PLAIN TWP. – Someone once told Joshua “JJ” Lantz that courses are important but connections are key.
The 2025 GlenOak High School graduate has taken that to heart.
“I love people,” the 18-year-old said.
Whether he’s on a mission trip, heading the student newspaper or leading a Bible study, he’s looking out for others.
Theresa Rhoads, a counselor at GlenOak, called Lantz “the embodiment of a servant leader.”
That was one of the qualities that make him a Star Student. Lantz was selected as one of this year’s three top Star Students from more than 100 graduating seniors. The annual program by The Akron Beacon Journal, The Canton Repository, The Record-Courier and The Daily Record recognizes the region’s outstanding high school graduates.
“He consistently volunteers his time, takes on leadership positions, helps those around him, and carries himself with conviction, poise, humbleness and excellence,” Rhoads wrote while recommending Lantz for the honor.
In high school, he sought out connections — not just with his peers, but with younger students, those on the fringe of the student experience and those who just needed a friend.
“My goal, especially my senior year, was to connect all the different areas of the school and types of people,” Lantz said. “Everyone has their things as individuals but we are stronger together and we need to play to each other’s strengths.”
He wants to be that person who someone can count on to lend an ear, give advice or just be there for someone who needs a distraction from everyday life.
“Whatever person or community you need, I can get you connected,” Lantz said. “I think this is key. I know my limits as a human and know that I’m not Superman. I can’t be everywhere or do everything at once but through connections, I can connect other people with resources.”
Star Student participates in chorale, newspaper, speech and debate team, sports and more
Lantz was a member of the school chorale, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, vice president of the speech and debate team, captain of the cross country team, and was on the swim and track teams. He also participated in the International Baccalaureate program.
For an IB class, Lantz started a tutoring and mentoring program for elementary school students. With the help of two other classmates, they tutored students after school at Barr Elementary School. They partnered with the National Honor Society last school year and had more than 40 volunteers go into Barr, as well as Middlebranch and Warstler elementary schools.
“I sought to really support the younger generation throughout the district,” he said. “Since 2020, there have been issues with early development of basic math skills — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.”
Lantz and his friends tutored struggling or underprivileged students while creating a relationship with students.
“I wanted to be that kid that inspires another student who is younger to strive to be great,” he said. “Eventually, it will be a ripple effect. I want to create stronger leaders in our country. Right now, it is needed more than ever.”
Another IB student has taken over the program. Lantz is hopeful the program will become a mainstay in the district with tutors and mentors visiting all of the district’s six elementary schools.
Serving through faith
As the son of a pastor, Lantz has focused on his faith.
“The church has given me a place to thrive under mentorship and just community,” said Lantz, the son of Jason and Suzanne Lantz.
As a sophomore, he started a Bible study, Weapons of Righteousness, bringing together teens from around the area and from various faiths.
“We had Protestants, Catholics and even atheists and agnostics,” Lantz said. “I wanted to create a safe place to freely express what they believed, but also go further into Christian Biblical knowledge. It was a community for questions, not judgment. People need a place to ask questions.”
As he gets ready to head to Ohio State University, he plans to become involved in campus ministries.
“What I hope to do (in college) is exactly what I set out to do here — connect with others, provide a safe space for people with different backgrounds and beliefs and come from different environments,” he said.
He plans to become involved with CRU, an organization aimed at introducing people to a relationship with Jesus Christ, and the Jesus Runs Club.
Lantz is heading to Mexico in June on a mission trip, where he will join other teens providing a Vacation Bible School program for children in an orphanage. He’s completed other mission trips to Mexico and Ecuador, helping to build homes.
Soaring into the future
Lantz plans to major in finance and marketing at Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business with a minor in organizational leadership. He joins his older sister, Caris, as a Buckeye.
He hopes to become a talent agent but he isn’t sure if he will represent athletes or entertainers.
Last summer, he interned at the Alive Music Festival, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment world.
The internship provided him with contacts from musicians in Nashville and Atlanta. He wants to intern again at the festival. At Ohio State, he will be working at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, home of the Buckeye football team.
“I hope to connect with the football players,” Lantz said, thinking of his career. “I guess I have to see where the connections take me.”
Wherever it takes him, he sees himself working alongside talented and influential people who have a shared vision of making the world better.
“People can become obsessed with power, money and fame and the entertainment world in general can be a dark industry. People can lose themselves in money and fame,” he said. “I’m not compromising my morals. At the end of the day, I need to work with people who lead others not for their good but for the good of others.”
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com
This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘I love people’: GlenOak grad JJ Lantz working to create connections, serve others
Reporting by Amy L. Knapp, Massillon Independent / The Repository
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