- Scholar:
- Joseph (Joe) Holthaus
- High School:
- Walnut Hills High School
- Home Town:
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Area of Study:
- Political Science/Economics
When entering a new environment, Joe aims to always leave it better than when he found it. To this end, Joe takes on leadership roles with complete dedication and perseverance. To make an impact at his high school, Joe served in the Student Congress since the ninth grade, becoming president of its governing body his senior year. Joe also cares a lot about the success of other students at his school: during his junior and senior years he participated in two different tutoring programs for seventh and eighth grade students. Music is very important to Joe as well and his high school has given him the opportunity to follow this passion. He spent five years in a competitive marching band and became section leader in his senior year. He also spent four years in his school's Wind Ensemble, the top wind band in the school. Through this band, Joe was able to play in Carnegie Hall in New York City during his sophomore year, something he will never forget.
Outside of school, Joe loves to volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an organization he feels very connected to because he is a survivor of childhood Leukemia. Because he believes Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's programs and the wonderful people who participated in them saved his life and the lives of countless others, he works to play even the smallest role in saving the lives of others. He has run in three marathon events for the Team in Training Program, raising over $2000 for each event. He has also captained two teams for the Light the Night Walk. Joe has also volunteered well over 100 hours at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Southern Ohio Chapter office over the past two years. His proudest moment has been raising over $2500 for the Pennies for Patients Program at his high school in February of 2009 with a weeklong "penny war." This organization has been Joe's passion and he hopes to continue to contribute to this cause until all blood-related cancers are cured.
Other activities and awards: YMCA Character Award, Cum Laude Society Inductee, Model United Nations, Model Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation, Role as the Prince in "Romeo and Juliet", AP Scholar with Distinction, Richard J. Hermann '42 Memorial History Award, Marvin O. Koenig Scholarship.
