Elder High School senior gives to his community and his classmates

PRICE HILL, Ohio - Jake Brunner can do it all. He's a standout in the classroom, ranking seventh out of more than 200 students, but he also wrestles and is on the lacrosse team.

The Elder High School student enjoys spending time tutoring his fellow students, and takes his talents to his neighborhood and downtown to volunteer.

"I go out into the community and do community clean-ups. We renovate a house, we've cleaned up a park before and we just do certain things like that," said Brunner.

Joe Driehaus, a counselor at Elder said Brunner has shown his ability to lead in the school. Brunner is involved with student council, student ambassadors, Key Club, and Philanthropy Club. He was also elected co-president of student council the last two years and being named president of the philanthropy group. His activities aren’t just resume builders, he has a desire to grow as a mature young man in a myriad of ways, Driehaus said.

"He has honed his leadership skills through academics and athletics, but what really impresses me about [Brunner], is his desire to make himself and others around him better," Driehaus said. "[Brunner] is a magnet. People gravitate toward him because of his genuine concern for his community and country. He helps out others because he wants to, not because of some external validation."

After graduating from Elder, Brunner plans on studying Biology at Centre College in Kentucky.