Each week, #SpanningtheNeed will present an “Inspirational Person of the Week’ and have a “Q & A” with one of its many gifted individuals and/or groups who are willing to go out of their own way to help others.
As the spring season blooms with vibrant colors and the promise of new beginnings, it’s a time of celebration for many communities. Among the myriad of joyous occasions, one particularly special event stands out – the graduation of high school seniors. This year, as we bid farewell, our local area high schools are taking a step further and Spanning the Need is honoring and spotlighting the achievements of these bright young minds. This week’s featured is Jacob (Jake) Schneider from Canfield High School.
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Name: Jacob (Jake) Schneider
School: Canfield High School
Class: Senior
GPA: 3.83 (unweighted)
Bio: Jake Schneider is a senior at Canfield High School. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has earned 8 Varsity letters in basketball, football and baseball. As a member of the 2022 Canfield State Championship football team, Jake has a AAC and District Championships in Varsity baseball and basketball, and won two Little League Baseball State Championships and two NABF World Series Championships. He also played AAU basketball and is looking forward to continuing his athletic career by playing basketball in college. In his spare time, Jake enjoys playing sports, hanging out with his friends and family, volunteering, traveling and playing video games.
What are your plans after graduation?
Attend college and major in Business and Finance
What is your favorite class?
Probability and Statistics
#POTW: Alexis Smith DO, Penn Highlands Healthcare
What accomplishments during your high school journey are you most proud of, and how do you feel they have shaped you as an individual?
I suffered a serious injury in the final football scrimmage prior to my senior season beginning where I tore my ACL and LCL and fractured my femur and tibia. I had two surgeries, was non-weight bearing for months and had to use a wheelchair and crutches. I was also unable to play football and basketball my senior year. I have been working very hard to come back from my injuries through rehab and physical therapy 5 times/week. I believe that my injury and my recovery have shaped me and my outlook on life. I am very driven and want to succeed. I do not take anything for granted and I appreciate the little things. I learned that life is very unpredictable and you need to roll with the punches. I went from being a big part of all of my teams on the court and the field to being the biggest supporter of my teammates from the sidelines. It has been quite an adjustment but I never complain or ask “why me?” and I try not to dwell on what could have been. I know that this is just a small bump in the road and I am very focused on what I can accomplish in the future.
Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities, volunteering in the community or passions have played a crucial role in your high school life, and how have they influenced your future goals?
I was selected for membership in the National Honor Society as a junior which required many hours of community service and volunteering. I have been a volunteer serving food and assisting with meals at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, I have volunteered with the United Way Day of Giving, I have donated hundreds of hours working with youth football and basketball players as a camp counselor and with the Canfield High School Booster Clubs for football, basketball and baseball by working concessions, selling programs, working the scoreboards, and setting up and tearing down from fundraisers, military appreciation nights and banquets.
The most meaningful service project that I was involved in was my National Honor Society senior service project where I and a fellow classmate created a sales project where we sold CandyGrams to our fellow classmates that were delivered to recipients on Valentine’s Day. We donated all of the proceeds to The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation. This Foundation was created in honor of 4 year old Melina Michelle Edenfield who was diagnosed with a deadly childhood brain tumor called Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) in May of 2020 and just a month and two days later, on June 24, 2020, the tumor took her life. The Foundation was established in her memory to help find a cure for this terrible disease and all proceeds go directly toward research. We recently delivered our donation of $500 to the Edenfield family and were able to spend an hour with Mrs. Edenfield, one of her daughters and Mrs. Edenfield’s mother. They were so nice and appreciative and told us all about Melina, the Foundation and how they are working to change how cancer in children is diagnosed, researched and treated. I can assure you that I will never forget about Melina Edenfield. I know that I will continue to volunteer in college and thereafter and encourage my friends, family and coworkers to do the same.
What is the most memorable moment in your scholastic career?
My most memorable moment in my scholastic career has been working towards and being selected for membership in the National Honor Society. I was able to maintain high grades, participate in varsity athletics and provide numerous hours of community service in order to achieve a goal I set for myself. My mother and sister are also members of the National Honor Society and I knew through hard work and dedication that I too could become a member.
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As you reflect on your time in high school, is there a teacher or mentor who made a lasting impression on you? What made their impact so meaningful?
My basketball coach John Cullen has made a lasting impression on me. I was lucky to have Coach Cullen return to Canfield High School to finish off his coaching career the past two seasons and be a member of his team. Coach Cullen has probably forgotten more about basketball than most people know. He has funny quotes and sayings that crack us up and he knows every stat from every game. When I suffered an injury that ended my senior seasons before they began, Coach Cullen called and texted me. He stopped over at my house to visit and talk about sports. He constantly checked up on me and always mentioned me in interviews and said what a loss it was for the team and that I was the best player he has coached in 50 years. Coach Cullen always made me feel part of the team even when I could not contribute on the court. I will never forget how he made me feel important and special.
What is your favorite sports related movie?
Remember the Titans
What is your favorite food?
Chicken Alfredo
What song best describes you or is the soundtrack to your life?
Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Do you have a field of study already chosen when you go to college? Why that field?
I plan on studying business and/or finance in college in order to become an actuary. I am currently enrolled in the course Probability & Statistics and it is my favorite class I have ever taken. I truly enjoy math and calculating the probability of events occurring. If I were to calculate the probability of me succeeding and working hard towards any goals I set, I would bet on it because the probability is very high. While my senior year may not have been the stuff of dreams, I know that I will work hard to achieve any and every goal I set for myself.
Who is your role model?
My role model is my mom Dawn Schneider. She is a single mom and works full-time as an assistant prosecuting attorney. She works hard, volunteers and never misses any event that me and my sister are involved in. I suffered a serious injury this year and she never left my side. My mom has been with me through every step of recovery from doctor appointments, to physical therapy, to learning to walk and drive again. I know I can count on her for anything.
If there was one person you would want to meet, past or present, who would it be and why?
If I could meet one person it would be my Great Grandfather Donald Bernat who passed away before I was born. He was a doctor and I have been told how he was the smartest man any one in my family had ever met. He spoke over 12 languages, qualified to be on Jeopardy and loved sports. I wish I could have met him and we could have talked about sports and he could have come to see me play.
A favorite quote by which you live.
“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky
