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With Waldron legacy secure, Megan Bogemann starting new journey at Purdue

For someone known for hitting 3s, Megan Bogemann was very comfortable being ranked No. 3 in her graduating class at Waldron High School.

Bogemann made it to the final day of school believing she could enjoy graduation day without having to give a speech. That is when she learned twin sisters Hadlie and Hallie Ross were named co-valedictorians and Bogemann was now the salutatorian.

“At the end of the last school day I found out I have to give a speech,” recalled Bogemann. “I had to think of something really fast and hope it was good.”

More comfortable playing in front of thousands of fans, Bogemann found the experience of talking in front of so many friends and families daunting.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking because I don’t want to talk in front of people,” she said.

That notion comes with some irony considering she plans to major in Speech, Language and Hearing at Purdue University. Her life will literally be built around speech.

“I went from a lot of physical therapy to occupational therapy, so I knew I wanted to do some sort of therapy,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go into the medical field but not go particularly into the medical field because I don’t have the stomach for it.

“I want to work in a hospital setting with speech pathology so I can help little kids.”

 

 

In reality, Bogemann has been helping little kids in the Waldron school system for the last two years. She, as are many members of the Class of 2022 at Waldron, is a role model because of her volleyball, basketball and tennis success.

Bogemann was part of a sectional championship winning volleyball team in 2021, a 3-point marksman for a basketball team that was ranked No. 1 in the state and won sectional and regional championships in February, and teamed with Mackenzie Shaw to become the first tennis doubles sectional champions in school history.

“I definitely think our sports has put a legacy on the school, and FFA (Future Farmers of America) too,” she said. “The senior class has helped do a lot of things for our community and I think that is what our senior class is based off of, helping our community and leaving a mark on Waldron.”

That mark is what made Bogemann sentimental during her final couple days in school.

“It was a little sad knowing it would be the last time walking in this class with these people, last time seeing these teachers, or the last time walking through the elementary (school),” she said. “It was cool walking through the elementary school and how excited they are to see you and know the impact you’ve made on all of them.”

Bogemann found Purdue to be the right fit, wanting a larger school experience without being overwhelmed by the setting.

“I wanted to have a place with a lot of people in it but still felt small,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to a big college and feel overwhelmed. “Purdue is still so many people but the campus makes it feel small and close knit and that’s what I liked about it. It felt like home to me.”

By choosing Purdue, though, Bogemann made the difficult decision to close out her athletic career.

“I already miss volleyball and basketball and I know I will miss tennis,” said Bogemann. “It’s bittersweet knowing what we did as seniors and walking out of this school with our faces being on the walls forever.”

(This is the fourth in a 10-part series highlighting the Class of 2022 valedictorians and salutatorians from the five Shelby County high schools.)

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