WWW arkcity.net

By CHANSI LONG
and FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writers

Smart. Caring. Responsible.

That's how friends and family describe Jodi Sanderholm, the 19-year-old Cowley student who has been missing since Friday.

Former Ark City High School instructor and current Cowley College instructor Steve O'Hair said when Sanderholm was in high school she was a very smart and dedicated student. She graduated last year as a valedictorian.

"A lot of students admire her," O'Hair said. "She has all of those endearing qualities that we as parents want our children to have."

Sanderholm participated in the Ark City Dance Competition growing up, she then joined the Cowley College Danceline team in fall.

"She loves to dance," said best friend Ashley Cochran. "It was her whole life."

She also taught dance classes to young children. The Ark City Dance building on North Summit has become a gathering place for friends and acquaintances praying for her hopeful return.

On Monday, 8-year-old Halle Bucher and her friends signed their names in a book on a table with Jodi Sanderholm's picture. The signatures represent prayers for Jodi.

"She's a real good teacher," Halle said of Jodi. "She's nice."

"And pretty," said friend Sidney Nittler, 7.

The mother of another of Jodi's dance students said Jodi is a great role model for her daughter.

"She looks up to her big time," said Maggie Hoag. "Erika just thinks she's going to come back."

Cowley College's cheerleading coach Kristi Shaw said Sanderholm has danced with her daughter Halston the last five years.

"She is just an exemplary model for everyone, and has been an exemplary model to my daughter," Shaw said.

Cochran said that for the past nine months Sanderholm has talked about the birth of her niece.

"She was so excited," Cochran said.

Sanderholm's older sister had a baby girl on Saturday.

Cochran has been best friends with Sanderholm since preschool. Since she was little, Cochran has always enjoyed staying at Sanderholm's house for weekends at a time.

Cochran recalled that when they were very young, the two would pretend to be on the radio.

"We would record our voices," Cochran said laughing, "and we'd even play music."

When the two weren't hosting their pretend radio show, they would watch movies and "have good old fashioned fun."

Cochran said Sanderholm doesn't drink, or do drugs, but she always had her head in the books.

"She's been my lab partner for the past three years," Cochran said. "She is very, very smart."

Sanderholm, formerly a pre-dentistry major, changed her major to pre-pharmacy near the end of the fall semester.

She had a 4.0 GPA as a freshman at Cowley, where she attends on a full scholarship.

Two Arkansas City High School seniors who danced with Jodi last year on the high school dance competition troupe also were at the studio Monday.

"When she passes in the hallway, she always has a cheerful smile," said Lexi Anstine. "She is very encouraging at practice."

Fellow senior Janci Tate said Jodi is always giving compliments to her fellow dancers, and "lots of hugs and kisses."

"She's beautiful, smart, talented and hardworking -- one of those everybody looks up to," Janci said.

Jodi was voted "best dressed" in her high school class, she added.

She is always smiling and has a unique laugh, Lexi said. "A little giggle" -- Janci called it.

As a dance student, Jodi worked long hours at the studio, said Terri Schroeder, the owner of Ark City Dance.

Her former dance teacher, Jennifer Blatchford, said Jodi is a stylish dresser. When there were evening meetings for dancers at the studio, Jodi would go home first to clean up and change into nice clothes, she said.

"She would come back with matching purse, shoes, belt and hair all done up and all of us would still be in our sweats," Blatchford said.

Schroeder said classes at the studio are canceled, for now, while the search continues for Jodi.

The studio has become a gathering place for friends and loved ones of Jodi, including fellow dancers, students and their parents.

A candlelight vigil has been held on Summit Street in front of Ark City Dance for the past three straight evenings.

For the past three years, Sanderholm has been a member of the First United Methodist Church. Charles Grant, Methodist minister, described Sanderholm as positive and a perfect student.

Grant, who performed the services at sister Jennifer Sanderholm's wedding, is close to the family.

He said he has spent a lot of time at the Sanderholm home since the disappearance.

"Their house has been an open place for family and friends to support one another," Grant said.

The family has declined press interviews since Monday. Earlier, they described Jodi as responsible and accountable. She lives at their home and they are in touch constantly.

At the dance studio, sadness and hope still mix.

"We have a prayer book for anyone to write in," Schroeder said. "We have an eternal flame started -- a candle we started last night; it's in our front window and still burning."