LEIGH (MORRIS) KASPER, Ottawa High School

Leigh (Morris) Kasper’s career didn’t follow the path she originally had intended.

Kasper, a former Herald Citizen Scholar, graduated from Wichita State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

She said she studied criminal justice and chemistry the first two years and then switched to education.

“This is not at all what I was working towards in high school. I had planned on becoming a forensic anthropologist,” Kasper said. “While I still find that field fascinating, I realized through interviews that it is difficult to have that career and a family the way I wanted it.

“I decided that I would rather find a career that would lend well to having a husband and eventually, kids.”

Kasper and her husband, Ty, live in Wichita, where she is a fifth grade teacher in downtown Wichita.

“The school I teach in is full of students who have very hard lives and not many resources,” she said. “There are some tough schools down here and a lot of kids who need love. That excited me and I realized that I could really use my criminal justice experience in education.”

During high school, Kasper was on the student council, president of the OHS National Honor Society, a member of Key Club and Club 121 leadership team, as well as peer counselor for three years.

She also was in musicals and performed with the Cytones choir for four years, and she played varsity soccer throughout high school.

In college, she was a member of the Criminal Justice Student Association, captain of the WSU Women’s Club soccer team and played intramurals in soccer, basketball and flag football.

She was a member of the Christian Challenge group on campus and also vice-president of her dorms.

When Kasper started the education program, she became a part of the Professional Development Schools program. She also was on the Dean’s List for four years.

She encouraged high school graduates to get involved in as many things as they can and to meet as many different people as possible. She also said students shouldn’t be scared to change their plans or majors halfway through college like she did.

“Values and interests often change and it is important to find something you love to do,” she said.