Shelby Betz, 18
Lakota West High School
“Money. Everybody wants money. Gotta pay for college books. I want to go on a Young Life trip over the summer.”
Connor Vitek, 17
Lakota West High School
“To have your parents pay for a trip for you to fly wherever you want and go with a friend. Hawaii maybe.”
Lauren Allison, 17
Lakota West High School
“I registered at Target and Walmart for everything I need for college.”
Cierra Richard, 18
Lakota East High School
“A new car. I don’t have one.”
Kayla Chenault, 17
Lakota East High School
“A laptop, just because it’s college and you need to have your own personal privacy to get your work done.”
Jordan Ball, 18
Lakota East High School
“If I could have anything, I would want all of my tuition paid for because it’s very expensive. It would be so nice to get through college without having to pay back so much in student loans.”
Abbie Birchwell, 18
Middletown High School
“I want a car. As much I love my mother and she loves me, I think we’re both pretty tired of the chauffeur service she’s been providing me.”
Calvin Davis, 18
Middletown High School
“I need the support of other people. We, as a people, have high aspirations and goals that are admirable, but we cannot succeed without standing on the backs of others and their support.”
Patrick Seick, 18
Middletown High School
“I know everyone else is asking for a car. But, I am going to the Ohio State University in Columbus, and first-year students can’t have a car. So, I guess I’m really going to need a good pair of walking shoes.”
Angela Lawson, 18
Madison High School
“I want money because of all the college expenses I’m going to have with my books and classes.”
Ethan Taylor, 18
Carlisle High School
“I would have to say money, because I am going out of state for school. I am travelling the farthest of anyone in my class (Sarasota, Fla.), so I’m definitely going to need the money.”
Molly Fueller, 18
Carlisle High School
“I would say money so I can save for college and have a little back up cash for other things I may want over the summer.”
Jarod Burress, 18
Franklin High School
“I need a car. I’m going to college and I don’t want to have to be chauffeured around campus and where I need to go.”
Emilee Johnson, 18
Franklin High School
“A laptop so I can take it to college to do my work. I’m going to be a social worker and will be going to Wright State University.”
Kim Gault
New Miami High School
“A car, because I have too much to worry about going to college to get one on my own. If I get a car, I can get a job.”
Kaitlyn Koehler
New Miami High School
“A new car because the one I have runs really bad and smokes sometimes. I need it for both work and college.”
Anna Nash
Hamilton High School
“Money for college to buy books, school fees, food. A new car would be nice. It’s all about college now.”
Nick Lambert
Hamilton High School
“A laptop computer, of course. Pictures and photo albums would be nice, and since I’m going to Miami University, any Miami apparel.”
Jennifer Fontaine
Badin High School
“Probably gift cards or money so I can get a laptop for school, or gift cards for restaurants.”
Joe Kulifay
Badin High School
“A laptop. That way you don’t have to pay for it. It’s a necessity in college, so it’s nice to get it free from a family member — also money for dorm room and tuition and all that stuff.”
Tayler Tarvin, 18
Mason High School
“Stuff for my apartment: I’m going to be living on an off-branch (OSU) campus so I’m going to need materials for my apartment so that I don’t have to buy them. Also, a car would be nice.”
Emma Mason, 17
Mason High School
“I’m getting a laptop, I know, because I need one. I want money, so I don’t have to work next year and I can focus on school and extracurricular activities.”
Matt Radomski, 18
Mason High School
“I am looking forward to getting practical stuff like money… so that I can start saving and that way I’ll be able to earn interest on it. I’ll put it in a bank account and hopefully it will grow as I save more and it will help me pay off tuition.”
Allie Hauck, 17
Mason High School
“I want a new car. I like the new Mustang GTs. They’re flashy, they’re pretty sweet-looking cars. I drive a Ford Focus right now, and I feel feminine in it.”
Alex Arovits
Lebanon High School
“I want a laptop for college. I expect to use it for writing papers, research, stuff for college organization. I want a car too; probably a truck, a Ford Raptor F150.”
Vincent Huff
Lebanon High School
“I want a black SS Camaro, and I guess an iPad and money. I want a Camaro because it’s really fast and it’s a chick magnet. I would use the iPad for school and just entertaining myself; I think it would be cool to have one.”
Mike Roth
Lebanon High School
“I want a new cell phone. I have a really old Nokia flip phone now. I probably want a Droid, because I like new technology and it has a really nice operating system. Hopefully my parents will get if for me, but if not I’ll buy it myself.”
Renee Rigrish
Lebanon High School
“A laptop, because every campus uses them no matter what.”
Jeff Heidelberg, 18
Fairfield High School
“Money, because when people buy you gifts and you don’t want it, you have to take it back and I always feel bad about that.”
Jasmine Russell, 18
Fairfield High School
“I think I already have my ideal gift. My dad’s taking me to the Bahamas.”
Mercedes Siler, 18
Fairfield High School
“To get a chance to see more than this area before we go to college. I’ve always like the idea of going on a road trip to get a chance to see the country and spend time with my friends.”
Geoff Daniels, 19
Monroe High School
“I would love to go on the (three-day) Disney cruise because I’ve never been to Florida or Disney World. I’ve had friends that have been on the Disney cruise and they absolutely loved it. They have shows on the ship, you go to Nassau, and I think you stop a day in the Bahamas.”
Amy Platt, 17
Monroe High School
“Money (for my truck). I’d buy bigger tires and probably get it jacked up.”
Mark Miller, 18
Monroe High School
“Money. Because you can use it towards all your college expenses so that you won’t be in a lot of debt later. Or you can use it for other things like tuition or probably books because books are expensive.”
Krystal Gaston, 17
Monroe High School
“Money to help me out to pay for college and food and everything while I’m gone.”
Nick Montoya, 17
Monroe High School
“Getting my band signed to a record label. It’s been a dream of mine for awhile now. It’s something that not many people can say. Everybody can go to college and everybody can get a job. It’s possible. Getting signed into the music industry is something that’s big. That shows that all your hard work and perseverance has paid off.”
Michael Luciano, 18
Monroe High School
“The ideal graduation gift is an awesome laptop.”
Jon Stupak, 18
Fairfield High School
“Probably either a really nice laptop or a TV to take to school. I want a flat screen.”
Kristina Stoddart, 18
Fairfield High School
“Money for tuition.”
Kayla White, 18
Fairfield High School
“I want a lacrosse stick and some cleats. I’m going to start playing lacrosse in college. I do gymnastics and my college doesn’t have a team, so I’m going to pick up lacrosse.”
Ellen Aldridge
Lebanon High School
“I want a laptop just so I can go on the Internet and look stuff up for school and type up papers. I’m going to be doing a lot of writing since I’m an English major. I probably just want a Toshiba. I will use it for music, pictures and Skype, too. ”
Krista Barnett
Lebanon High School
“Money and a stereo system for my car. Money because I’m not living on campus so I don’t really need items, and I really want a system for my car because I just want it. I just want the bass and the subwoofers and everything to make it really loud. My bass is OK naturally but not loud enough.”
Joy Fannin, Kings High School
“Money, laptop and stuff for my dorm. The money can be used toward any college necessities that I don’t receive. The laptop is kind of essential to have in college.”
Ashley Mustard, Kings High School
“Money and some sort of computer. Money because you need money to live and a computer because you need a computer to research stuff. You can’t always go to a library.”
Matt Jordan, Kings High School
“Either a car or money. Everybody needs a new car to go to college so you don’t have the same car you used to go to high school. The money you can use for your dormroom or for a deposit on an apartment.”
Mike Hollingsworth, Kings High School
“A new car and some more music software. My car is kind of breaking down every day and music software because I’m going to school for it and I need better software.”
Amos Vozgirdas, Kings High School
“A Kings Island pass, so I can have something to do in the summer. I work a lot and there’s nothing else to do around here.”
Katie Harding, Kings High School