Editor’s note: This is the twelfth, and final, in a series of feature stories celebrating the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians at the five high schools in Shelby County.
Owen Rinzel was much more comfortable playing basketball in a gymnasium full of fans than standing at a podium and addressing the group of friends and families that showed up for Morristown’s graduation ceremony.
The Class of 2026 Salutatorian fought with his nerves while preparing for his speech.
“That was nerve wracking,” said Rinzel. “I am not great at public speaking. I was nervous. It is much easier to play a sport.”
Rinzel also is more comfortable riding his motorcycle and getting prepared to move to Muncie to attend Ball State University this fall to study Criminal Justice.
“I just loved the campus. It’s a nice campus,” said Rinzel. “And they have a good Criminal Justice program.”
Rinzel will follow in his father’s footsteps and step into the world of Accounting, but focus further on forensic accounting.
“My day is a CPA (certified public accountant). I want to deal with more of the fraud of it,” he said.
Rinzel is the oldest of four children for Andy and Amy Rinzel.
Rinzel played three sports at Morristown – soccer, basketball and baseball – and was part of the National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America and the Academic Team.
“I’m going to miss the people (of Morristown),” he said. “It’s a tight community. It will be something I will really miss.”
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