my career.”
After she received her associate’s degree from Edison in the spring of 2009, she started and finished her bachelor’s degree online through Franklin University, graduating in the spring of 2011.

With only a few classes left to go, she returned to Edison for one more semester where she earned an additional associate’s degree in business management in the winter of 2011.

Currently, Dominque works as an accounts receivables clerk at the corporate office of Stanley Steemer.

Dominque thinks that “math has always been a strong subject for me, and I enjoy making sure things are in order. With that in mind, the accounting field was a no brainer for me. It also fits well with my personality of working in smaller groups and quiet settings.”
Dominque feels that the most difficult thing for her so far has been “finishing up school, while trying to balance the life of a single parent and trying to work full time also. Certainly, not recommended for [every] one, but it’s possible to make it. I think it’s hard to do two of those things, but doing all three was a task.”

She feels that her “greatest achievement to date was purchasing my own home. I say that because it felt like my hard work and accomplishments had paid off. All the schooling led to the perfect job, which allowed me to be in the position to do so.”

Dominque’s career goals “are in line with what I’m doing, perfecting what I work at, and trying to continue my education through work experience. Fortunately for me, the growth potential in my current job is there. It is one of the many reasons I love my company and why most people who work in the corporate office stay for the long haul. I really am lucky to find a career that fits me so well.”

Brad Stockton

Brad Stockton, a 1997 graduate of Sidney High School, attended Wittenberg University where he played football; Edison State Community College (part-time); and Central State University, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering.   Brad continued his education at Washington University in 2004 , graduating in 2006 with a master’s degree in Engineering Management.

“I started off in accounting before the dramatic change to engineering. To define how this change came about was like an angel coming into my life. I met a guidance counselor [who said], ‘You look like an engineer.’  I then acted upon it.  I currently reside in the aerospace industry, working for the Boeing Company as an Engineering Leader.”

Completing his college degrees and becoming an engineer for the Boeing Company did not come easy for Brad.  While at Whittenberg University, he was suspended and sent to prison.  That experience, however, helped him to “pursue my education which eventually led to multiple engineering degrees and into my current Engineering Leadership Position today.”

Looking ahead, Brad hopes to become part of senior leadership for Boeing, an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers, and a community volunteer for youth programs.  He also plans to support educators in strengthening high school STEM programs in 2019.

“Generally speaking, [the] first step was for me to take charge of my own career by mapping out a development plan consisting of where I want to go. Furthermore, developing the ability to look within and understand my own beliefs, values, assumptions, goals, dreams, hopes, fears, strengths, and weaknesses allow me to know who I am and how to translate it into my leadership capacity.”