Scholarship Athletes

2010 Scholarship Athletes

Heidi Beckerich - The College at Brockport

Heidi will graduate from Bishop Chatard High School with high honors in May of 2010. She is currently a level 10 gymnast. She has been a regional qualifier every year she has competed. Heidi is glad she came to DeVeau’s and is thankful for her awesome coaches and all the friends she has made there. She has never wanted to miss a practice or a competition. She’s enjoyed learning more difficult skills and wants to encourage the younger girls to keep going if they really love it. She has found that even the biggest obstacles can be overcome with the help of God, family, and determination. Heidi has a great sense of humor and enjoys music, running and being with her friends. She plans to become a physical therapist and will attend The College at Brockport and compete for their gymnastics team.

Lauren Caldemeyer - Stanford University

Lauren will graduate from Cathedral High School in May of 2010 with High Honors. During High School, she has participated in National Honor Society, two Mexico Mission Trips, over 200 hours of community service, and her favorite -Latin Dance Club. Gymnastics has been a large part of her life since she was 5 years old.Throughout her seven years as a level 10, Lauren has achieved numerous awards in gymnastics including 3 time TOPS National team member, multiple state and regional championship titles, a three time National Championship Competitor, and a National Championship Beam Title. Gymnastics has taught Lauren many things, and she has truly cherished the time with her incredible teammates and coaches and thanks them for all of their support. Although Lauren is proud of her accomplishments, more importantly, gymnastics has allowed her to accomplish her dream of attending Stanford University, where Lauren has accepted a full-ride athletic scholarship for the fall of 2010. Lauren plans to major in Pre-Medicine and minor in Spanish at Stanford, and she anxiously awaits continuing her gymnastics career with her new college family.

Karissa Carpenter - University of Kentucky

Karissa will graduate in May from Lawrence North High School in the top ten of her class. At L.N., she has been involved in Tri Hi Y community service and she is an editor on the yearbook staff. She began gymnastics at the age of three, and tried several gyms before finding her home at DeVeau’s in 2000. Her coaches and teammates have been like a second family, and she is so thankful for her parents, Joe and Kim, and older brother, Josh. She has had some of the best experiences of her life through her time in gymnastics. Some of her best memories have been traveling with the team, 3 trips to Eastern Nationals, and endless talks around the chalk bowl. She has traveled to San Diego, Phoenix, Boston, Las Vegas, Cancun and many trips to Florida. She will miss all of her teammates and coaches, and the many lessons she has learned. Her gymnastics career will continue at the University of Kentucky!

Elizabeth McNabb - University of Illinois

Liz will graduate from Cathedral High School in May of 2010 with honors where she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Math League. Sharing in Cathedral’s tradition, Liz has volunteered over 200 hours throughout high school and has served on two mission trips. Outside of school, she has been a level 10 competitor since she was in 6th grade. While training at DeVeau’s, she has been grateful for the numerous opportunities from beginning as a TOPS B team member to traveling and competing nationally and internationally. She qualified elite in 2005 where she competed in the US Classics and the US VISA Championships. She later returned to level 10 where she has earned several state and regional titles as well as being a two time Level 10 National competitor and a two time Region 5 All Star team member. Elizabeth has earned much admiration from her teammates and coaches by being awarded as the athlete with the Best Attitude and Hardest Worker awards. Medals aside, she has treasured her time with her teammates and coaches at DeVeau’s and thanks them for persevering with her through the challenges a gymnastics career can bring. Liz has accepted a full athletic scholarship for the fall of 2010 to compete gymnastics for the University of Illinois in Urbana- Champaign where she has been accepted into the business school.

Emily Peterson - University of Alaska

Emily Petersen has been in gymnastics since the age of 4 and competing at Deveau’s School of Gymnastics for 5 years. She attends North Central High School and will graduate this year in the top 10% of her class with a 4.4 GPA. Emily has accepted a full scholarship to the University of Alaska for gymnastics next year. Go Seawolves!!

Emily: “I would like to thank my parents for the support they have shown me in my gymnastics career so far. Deveau’s has been an amazing home, and I owe Tom, Amy, and Don so much for all they’ve done for me. My team has been a great support system and I’ll miss them like crazy!”

2009 Scholarship Athletes

Nicole Johnson - Arizona State

Nicki will graduate from Perry Meridian High School in May of 2009. She is on high honor roll and participates in many extracurricular activities such as modeling, acting, and dancing with her school dance team (The Falconettes). She has been in gymnastics for 14 years and has attended DeVeau’s for five years. Since then, her gymnastics skills have increased immensely, and that has helped her receive a full scholarship to Arizona State University. She would like to thank her wonderful coaching staff for helping her progress throughout the years, and a bigger thanks to her family for the sacrifices made in order for her to achieve success.

Blaize Monks - The Ohio State University

I have been doing gymnastics at DeVeau’s for nine years. I went to Noblesville High School and graduated with an Academic Honors diploma in December, 2008. Chad has been my coach for about 8 years now, and has led me through my ups and downs in my time at DeVeau’s. I plan to go to The Ohio State University to join coaches Miles Avery and Doug Stibel and train under them for the gymnastics team. I was awarded an academic scholarship for scoring a 29 on the ACT. Since I started gymnastics, it has been one of my dreams to go to Ohio State for their gymnastics team and great academics. I will study Exercise Science as my major and hopefully be able to go on to medical school after I finish. I would like to thank my coaches and Joan for all of the support and help they have given me through my health and my injuries. I would also like to thank my parents for everything they have done for me.

2008 Scholarship Athletes

Krissi Woodward - The Ohio State University

Krissi Woodward, daughter of Ross and Penni Woodward grew up on a farm in the small town of Lapel. She has 2 sisters, Pandora and Jacki, 5 dogs and 2 cats. She learned to count by going to the barn and counting the babies born in each litter of pigs. Krissi has been competing in gymnastics since the age of 5. Her career started at Anderson Gymnastics and moved to DeVeaus in 2000, a move she considers one of the best decisions in her life. While at DeVeaus she was a state champion multiple times and a 5 time national qualifier. She was named Miss Congeniality at the 2005 State Meet.

Kristine is a graduate of Lapel High School, class of 70 students. In school she was able to be a football manager and cheerleader earning her a Letterman’s jacket. She was also named the 2007 Homecoming Queen. This summer Kristine will be recognized as a 10 year 4-H member. She has participated in the Foods and Beef BBQ projects as well as exhibiting swine. She has been honored in the past as a Grand Champion on her Foods projects, Reserve Grand Champion with her barrow, and as the Hamilton County Pork Ambassador. Krissi will be attending The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio as a member of their gymnastics team. She plans to major in Fashion Merchandising.

Nicole Krauter - The Ohio State University

Gymnastics has been a part of my life since I was 2, and I have been a member of the DeVeau’s family since 2001. I graduated from Carmel High School involved in National Honor Society, student government, and elementary school mentoring. I would like to thank Joan DeVeau, my coaches, my parents, Kurt and Risa Krauter, and my siblings Casey, Kelly, Kevin, Katie, Courtney and Michael for their encouragement, love and support. I must give the ultimate glory and praise for all of my accomplishments to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As a result of the thrilling gymnastics rollercoaster ride, I have had great experiences and have many opportunities ahead of me. Some of my favorite memories include National Championships with Region 5 at Virginia Beach, LA, Oklahoma, and Orlando; travel meets to Las Vegas, New York City shopping, Florida beaches, Chicago Navy Pier, San Diego La Jolla seals, LA “Stick It” auditions, UCLA tour, San Francisco trolleys, Stanford tour, and Arizona mountain climbing; college recruiting visits, Bible studies with teammates; pool and lake parties; girl’s night out; and chats around the vault table and chalk bowl. It has been an honor to be one of the senior leaders of the team along with Kaelie and Krissi. I hope that my enthusiasm, determination, and faith have been a positive influence on my teammates. I am proud that I have achieved my goal and will be competing for Ohio State University on a full athletic scholarship.

Kaelie Baer - UCLA

I graduated from Columbus East High School in May of 2008. I will be attending UCLA on a full ride gymnastics scholarship. I was blessed in my gymnastics career to find DeVeaus. I have had the opportunity to compete with an amazing level 10 team, and our love and team spirit has come together so well over the years. We have a bond that I do not think a lot of other teams have. My favorite times as a gymnast at DeVeaus include receiving a full ride, four trips to Nationals, trips together to different states, and the times you all came down to play on the lake. Late night talks and all the laughing were some of my favorite memories. Each week I looked forward to our Saturday afternoon Bible studies after practice. Jesus is a huge part of my life and without Him I would not be where I am today. He has truly blessed our team as we have seen over and over again. Throughout my gymnastics career at DeVeaus I have learned many lessons on discipline, time management, and how to deal with different types of personalities. And I think I can drive the route from Columbus to Fishers without looking! All of these have shaped the person I am today and will continue to help me in my future at UCLA and after.

2007 Scholarship Athletes

Jessica Staton - The Ohio State University

Jessica Staton, 17, of Fishers, has flipped, balanced and swung for nearly 13 years of her life at DeVeaus School of Gymnastics perfecting her talent as a gymnast. Recently all of her hard work paid off when The Ohio State University offered Staton a full-ride gymnastics scholarship.

Its a dream come true, said Staton. Knowing that with only one scholarship left, I was the one Coach Carey Fagan wanted to be a Buckeye.

When asked if she felt all the years in the sport had been worth the sacrifices, she said, Yes, definitely. And I encourage all of the younger girls at the gym to stick with it because its worth it.

Staton, who is nicknamed Reggie by her teammates, claims vault is her best event but she enjoys floor the most. Staton competes as a Level 10 gymnast, which is the top level of the Junior Olympic program developed by the national governing body of the sport, USA Gymnastics. In fact, Staton earned a spot to the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2005 and 2006, the highest level you can achieve as a Level 10 gymnast.

Staton, who is coached by Peter Zhao, Tom Strange, Amy Scales and Jan Exner, said her best memory in the sport is vault talks with her teammates!

Staton, who trains 23 hours per week at DeVeaus School of Gymnastics, is a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School. She excels not only in her sport but also in school. Shes ranked 21 out of a class of 733. Her future career ambition is to become a physical therapist.

When asked how she earned the nickname Reggie, She laughs and says, When I was 4 years old in Joan DeVeaus class I really liked Reggie Miller and wouldnt do any of my skills unless Joan called me Reggie. Joan thought it was so funny because I looked nothing like Reggie but everyone started calling me Reggie and it stuck.

Outside of gymnastics Staton enjoys hanging out with friends, going to school sporting events, listening to music and shopping.

Her family includes her dad, Michael; mom, Karen; 15-year-old sister Tiffany; 13-year-old sister Cynthia; and newly adopted brother Ashton, who is 3 months old.

Staton is looking forward to competing for DeVeaus as a Level 10 in 2006-07 and then heading to The Ohio State University in the fall of 2007 to compete on the gymnastics team as a Buckeye.