WHS swimming star recipient of prestigious Doug Springer Scholarship

By Ed Pierce

Whether in the pool or in the classroom, Hannah Heanssler always gives it her best and that has resulted in her selection as the recipient of the 2023 Doug Springer Scholarship, a $5,000 award given to a graduating high school senior for demonstrating a strong commitment and service to her swim team, school, and community.

Windham High School graduate Hannah
Heanssler is the recipient of the $5,000
Doug Springer Scholarship for 2023
presented by the Maine Swimming and 
Diving Hall of Fame.
COURTESY PHOTO

Heanssler graduated ninth in her class at Windham High School on June 11 and will attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the fall. At WHS, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Key Club and participated in swimming, field hockey, and softball throughout high school.

Lee Crocker lives in Windham and is the President of the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame, which presented the scholarship to Heanssler.

“Doug Springer was an outstanding coach at Old Town High School. He was inducted into the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame in 2021,” Crocker said. “To give back to Maine Swimming, Doug has established this scholarship in the amount of $5,000 for each of the next five years and possibly longer. His criteria is to recognize a high-school age senior, boy or girl, that is not necessarily the top swimmer on the team, but someone that has dedicated themselves through strong service to not only their swim team but also their school and their community. Doug has asked the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Committee to establish an application process and review and select a winner each year.”

Crocker said that Heanssler was very humble and honored to receive this scholarship and recognition for her efforts academically and in athletics for Windham High School.

Heanssler’s swimming coach, Peter Small, said she is a deserving recipient of the scholarship.

“Hannah has a strong balance in many aspects within the swimming community. She has a very strong work ethic, has succeeded at a high level, is a team leader and motivator, is a wonderful role model and has volunteered time with younger swimmers,” Small said. “Her contributions to the swimming community in Windham are something that Doug Springer would be proud to see.”

According to Small, Heanssler is very humble about her accomplishments and talents to the point that she might downplay them at times. He said her ability to motivate through a “lead by example” style is one of the shining aspects of what she brought to the WHS program.

“Hannah approaches everything, from her academics to field hockey, softball and swimming the same way: preparation and embracing every opportunity. Hannah prepares herself for all opportunities and challenges herself with those opportunities. Hannah isn't afraid to try something and fall short. Some student-athletes at times are afraid of failing and it holds them back from succeeding,” Small said. “Hannah embraced opportunities. Every practice she challenged herself, whether it was in improving technique or handling a sprint set, she always looked forward to the challenge. I think being a multiple sport athlete is also a major benefit. When student-athletes participate in multiple sports, the carry-over from one sport to the other is so very noticeable. Hannah has greatly benefited from balancing participating in all three seasons.

Small said that Heanssler has opened doors for herself by taking advantage of opportunities that exist.

“She has always looked to grow, to challenge herself, and to be the best version of herself that she can be. She does this not for accolades, but by an internal drive and growth mindset,” he said. <

Penney’s positive mindset inspires WHS Class of 2022 students

Having overcome more than a few obstacles during her time
at Windham High School, Hailey Penney is a positive
inspiration for her classmates and will graduate with other
members of the Class of 2022 on Sunday, June 12.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

By Ed Pierce

If there is one common theme that connects members of the Windham High School Class of 2022, it’s positivity and Hailey Penney has more than enough positive wishes for the entire graduating class.

Like many other students in the graduating class, Penney has had to overcome a few obstacles in high school but will be on hand at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Sunday to receive her diploma. Her calm and congenial attitude has inspired both students and staff at the school who’ve overcome two years of the pandemic and associated restrictions because of the virus.  

“The teachers and school administrators have been there by my side through all my hardships and have seen my ability to focus on school and improving myself by taking big steps to better my own life,” Penney said. “A few of my closest friends said that others may not know about my strong will and perseverance when it comes to academics, work and personal challenges.”

WHS Assistant Principal Vanessa Michaud says that Penney is a standout in her graduating class because of her care for others and cheerful attitude.

“Hailey has a maturity and has had some life experiences that have given her a wisdom well beyond her years.  She solely has had the drive and initiative to become independent and prepare for her next steps in her journey after high school,” Michaud said. “Hailey also challenged herself this year with a very full plate to achieve her goals taking early college courses, her courses at WHS, as well as working. “

She said Penney is one of the kindest, caring, hardworking, strong, and independent students she has had the pleasure of getting to know and she’s honest to the core. 

“When Hailey has a free moment, she can be seen around WHS checking in on staff and truly engaging in deep meaningful conversations about how they are doing and how things are going for her.  She has an ability to make someone feel like they have known her for years in a matter of seconds,” Michaud said. “Her smile and genuine personality warm the heart.  Hailey is a good friend and checks in with her peers and is always there to support and encourage them.  Hailey is not afraid to try new things, push herself outside of her comfort zone, and face new challenges.”

Michaud said Penney’s resilience and desire to learn has helped her become a promising student.

“In the beginning of her high school career, Hailey often struggled in some her core academic classes.  She would often seek out a quiet place to try to complete her assignments and struggled with some of the core academic classes,” she said. “Her Junior year, Hailey joined our APEX program and with the guidance of the teacher, Adrianne Shetenhelm, Hailey thrived in the more independent learning environment and began to excel. She started to realize her potential as a learner and as she thrived began to look for more challenging courses therefore seeking out the early college courses.  Hailey is a student who at times in her high school career seemed to have all the odds against her and she found a way to rise above and truly shine, always with that smile on her face.”

WHS Assistant Principal Phil Rossetti agrees with that assessment.

“Hailey is a student that has forged her own path. She has advocated for herself and sought every chance to improve and truly used her education as an opportunity to advance herself,” Rossetti said. “She is someone who is wise beyond her years and a joy to work with. She makes everyone around her feel better and welcomed. I/we will miss her smile and infectious positivity.”

Penney said during her time at WHS, she developed a strong bond with social worker Caj Macdonald.

“She has helped me through so many things that I thought I would never be able to make it out of and I’m very grateful for that,” Penney said.

Her favorite class in high school was any of Joe McLaughlin’s art classes but says they were also the most challenging classes for her too.

“I thrived in the environment, and he taught me patience and drive,” she said. “They may have been my favorite but there were many times of frustration when my painting just didn’t look how I imagined. The challenge is what I loved most about art.”

She’s dealt with personal issues in her family while in high school that would have severely impacted other students but kept a positive mindset and says it made her more resilient.

“I knew that getting my diploma was important,” Penney said.

Besides focusing on academics, Penney says she enjoys spending time with my friends, dirt biking, hiking, and many other outdoor activities in her free time. 

Her immediate plan after graduation is to start a new job.

“I just got a conditional offer at the prison in Windham to be a corrections officer,” she said. “I will be starting there after I receive my diploma and go through other steps.” 

Penney says that she’ll cherish and remember fondly the past few months of her senior year.

“The most memorable part of high school for me would be these last moments with prom, marching practice, senior activities and saying goodbye to everyone,” she said. “It’s true when they say you won’t know you miss it until it’s gone. However, I’m excited to take the next step in life.” <