By Diane Smith

Record-Courier staff writer

The four valedictorians of Southeast High School are all very different, but they have much in common besides their grade point averages.

All of them are female. All of them set themselves by taking calculus, the only "weighted" course at the school, allowing them to raise their grade point averages above 4.0. And all of them report being influenced at least in some way by a certain science teacher.

William Gilmour, a science teacher, influenced all of the students, including one who plans to be a doctor, one who is pursing a degree in zoology, and two who plan to do therapy and appreciated Gilmour's recent lessons on the brain.

"He's just really down to earth," said Jennifer Bierlair, one of the four valedictorians. "He just knows so much about everything."

Bierlair, the daughter of Alphonse Bierlair and Melissa Anderson, both of Deerfield, plans to study at The Ohio State University and pursue a degree in zoology. She is considering a career as a veteranarian or an animal trainer.

She said she's been around animals "my whole life."

"My grandparents have a farm, and we've always had a lot of pets," she said. They include two cats and a lizard at her mom's house, a dog and three cats at her dad's, and four cats at her grandparents house, where there are also baby goats.

Bierlair has been involved with the Horizons program for gifted students, National Honors Society and ski club.

She said her parents have always been supportive and encouraged her to do her best.

"They've just always pushed me to do whatever is the best I could do," she said.

She said her dad, who "never cries about anything," recently got a bit teary at the thought of his daughter going to Columbus.

Jessica Campf, also of Deerfield, has been involved in track, dance line, golf, band, swing choir and National Honor Society. She plans to study biology at the University of Akron and eventually go on to medical school.

Her late grandfather, Dr. Peter Cibula, who died recently, is the influence behind her career choice.

"I want to make as much of an impact on him as he made on me," she said.

Cibula, who practiced in Lisbon, loved to give his granddaughter a long "word of the day" and have her use it in sentences. The only one that came immediately to mind was "paraphernalia."

"Most of them were really big words, and I can't remember them," she said with a laugh.

Campf keeps busy working at Dairy Queen in Edinburg, where she is the assistant manager, spending time with her boyfriend, Nick Zaczyk, and serving in the youth group at Berlin Center United Methodist Church. Recently, the group has done mission projects in Steubenville, serving in a soup kitchen.

"It was really fun," she said.

Cassandra Dearth, the daughter of Gary Dearth of Atwater and Leanne Dearth of Paris, plans to major in psychology at the University of Akron. She is not sure at this point whether she wants to become a psychiatrist, which would require a medical degree, or get a doctorate in psychology.

"I've always been kind of interested in the brain and its workings," she said. "That was confirmed in my human anatomy class, when Mr. Gilmour was talking about the brain."

In addition, she said, her peers have always regarded her as a "good listener" and used to sit with her in the pavillion during recess and talk to her.

Dearth has been involved with soccer, the National Honor Society, the Pre-Professional Medical Academy, ski club and the Student Tobacco-free Athlete Mentor Program.

She hopes to travel abroad, an interest that was sparked by trips she has taken with her grandparents.

"My grandparents have taken me to like 30 states," she said.

She said her parents, particularly her mother, influenced her academic standing.

"She just pushed me to do the best I can, and since the best I can do is A's, I should get A's all the time," she said.

Kelsey Hoisington, the daughter of George and Theresa Hoisington of Edinburg, is another future therapist.

Hoisington, who has been active in school plays, the International Thespian Society and band, plans to combine her love of music with her desire to help others. She plans to study to be a music therapist at Ohio University.

"It combines biology, which I like, with playing music," she said.

Hoisington has been playing the piano since she was 4 and also plays the clarinet, guitar and drums. "I've convinced my cousin to let me use her violin, but I wouldn't say I play it," she said.

She said some music therapists use their skills to reach out to emotionally troubled people, elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and children with autism. Her mother met a music therapist and announced to her daughter that "he's the neatest guy I ever met," she recalled.

"Everybody who's ever met one talks really highly of them," she said.

Other than Gilmour, who influenced her interest in the workings of the brain, Hoisington said her parents are her biggest influence.

"They always expected me to do well, but never said, 'I'm going to ground you if you get a B," she said.