Meet Nazareth's "Whiz Kid" Stephanie Wachter

"Whiz Kid" Facts:

• Name: Stephanie Wachter
• Grade: 2011 graduate of 

School Activities:

• Blue Eagle Ambassadors, Student Council, Principal Student Advisory Board, Freshman Executive Council, Sign Language Club and Interact Club

School Sports:

• NAHS soccer goalie all four years (Varsity and Junior Varsity)

Accomplishments:

• High Honor Roll, National Honor Society, ranked 10th in the NAHS class of 2011
• Attended the Assembly of God National Fine Arts Festival all four years of high school, competing in the sign language solo and group events, solo singing and digital photography.

Scholarships:

• Nazareth Area Education Association Scholarship
• Brad Peters Memorial Scholarship
• St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Outreach Scholarship
• Sullivan Trail Sertoma Club Scholarship

Community Activities:

• Blue Mountain Soccer Club
• At , Stephanie helps with the toddler church, performs as a lead singer for the worship team, and assists with the bread ministry.

"Whiz Kid" Key to Awesomeness:

Sign language piqued the interest of Stephanie Wachter when she joined a sign language club at . Stephanie does not have any relatives who are deaf; she simply has a curiosity and an aptitude for learning languages.

“Over the years, I have figured out that my brain just gets languages,” Stephanie said.

When she headed to high school, Stephanie had to pick a language to study, so she chose German. The class came easy to her, and she studied the language throughout high school. German quickly became one of her favorite classes, Stephanie said.

For two weeks last fall, her family even hosted an exchange student from Austria.

“It was fun to actually use the language,” Stephanie said of the experience.

In addition to studying German in high school, Stephanie also took sign language lessons. 

“It’s poetic,” Stephanie said, adding that just as different countries have different languages and cultures, the deaf community does as well.

According to to Stephanie, learning a language isn’t just about communication, it’s also about discovering a world different from one’s own.

“It’s a whole different culture,” she explained.

And Stephanie's sign language skills have taken her to new heights throughout the years. She has competed in sign language events at several Assembly of God Fine Arts Festivals, competing at both the state and national levels.

In fact, she has earned her way to the national competition all four years of high school, and will compete once again at the national level in Arizona this August, Stephanie said.

Whether or not she places in the competition, Stephanie is proud to have been ranked 10th in her graduating class in addition to earning four scholarships, including one from the Sullivan Trail Sertoma Club.

That particular scholarship is for students who plan to major in sign language, which Stephanie intends to do. She will head to Bloomsburg University this fall to major in American Sign Language and English Interpreting.

“I like that [Bloomsburg University is] far enough away to stay there, but close enough to come back weekends... so I don’t get homesick," the soon-to-be college student said.

After college, Stephanie would like to find work at an agency that provides interpreting services at convention centers, hospitals, courtrooms and other areas, she said.

As for high school, Stephanie said she’ll not only miss her language classes but also Tim Cunningham, who taught American History II and government.

But her fondest memory?

Being asked to the prom during her sophomore year.

“That was a big deal back then,” Stephanie said. “It was like a fairy tale.”