Meet Nathan Spangler, a standout senior whose high school journey has been defined by his dedication, positivity and leadership all throughout Hoover. Spangler has been elected as Class President for the past three years, and what he has done in this position has greatly exceeded expectations. As an active member of Link Crew, Student Council, Teen Institute, National Honors Society, Presidents’ Council, Spanish Club and Youth Leadership Academy, he has found many ways to stay involved with his school. Known for his approachable nature and commitment to making a difference, Spangler embodies the qualities of a well-rounded student. He consistently goes above and beyond to make his school a better place for everyone. Spangler shares what being involved in so many different activities has done for him as a student.

“All of these extracurriculars have made my high school experience so much more enjoyable along with shaping me into a more well-rounded person,” he said. “I entered Hoover from [St. Paul’s] and had no issue finding ways to involve myself in my new environment thanks to all the possible extracurricular opportunities.”

Spangler’s selflessness and desire to help others have made a great impact on those around him. Junior Katherine Genevish shares what it is like to work with Spangler as they are both members of the Student Council, Link Crew, Spanish Club and Teen Institute together.

“Working with Nate has been a very fun couple of years,” she said. “He is always hard working and super easy to collaborate with on projects or speeches whatever the task is.”

While being around such an influential person for so many years, Genevish explains the knowledge that she has gained from collaborating with Spangler numerous times.

“Something I’ve learned from Nate is that sometimes you need to take initiative if people aren’t doing their jobs and don’t feel bad about it, that way the jobs get done the right way and in time,” she said.

Outside of academics, another huge aspect of Spangler’s life is his baseball career. He is a varsity letterman here at Hoover and received the 2024 Varsity Baseball Coach’s Award for his junior season, proving that he was an important asset to the team. Spangler shares his favorite memory while being a member of the Hoover Baseball team and the impact it has left on him thus far.

“Playing baseball for Hoover has given me so many great memories and friendships that I will never forget,” Spangler said. “One of m y favorite memories from high school is when our baseball team beat Jackson in the Regional Semi-Final game my junior year [going 3-0 against them for the season].”

Mr. Bryan Ashby has been the Hoover varsity baseball head coach for seven years and also spent ten years as an assistant coach. He has the ability to see a different side of Spangler and watch him shine just the same during an outside-of-school activity. Ashby shares what it is like to coach Spangler, and how his fellow players view him as a teammate.

“Nathan is a true leader in every sense of the word,” he said. “He stands on his own two feet and knows right from wrong without hesitation. Through it all, he was a great teammate and helped our team in any way possible during practice and games. Just showed great character throughout!”

Not only is Spangler an asset to the team through his character, but even more his athletic ability. He is a left outfielder as well as a strong hitter for the Vikings. Despite struggling through a back injury last year, he was still able to make a strong comeback for the second half of the season. Ashby shares one of the most memorable moments when Spangler really pulled his weight for the team.

“We were playing GlenOak in a must-win game to keep our Federal League Championship hopes alive and we were in extra innings,” Ashby said. “Nathan came to the plate with runners on and delivered a game-winning walk-off hit to bring us victory.”

While Spangler has done so many greats thing for Hoover High School and the North Canton community as a whole, his legacy will not stop after graduation in 2025. Being such a stand-out student who is recognizable by so many staff and students, all of what Spangler did will not be forgotten.

“I entered Hoover as a freshman from out of the district, yet I have tried, through my extracurriculars and academics, to embrace the culture of being a North Canton Hoover Viking,” Spangler said. “I would like to be remembered by my classmates as someone who was always kind and by my teachers as someone whom they enjoyed educating.”

As Nathan Spangler’s time at Hoover High School draws to a close, he leaves behind a legacy defined by dedication, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to his school and peers. From leading his class as President to making memorable plays on the baseball field, Spangler has impacted countless students, teachers and teammates who will remember his kindness, hard work and leadership. As he looks toward new challenges beyond high school, his legacy at Hoover will surely inspire future students to lead with integrity and embrace every opportunity. His high school journey shows the power of involvement and the positive impact one person can make.