Kyle Heffern was elected by his peers to deliver the keynote speech at Sunday’s graduation.
It’s a special honor, he said.
After toiling over the writing of it, he has been practicing his delivery.
“It’s only about four minutes and I’ve already spent four hours on it,” he said. “You’ve got to make a good impact in the moment that you have.”
That phrase could also sum up Heffern’s high school career.
Whether on the offensive line or in the classroom or leading his peers, Heffern has made an impact at Iola High School. He will graduate with honors.
Kyle’s parents are Larry and Mary Heffern. Mom is a full-time substitute. Dad works as an engineer at Monarch Cement plant in Humboldt.
Family ties are important to the Heffern family which has deep roots in Allen County. Asked what he would like to do for a photo to go with his article, Kyle speed-dialed Grandma Heffern on his cell phone to ask her to pose with him.
As the call went through he said, “She’s always the first one to call us to congratulate us and tell us if we’re in the paper and that she’s proud of us.
“Everything we do, she puts on the fridge.”
Overheard on speaker phone, Grandma said, “Well, I’ll have to put my purple shirt on!”
The refrigerator door in Charles and Bernita Heffern’s kitchen is a shrine where clippings attesting to the achievements of six grandsons are held fast with magnetic rainbows and the Saints. There’s a picture of Kyle putting the shot up there along with others.
Bernita is especially proud of this grandson, she says, “But don’t let him know it!” she added with a laugh. “I might buy him a hat for graduation and I don’t want to get it too small! But he’s a sweetie, believe me.”
The matriarch of the Heffern family was valedictorian at Yates Center High School, Class of 1947.
Kyle said he’d felt “huge pressure” to perform academically.
“My dad was a valedictorian, and his brother, my uncle, also was a 4.0 student. My brother two years ago was the first of us grandchildren and he was 4.0 through school and valedictorian. My cousin was 4.0 and valedictorian. It’s really big shoes to fill.”
“But I’m grateful,” he added. “It all starts with my Grandma. She pushes us to be our best.”
With Grandma in the stands, Heffern’s best sport moment was three seasons ago in a must-win game football against Anderson County. “That was my first varsity start,” he recalls. “I led the team in tackles that game. That was my moment of glory in high school.”
Heffern’s also the best discus thrower and shot-putter on the track team. His goal is to become the SEK discus champion at the league meet here this afternoon.
Not having a winning football team his senior season ranks as his biggest disappointment.
As a leader, the weight was on his shoulder pads.
Mustang Coach Rick Horton watched Heffern grow from a boy into a young man.
“My favorite thing about Kyle was that he made a big sacrifice for the team’s benefit,” Horton said. “That’s what people look for in a leader. He’s got class.”
At 6’1” 221-pounds, he was beefy enough for high school, but too small for college football.
“I had some juco offers for football but I got a bunch of academic scholarships and I really like K-State, so that’s where I’m heading.”
He’ll be a fourth-generation Wildcat through his mother. His father also graduated from K-State. His older brother, Jacob, made it to Grandma’s refrigerator door recently by winning two scholarships from the K-State journalism school.
Heffern hopes to major in hotel and restaurant management in Manhattan.
“I cook all the time at home,” he said.
Working part time at China Palace on State Street, Heffern has risen from waiting tables to the role of assistant manager. Restaurant owner Sharon Cheung has been a role model.
“I want to start my own restaurant,” he said. “Probably a sports bar and grill, to be around sports still. That way I won’t shut out all my past.”
Heffern’s page-long high school resume includes STUCO President this year; Junior Class President last year; National Honor Society, All A Honor Roll and First Class Boy Scout. His community service includes coaching flag football and being an altar server at St. John’s Catholic Church.
For a budding restaurant owner, it reads like a recipe for future success.
Strong roots helps Heffern thrive
