Ohio has produced a string of memorable people who’ve made their mark on everything from American politics to aviation to innovation. Richland County continues that tradition, producing notable figures of its own from Jedediah Smith, one of the pioneers who forged the Sante Fe trail, to Charles Follis, the first African American to play professional football. Now, 2001, St. Peter’s graduate Nicole Foltz is joining that list, along with other alumni. She’s making her mark as committee counsel since 2011 to Paul Ryan, head of the House Budget Committee.
Foltz joins other celebrated professionals on the list of “25 Most Influential Women Under 35,” the National Journal’s compilation of Washington D.C.’s standouts. Her counterparts range from senators to reporters to think-tank analysts to political strategists.
Foltz’ success is no surprise to St. Peter’s Principal Tressa Reith. The attorney started building a foundation of necessary skills at the local high school.
“She was a strong student. She was very bright,” says Reith. Activities like tennis and swimming solidified discipline and determination, while her involvement in student council and mock trials formed leadership skills.
“I don’t know if it had anything to do with her becoming an attorney,” reports Reith. The mock trials “are an opportunity for our kids to role play what a real, live court situation would be like.”
Reith notes that Foltz’ positive spirit and problem-solving abilities also stood out to students and faculty.
“She was someone who when there was a question or concern or problem, Nicole was somebody who wanted to react positively. She was a problem-solver or troubleshooter. I suspect it [her persistence with being positive] helped her go very far. Between the knowledge and the positive spirit around her, I’m really not at all surprised that she’s finding herself in a prestigious position.
“Our program is rigorous and I remember clearly that Nicole was someone who took advantage of the more challenging classes, secondary enrollment, and AP classes. She took advantage of the most challenging curriculum,” added Reith.
The interplay of St. Peter’s rigorous curriculum and extra-curricular activities has proved integral for other alumni, too.
Class of 2006 alumni Nicole Klemen has used her foundation at the school to springboard her career options. Her work for Senator Sherrod Brown after graduating from Ashland University parlayed into a job with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago as a special events manager and administrative coordinator. Her duties helped to raise $25 million to support outreach efforts to the one in four Chicago residents the charity serves.
Zach Klemen graduated from St. Peter’s in 2008, and upon getting a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, quickly rose through the ranks at Caterpillar Inc.