Ryan Kirkendall was awarded the Stephen T. Badin medal, the highest honor given to a member of the senior class at Badin High School, at the conclusion of the school’s commencement exercises at Christ’s Church in Mason on Friday, May 28.

The medal is given to the senior who is voted by the faculty as the most outstanding member of the class “by every measure” of his or her high school career. Badin awards senior medals in four different categories to recognize outstanding seniors

Kirkendall was the president of the Class of 2021 at Badin and is the No. 1 pitcher on the baseball team that reached the Division II state semifinals this week.

He is the son of is the son of Matt and Heather Kirkendall of Hamilton and a graduate of St. Peter in Chains School. He will attend Washington University in St. Louis and major in Political Science while also playing baseball there.

“Ryan is a very well-rounded young man and had an outstanding career at Badin,” BHS Principal Brian Pendergest said. “He made a great impact at Badin, was well liked by his peers, and certainly has a bright future ahead of him.”

The Archbishop McNicholas medal, which honors the top academic student in the class, was awarded to Nick Young. The class valedictorian, Nick is the son of Bret and Teri Young of Liberty Township and a graduate of Queen of Peace School. He will attend the University of Cincinnati and major in Pre-Med.

Chloe Niesen earned the Archbishop Alter medal, honoring the highest contribution to faith life at Badin. Chloe is the daughter of Ben and Stephanie Niesen of Fairfield and a graduate of Sacred Heart School. She will attend Marian University in Indianapolis and major in Nursing.

Emma Trusock was awarded the Archbishop Leibold medal, honoring the highest level of service to the school and the community. Emma is the daughter of Chris and Julie Trusock of Liberty Township and a graduate of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School. She will attend St. Louis University and major in Physical Therapy.

“These are talented students who made their mark in many valuable and memorable ways over the past four years,” Pendergest said. “This was a unique year with unique challenges due to the pandemic, but they met those challenges head-on.”

Young and Trusock were members of Badin’s academic Top 10. Other members of the Top 10, who were recognized at a luncheon at the Benison Event Center in Hamilton on Wednesday, May 26, included A.J. Enginger (Thomas More University/Exercise Science), Logan Hage (Rhodes College/Biochemistry), Logan Japikse (Trade School – Electrician), John Kline (University of Alabama/Chemical Engineering), Zach McElfresh (University of Cincinnati/Accounting), Hannah Moss (University of North Carolina-Wilmington/Exercise Science), Eli Pappas (University of Cincinnati/Aerospace Engineering) and Maddie Thompson (Centre College/English Literature).

Badin graduated 157 students in the Class of 2021, the school’s 55th graduating class since opening in the fall of 1966.