And the Oxford Cup goes to…

Jennifer Brasington and Alexander Hrisopoulos are now forever a part of Wildcat history.

These two newly-minted graduates became the 2016 recipients of the coveted Oxford Cup during the high school’s May 26 commencement ceremony held at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Independence Township.

“It feels overwhelming,” Brasington said. “I’m really excited. I worked really hard and I’m glad that it paid off.”

“Even if I hadn’t won, I wouldn’t have regretted anything I’ve done in Oxford,” she continued. “It’s just such an amazing community to be part of and I’m really fortunate and honored to be here and get the Oxford Cup. I can’t think of a better place to be graduated from than Oxford.”

“It feels awesome,” Hrisopoulos said. “It’s a huge deal, to me, thinking about all the great students who have won this award in the past. It’s just incredible to be amongst them.”

“I was very surprised, especially when they called out the top four candidates (for the cup),” he noted. “I was among some really, really great students. That they chose me made me feel pretty good.”

Since 1930, the silver cup has been awarded annually at commencement to the graduating senior in the top 100 of his or her class who’s shown the best all-around development.

Traditionally, one student received the Oxford Cup, but that was changed in 2012, so now the honor is shared by one male and one female student.

Selected by a vote of the junior and senior classes, along with the OHS faculty, the winners must exhibit proficiency in scholarship, friendly social qualities, well-balanced physical development and superior school citizenship.

Other finalists for the cup this year included Katelin Cramer, Katherine Gutherie, Grace Wysocki, Charles Devlin, Jared Dymond and Bradley Vandecar.

During her high school career, Brasington, the daughter of James and Joyce, was a member of the track and field team for four years, earning a varsity letter each year. Her events were shot put and discus.

She was a member of the National Honor Society, HOSA-Future Health Professionals and Bully Busters.

By far, Brasington’s favorite high school experience was being part of the student leadership class, which basically functions as the student council. She served as president of its executive board during her senior year.

Brasington is very grateful to Katie Goetz, who teaches the leadership class, for her mentorship, encouragement and friendship.

“I’ve been with her since my freshman year,” she said. “She believed in me. She’s (made) me into the person I am today.”

In the fall, Brasington will attend Oakland Community College to pursue an associate’s degree in nursing. From there, she plans to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the same field.

“I want to become a nurse anesthetist or a nurse practitioner,” she said.

Her father is a nurse. Hearing his stories about saving people’s lives inspired her career path.

“I really want to give back and keep helping everybody,” Brasington said. “I think nursing’s the best way to do that. Just the thought that I could actually be the difference between life and death for somebody is amazing.”

To the OHS schoolmates she’s leaving behind, Brasington offered this sage advice, “Make sure you live in the moment.”

“It really does go fast,” she said. “I wish I had one more football game, one more homecoming, one more track meet. When it’s done, it’s over.”

Hrisopoulos, the son of Ilias and Mary, is best-known as one of the star members of the varsity wrestling team. His four-year career record is 200 wins and 25 losses. He has the second-most number of wins in school history.

Hrisopoulos always did well at the state individual tournaments held annually at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He took second place as a sophomore and as a senior, third as a junior and fifth as a freshman.

Outside of wrestling, Hrisopoulos has enjoyed being involved in the school’s talent shows and hosting pep assemblies. His fondest memory was co-hosting the 2015 homecoming assembly with Nathan Eisenhardt.

“It was a lot of fun to get the whole school involved,” he said. “It was a blast.”

The two most influential teachers in Hrisopoulos’ career at OHS were Kim DeBroka, who teaches the AP Calculus, and Joe Swoyer, who teaches AP Physics.

Hrisopoulos said DeBroka “taught a very, very difficult class,” but she did it “very well and it helped me.”

Of Swoyer, Hrisopoulos said he was influenced by his strong morals.

In the fall, Hrisopoulos will attend Michigan State University on – surprise, surprise – a wrestling scholarship. When he’s not busy pinning opponents to the mat, he plans to study computer science.

His advice to the schoolmates he’s leaving behind – “Have fun and stay involved.”

“The best way to excel in high school is to go to events and support teams and clubs that you normally wouldn’t,” Hrisopoulos said. “It’s a good way to stay connected.”

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *