John "Jack" Keegan has been selected as the Chagrin Valley Rotary Senior Student of the Month for December 2025, recognizing his exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and commitment to community service.
As Executive President of Student Council in 2025, Keegan has demonstrated strong leadership abilities throughout his high school career. He has served as a Link Leader and peer mentor since 2024, guiding incoming students through orientation and their transition to high school life. His entrepreneurial spirit shone through when he was elected CEO by his peers in his Business Entrepreneurship class, where he managed team operations and led what became the most profitable company in the class's history.
Keegan was the sole student selected in the region to represent Junior Achievement before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee as their spokesman, and later addressed national attendees as a featured speaker at the Junior Achievement National Conference about his experiences and success with the curriculum. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer in the Excel TECC Marketing class and previously worked as a Marketing and Sales Intern for Sherri Johnson Coaching, where he assisted with AI integration, transcribed coaching content, contributed to social media strategy, and facilitated cold calling to expand the client base.
"I value accountability, initiative, and raising the standard for everyone around me," Keegan said. "In every leadership role I've had, I'm the person who steps in early, organizes the chaos, and builds systems that make the whole team better. I don't just tell people what to do, I elevate the whole group."
Keegan's academic excellence is reflected in his placement on the Honor Roll and recognition as Tiger of the Semester. He has challenged himself with advanced coursework including Honors Math and English, AP US Government, AP Economics, and College Credit Plus English Composition. He will graduate with seals in Science, Community Service, Student Engagement, and Citizenship.
His competitive success in business competitions is impressive. Keegan led a team of four to first place out of 175 students in the 2023 Junior Achievement Ohio Stock Market Challenge, analyzing research, current events, and market simulations to make strategic investment decisions. He advanced to guide his team as a leader in the 2024 National Stock Market Challenge, applying advanced investment strategies and critical thinking. This year, he was accepted to the prestigious TCU High School Investor Challenge, gaining hands-on experience in portfolio management and market analysis under the guidance of Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business faculty.
Keegan was also invited to participate in a week-long Entrepreneurship Forum at Yale University through the National Youth Leadership Forum on Business Innovation, where he collaborated with peers nationwide to develop innovative business solutions. He furthered his entrepreneurial education at the Wake Forest Entrepreneurship Institute, gaining firsthand experience in innovation, venture creation, and business strategy.
When asked about his most influential courses, Keegan credits Mr. John Bakalar's foundational business courses as what really pushed him toward pursuing business.
Community service plays a significant role in Keegan's life. He has volunteered at Chagrin Falls Park, served as a football announcer for youth football, assisted with the Little Tigers Football camp, and contributed to events including Art by the Falls, the Home Alone Safety program, and the Chagrin Falls Blossom Fun Run. "All of the volunteer experiences that I have had have given me an appreciation for the important role mentorship plays with young kids," he reflected.
On the athletic field, Keegan excelled as a three-year varsity starter and two-year letter winner at middle linebacker for Chagrin Falls Football from 2022 to 2024, earning recognition as an Ohio watchlist player and receiving the "Bandit of the Year" award for his leadership and effort. He also distinguished himself in lacrosse as a varsity starting FOGO (face-off, get-off specialist) and two-year letter winner, earning First Team All-Region honors and a Third Team All-Ohio award in 2024. He competed at the club level with the Spiders Lacrosse Club, where he earned his starting role through skill and discipline.
In the spring of 2025, Keegan's athletic career took an unexpected turn. "Sports have taught me the power of hard work, determination, discipline, humility and accountability," Keegan said. "After three concussions in seven months, the last one being career ending, I have ultimately learned the invaluable lessons of resilience and being able to get back up and chart a new course off the field."
Channeling his creativity in a new direction, Keegan has pursued aerial photography and drone piloting since 2023, capturing imagery and video while applying technical piloting and photography skills.
Following graduation, Keegan plans to attend a four-year university to expand his knowledge of business and leadership, with aspirations to work in sales and marketing.