Kingwood Park seniors Patrick Overmyer and Katie Gerbasich joined top students from across the Humble Independent School District to receive their Student of Character awards Monday afternoon.
The multi-sport athletes received the top character award given to a boy and girl at each high school and middle school in the district. Seniors and eighth graders are eligible.
The luncheon was held at the James D. Eggers Instructional Support Center. As is tradition, Kingwood Park principal Wes Solomon gave brief bios about Overmyer and Gerbasich before presenting them with their trophies.
“It was fun,” Gerbasich said. “I enjoyed getting to know Patrick and his family. It was just nice to see everybody else who was there.
“To be nominated by my class, just kind of reinforced the legacy that I’ve hoped to make here at Kingwood Park. I’ve had so many incredible memories here, and this only adds to it.”
Counselor Jenny Vanhorn also attended the awards luncheon. Overmyer, a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club’s Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, will attend UT San Antonio on a football scholarship.
“It’s a true honor to receive this award and to be thought of as a role model of character by my fellow classmates,” Overmyer said. “I firmly believe that this award is a result of the staff and culture of K Park. I am so grateful for these past four years and the feeling that I left K Park better than I found it.”
He was a four-time Academic All-State, posting a 5.4 GPA on a 6.0 scale while ranking No. 11 in the Class of 2023.
“Your influence is what counts,” Solomon said while introducing Overmyer and Gerbasich to the other schools’ winners and their families. “And the two young people that are standing next to me today, these are the people that have influence with their actions and their words. They were heavily involved."
Katie was a varsity soccer and basketball player for multiple years. She has also been an editor on The Pride yearbook for three years, becoming the book’s editor-in-chief as a senior. She was also class president for two years, and now serves as a class delegate.
Patrick, who was a Tiny Homes builder, also played basketball and baseball during his time at K Park. He also served as a member of the Superintendent’s Leadership Council all four years.
Patrick, the son of Holly and Wade Overmyer, was joined at the luncheon by his mother and older sister Hannah.
“We are so proud of Patrick to be honored as a student of character by his peers,” said Holly Overmyer, the president of the Kingwood Park High All Sports Booster Club. “As parents your goal is to raise kind, honest, hardworking children.”
Katie was joined by her parents, Mike and Michelle. Michelle Gerbasich teaches English at K Park.
Katie, who is still considering several universities, is the second consecutive girls soccer player and KP Media editor-in-chief to win the award, following her friend Kathleen Ortiz.
“She has worked for this award, and, honestly, wanted to follow in Kathleen’s footsteps for this award,” Michelle Gerbasisch said of her daughter. “That was very inspiring to her. We’re very proud of her.
“This is something that you can’t put in a GPA or see on her transcript. This is something that will stay with her forever.”