Wabash County, IN– On Thursday, April 11, Grow Wabash County hosted its
annual Honor Student Luncheon, connecting members of the community and the top
academic students in Wabash County’s Class of 2024 over the topics of future plans and
professional opportunities.
Neil Bever, owner of Hoosier Chiropractic, was the emcee for the event, sharing his
experiences as a Wabash native who chose to start his practice in the same community he
grew up in.
After lunch and conversation between students and professional mentors, representatives
from the event’s Industry Sponsors, were invited onstage for a panel discussion and Q&A
session where the speakers fielded questions from Bever and the students in the audience.
This year’s panel of speakers featured: Scott Dinkins from Ford Meter Box; Abby Van Vlerah
from Manchester University; and Doug Selig from Parkview Wabash Hospital.
During the Q&A panel, the speakers, none of whom were native to Wabash, talked about
what originally brought them to Wabash County and the things that made them want to stay
and build a life here.
They also offered advice and insight to the soon-to-be graduates about the incredible value
they bring to the workforce as a generation that has been raised with technology and possess
a collective passion to do good in the world. They encouraged them to hang onto those skills
and values when they entered the workforce and to not be afraid to challenge the status quo.
In closing, Bever wished all of the students well as they prepare to graduate later this spring
and encouraged them to keep their hometown in mind when it came to deciding where they
wanted to lay down roots and grow their careers.
Grow Wabash County would like to thank all of the sponsors who made this event an
impactful one for our students and local business community.
Industry Sponsors: Ford Meter Box Company; Manchester University; Parkview Wabash
Hospital
Academic Sponsors: Besiege, LLC; Crossroads Bank; Edward Jones; Halderman Real Estate &
Farm Management
Table Sponsors: Bachelor Creek Church of Christ; Beacon Credit Union; City of Wabash;
Guenin Law Office; Honeywell Arts & Entertainment; Metal X; POET; Siders Premiere
Properties, LLC;
Student Sponsors: Benson & Son LLC; Community Foundation of Wabash County; Douglas C
Lehman, PC; First Farmers Bank & Trust; Gaunt & Son Asphalt; Intertech Products, Inc.; JoJo’s
OlFactory & Co.; Kimberly’s Business by Design, LLC; Michael Barnett; Mindy Mayes; Modoc’s
Market; MPS Egg Farms; MSD of Wabash County; Northwestern Mutual; NCI SHRM; Pettit
Printing, Inc.; Robert J. Mattern, DDS; Terri Eckert School of Dance; Tim’s THAI 2 Go; Town of
North Manchester; Wabash Hardware & Rental
