Schiel honored with 2025 Peacemaker Award

8th grader Travis (Zipporah) Schiel was awarded the 2025 Peacemaker Award and a $500 scholarship. Photo courtesy of Barry Allen.

by Sara Swanson

In 2023, Manchester Community Schools, along with the help of resident Joan Gaughan, who envisioned the award, and Barry Allen, representing Manchester’s Masonic Lodge, which funds it, established an annual award for students. It was originally envisioned as an award to be presented to a graduating senior who has shown leadership in quelling bullying or just plain mean behavior among their classmates, but was opened last year to all students in the district. This year 8th grader Travis Schiel was selected to receive the award and the accompanying $500 scholarship at Manchester High School’s Awards Night on May 22.

Carla Freeman, the high school guidance counselor, presented the award, stating, “Zipporah, who goes by Travis, is being honored tonight with a very special award given to one student each year. This award is given to students who embody the title of Peacemaker. Someone who uses their voice to stand up for themselves and others when others might not. Travis’s nominator’s words say it best, ‘Travis consistently represents themselves and other students with calm confidence. Travis leads by example, not being afraid to be themselves and to report occurrences in the school that are harmful to a safe environment.’ Congratulations on earning the Peacemaker award and the scholarship that goes with it!”

Gaughan, who was present at the ceremony, reflected on the Peacemaker Award. She stated, “This whole project has been so rewarding. Bullying is still a huge problem in Manchester … as it is everywhere … but the Peacemaker Award has allowed me to meet some terrific kids and most importantly perhaps, staff members both at MHS and Riverside whose investment in their students’ mental and emotional growth is simply inspiring. This community is  lucky to have such dedicated professionals caring for their children.”

Travis’s name will be added to the Peacemaker Plaque alongside last year’s recipient, Harley Neigebauer; the first recipient, Caiden Kippnick; and Zoe Riesterer who was the inspiration for the award.

Congratulations, Travis!

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.