NHS ‘23 Grad Abby Pittman Ready to Soar

The Times photo by Betsy Reason

Noblesville High School 2023 graduate Abby Pittman was among 737 NHS graduates on Tuesday night during the NHS Commencement at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. She’ll be heading to Butler University on a four-year, full-ride Lilly Endowment Scholarship.

The Times photo by Betsy Reason

Noblesville High School 2023 graduate attended kindergarten to fifth grade at North Elementary School, where last Wednesday she dressed in her graduation cap and gown and led more than 40 fellow NHS seniors who were also North Elementary classmates, on a North Elementary Grad Walk through the halls, giving high-fives to students and saying last goodbyes to current and former North Elementary teachers.

Noblesville High School 2023 graduate Abby Pittman has a smile on her face as she talks about school, graduation and family while looking back on her 13 years at Noblesville Schools and looking forward to her bright future.

Tuesday evening, she was among 737 NHS seniors who, wearing their black and gold graduation gowns and “N’s” on their caps, walked down the aisle at commencement, turned their tassels and graduated with the NHS Class of 2023.

Pittman was one of three class speakers during the ceremony, for which she wore a silver cord, representing her designation as a Magna Cum Laude graduate, the second-highest level of graduate in her class, with a grade point average between 3.79-3.99. She was selected as class speaker through a teacher-panel process.

Pittman attended all 13 years at Noblesville Schools, where she attended North Elementary and Noblesville East Middle schools before moving on to Noblesville High School.

She attended kindergarten to fifth grade at North Elementary School, where last Wednesday afternoon, she dressed in her graduation cap and gown and led more than 40 fellow NHS seniors who were also North Elementary classmates, on a North Elementary Grad Walk through the halls, giving high-fives to students and saying last goodbyes to current and former North Elementary teachers.

“I was so happy to be able to go back to North and see all the kids I grew up with and walk with them again,” Pittman said. “My family was also there, and seeing them cheer me on was so sweet. Seeing all of my first teachers again was also so awesome; they set me up for success and continue to encourage me whenever I see them.”

As a kid, she loved to spend time with her sisters, Annabel and Atley, and the kids in her neighborhood, going to the pool and riding bicycles. She always liked to read and spend time with friends.

Pittman spent her summers doing musicals at Stone Soup Children’s Musical Theater in Noblesville. She played soccer in the fall and spring and did gymnastics in the winters.

Her freshman year, she decided to run for NHS class president and won the election. She was re-elected as class president both her sophomore and junior years. And this school year, she was elected NHS Student Body President, who presides over all NHS students.

“Student government has been such a positive in my high school experience,” she said. “It is a lot of work but rewarding for me to share my desire to make high school a memorable place for everyone. I want it to be a positive place for all students.”

She said, homecoming, by far, was her largest event to work on. “We plan the dance, plan a pep rally called Mini Olympics, build floats for the parade, and create spirit wear.” Prom is her second-largest event, but she also prepares for a blood drive and does school decorating and any other student activity with a need. She’s also been involved in Principals Advisory Council, Mayor’s Youth Council and YoungLife, as a Wyldlife mentor. She’s participated in unified bowling, unified flag football and unified track, and Ski Club. Earlier in high school, she participated in show choir.

“I just picked things I enjoyed doing and gradually took on leadership roles in most of those activities,” she said. “This led to additional opportunities. I am so grateful for my classmates who trusted me enough to allow me to hold this position. It truly is an honor.”

The accomplishment for which she is most proud during high school has been the opening of the NHS courtyard. “As part of student government, I worked all four years at getting the courtyards open,” she said. “They opened in the spring of last school year for student use.”

The courtyards now also include benches created by the school’s Conservation Club, a garden tended by National Honor Society and picnic tables built by the school’s Construction students. “I am very proud of the community involvement that the courtyards have produced, and how people have been brought together by them,” she said.

This school year, the community helped celebrate with Pittman when she was selected for the Lilly Endowment Scholarship, a four-year, tuition-paid scholarship, including student fees and a stipend for books, to her choice of any Indiana college or university.

Her grandparents, who read about the scholarship the year prior, encouraged her to apply for it.

Pittman completed a scholarship application, turned in her resume and wrote multiple essays. Then a committee at NHS selected her as a candidate to represent the school and move on to complete another application at the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), which awards the scholarship for Hamilton and Marion counties. She then had additional questions and essays, followed by an interview panel.

Pittman and her family in December were surprised, during school, to learn that she had won the Lilly Endowment Scholarship, during a surprise visit at her school from the CICF panel.

“Since I am choosing to attend Butler University, they will cover the room and board for Lilly Scholars,” she said. Pittman had also applied and been accepted to Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, University of Cincinnati and The College of Charleston in South Carolina.

“I chose Butler for many reasons, including the size, the housing, the school culture, and academics,” she said. Pittman will major in Environmental Science and eventually wants to go into Sustainable Urban Planning and Development.

“I am extremely grateful to be awarded this scholarship as it opens my future to more opportunities and allows me to focus on my academics and success in college without too much worry about finances,” Pittman said.

She was recognized for receiving the scholarship at the recent Senior Honors Night at NHS. She also received the NHS Merit Award and Academic All State for Unified Bowling. Last school year, she was the Unified Track Miller of the Year.

Pittman’s senior year was filled with so many happy memories.

“I loved spending lots of time with friends, especially at sports, like football, basketball, soccer and hockey games. I loved homecoming and making my senior cords, one of my favorite Noblesville traditions,” she said.

One of her favorite memories for the year was when her younger sister won State with the Noblesville Girls Soccer team. “My whole family went to the game, and I cheered her on with my friends, as well. The day was extra exciting because there were three state championship wins that day, and we saw the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams win back to back.”

The Pittmans are a close family. “We were always encouraged by our parents to always help others and our community, so volunteer work and community service always felt like a natural thing to do,” Abby Pittman said.

She looks up to her parents, Craig and Julie Pittman, who shared about their daughter….

“We are extremely proud of Abby,” her mom said on Monday. “It is truly a blessing to be her parents. She has the ability to see what needs to be done and works until it gets done. She is a friend to all and hopes for the best for everyone.  She is the biggest cheerleader for Noblesville. Her success has come from her school and community involvement. It makes her happy to make things better for others.”

Abby Pittman said, “I have truly loved growing up in Noblesville. I look forward to attending Butler and seeing where my future leads.”

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetime24-7.com.