Hougas had goal first, reason later

Although he knew in sixth grade he wanted to be a physician, Dr. James Hougas Jr. did not understand why until many years later.

Dr. Hougas was the featured speaker at the 26th annual Honors Recognition program at Morris Community High School Wednesday night.

“I haven’t lived in Morris since 1980, but I still say it is my home town. The education at Morris Community High School is second to none,” he said.

In junior high, he said, the Better Homes and Gardens Medical Guide was his favorite book.
In high school, "My English term paper was on the pituitary gland."

Hougas attended Creighton University in Omaha, chosing it over the University of Illinois, because it had a medical school. “Every other student was in pre-med, so I began saying I was a chemistry major.”

He said a lot of students dropped out of the program because they did not have the grades to get into medical school.

Admitted to medical school, Hougas said he felt a little guilty. Some who worked a lot harder than he had did not get in because they did not have the grades.

“And I still didn’t know why I wanted to be a physician,” he said.

In 1980, Hougas worked as an orderly at Morris Hospital, and began to learn why he wanted to be a doctor.

While working at the hospital, Hougas said, he met a man fighting prostate cancer. Despite his illness, the man never lost his spirit or enthusiasm. He epitomized optimism. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says optimism is a force multiplier.

President Barack Obama said, “Yes we can,” Hougas noted.

Hougas told the students to never fear failing. Thomas Edison, when asked about all the failures in developing the light bulb, said they were not failures. They had just found 10,000 ways that did not work.
People who take action, encourage others to do the same and a lot of small acts can accomplish a lot, he said.

Hougas said he used an U.S. Air Force Scholarship for medical school tuition, which was $5,000 at that time. Now it is $48,000.

Most leave the Air Force after their time is up, but Hougas has re-enlisted time after time and now has served 29 years.

“I have served in six states, four continents and in three war zones.” he said. “I have seen the patriotism and selfless courage of these men and women.

“When faced with a challenge, don’t shrink from it, welcome it. And have a passion for whatever you do.”

Hougas is currently stationed at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico. He and his wife have four children of college age or older.

Faculty members from 11 academic areas in the high school recognized their top students.

For the first time, two students received multiple departmental awards.

Erin Baum received the departmental awards for foreign language (Spanish), math and science. She plans to attend Loyola, major in biology and chemistry and minor in Spanish.

Rosemary Nowak received the departmental awards for art and English. She plans to study art therapy.
Other departmental awards went to Rochelle Claire for business education, Brittany Shannon for family and consumer science, Kevin Maddox for industrial technology, Tommy Norton for music, Andrea Hogan and Jacob McConnell for physical education, health and driver's education, and Caleb Moss for social science.

Students who earned the right to attend Honors Recognition Night were:
 
Freshmen:
Morgan T. Akre, Margaret R. Ascolani, Courtney E. Brousek, Kevin J. Burling, Cathy L. Click, Jaymee M. Cole, Danielle M. Cummings, Jordan D. Cummings, Selma Dzelil, Kyle E. Eliakis, Andrea E. Enger, Austin J. Feeney, Meghan E. Gainer, Lauren E. Galloway, Vanessa Garcia, Kyle J. Hall, Haley N. Hanson, Taylor L. Hendricks, Danielle E. Howard, Elijah J. Jelinek, Taylor S. Johnson, Paul C. Kolotka, Joseph W. Leasure, Katherine D. Lincoln; Annie S.Martello, Rachel M. Max, James R. Pelnarsh, Anna L. Pfaff, Lyndsey P. Picardo, Natalie F. Polson, Micayla S. Post, Nicole M. Rickard, Jordan C. Robbins, Tyler A.F. Robinson, Alyssa A. Sajnaj, Sara N. Sapsford, Tyler J.  Severson, Katelyn B. Shannon, Jennifer R. Sidy, Caitlyn R. Simpson, Brooke A. Smith, Maralena V. Taube, William E. Terry, Katie R. Thayer, Kevin J. Wendling, Blake A. Wilhelmsen, Jessica L. Wills.

Sophomores:
Austin M. Amsler, Taryn P. Belak, Ethan D. Chouinard, Leslie J. Claire, Kayla M. Conrod, Samantha C. Courter, Kaileen C. Cummings, Eric J. Day, Joshua D. DeGraaf, William DelToro, John T. Dingbaum, Caitlin C. Farmer, Kelsey L. Feiden, Christopher E. Gallick, Alex E. Granger, Hannah M. Hennessy, Kalin J. Howell, Amber M. Hunnewell, Maggie M. Hussey, Hillary N. Johansen, Kyle R. Jorstad;
Heather N. Lamb, Daniela M. Lerma, Katherine A. Limbach, Michelle J. Lutz, Grant L. Magers, Katelyn D. Mantey, Bailey H. McArdle, Frankie T. Menozi, Joseph R. Olewinski, Madeleine A. Pfaff, Rachel M. Resler, Jon J. Scholtes, Craig J. Siron, Karla R. Springer, Ryley A. Steele, Marjorie E. Struck, Nicholas B. Terhall, Ashley M. Torri, Charlotte A. Ulrich, Nicolas C. West, Taylor L. Wolfer.

Juniors:
Torey D. Baxa, Danielle R. Benematti, Andrew J. Bennett, Alyssa A. Chatten, Molly K. Dolan, Samantha C. Drown, Jessica R. Galang, Treva C. Gehrke, Matthew J. Gronek, Grace E. Harrington, Lauren N. Hausken, Douglas A. Howard, Nathaniel R. Hunnewell, Rachel C. Jewett, Kimberly A. Kijowski, Tamra J. Kren, Ashley M. Lamb, Leah M. Lehmuller; David A. Mantey, Joel E. McVey, Brianna K. Mooney, Nichole A. Nix, Gregory A. Nordstrom, Arianna M. Pempe, Katie A. Reed, Mallory A. Runion, Kelsey R. Schluntz, Kelly J. Schwantner, Taylor L. Severson, Sarah K. Sidy, Randi L. Simon, Devin Singer, Sabrina M. Turman, Jacob L. Waldron, Kaitlyn M. Washburn.

Seniors:
Names with asterisks earned a G.P.A. of 4.75 or above.
Shelby L. Ader, Albert J. Allen*, David G. Balzer*, Erin R. Baum*, Riley R. Blindt*, Joshua J. Cap*, Jessica R. Christiansen*, Rochelle C. Claire*, Molly R. Connon*, Dana R. Corrigan*, Shane E. Dare*, Nicole D. Deischer*, Dennis A. Entwistle*, Christopher W. Greaves*, Matthew J. Hussey*, Kimberly A. Johnson*, Ana C. Luevano, Jennifer L. Martino*, Carl B. Monk*; Rosemary Nowak, Taylor K. Ortiz* Deana L. Packley*, Ashley E. Peterson*, Ashley E. Rickard, Amanda M. Robbins*, Kayla R. Roden*, Emma E. Roseland*, Allison L. Skinner*, Elizabeth R. Smith*, Amanda A. Thayer, Joseph D. Tischer*, Adam P. Tondini*, Andrew J. Tondini*, Shaina L. Walker*, Melissa L. Ward*, Samantha E. Welch*, Ryan M. Wendling*, Ashley M. Wright*.