If pressed, many of us could come up with words that define our lives, that drive and inspire us to be who we are—or who we aspire to be. We expect sage advice like this to flow like water from our elders, from people in high level careers or from life experience.
But there’s something refreshingly crystalline about the words of the young: They’re full of hope, optimism and ambition, and they remind us of the better people we strive to be. In that spirit, we give you the class of 2016, and their achievements and accolades, coupled with advice and adages that show wisdom beyond their years.
Jacob Grill
Not many high schoolers can count the ability to juggle among their talents, hidden or otherwise. But then again, Jacob Grill isn’t just any senior.
“Jacob is known at Liberty Classical Academy for his sense of humor, his willingness to help those in need, his strong academic aptitude and his all-around athletic talent,” his teachers say. He coaches middle school basketball at Liberty, is a volunteer youth group leader at Eagle Brook Church in Lino Lakes, and volunteers at Feed My Starving Children and Operation Christmas Child.
Aside from school, friends might be surprised to know Jacob lives up to his name: He’s a grilling machine this time of year. “I enjoy barbecuing and cooking; it’s more of a summertime hobby,” he says. “Most of the time it’s hamburgers, brats or hot dogs on the grill. Sometimes I like to experiment a little and throw stuff in our smoker. Most successful to date is beef brisket.”
Jacob balances his athletic pursuits with a grade point average of 3.46, while also working part time at Panera Bread in Vadnais Heights. “Whether it’s in the classroom or in a sport, give 110 percent effort and never give up,” he says.
age: 17
school: Liberty Classical Academy
activities: Football, basketball, baseball, student government
favorites: Any kind of Italian food, ESPN 30 for 30, the country music of Eric Church
@: Follow Jacob on Twitter @jacobgrill14
words to live by: Perseverance—one of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
Maddison Whitmore
Maddison Whitmore has volunteered more in the past six months than most adults—100 hours at St. John’s Hospital welcome center to be exact. “I am fascinated by the medical field, so being immersed in the hospital environment was an exciting opportunity,” says the Congress of Future Medical Leaders attendee. “I also love volunteering in the church nursery [at St. Andrew’s in Mahtomedi], because I love being around children and helping their parents enjoy church in a peaceful manner.”
Indeed, it’s giving back that inspires Maddison; her proudest moment was raising $1,500 to buy holiday presents and coats for underprivileged inner-city kindergartners at an annual church fundraiser.
“Maddison is one of the most talented students I’ve worked with during my career,” counselor John Akins says, “and I attribute her success to hard work and dedication to her education.”
Maddison has the following advice for underclassmen: “Become as involved as you possibly can,” she says. “High school is a time to experiment with yourself, to find out what you’re passionate about and what you don’t care for.”
age: 18
school: Mahtomedi High School
activities: Running, tennis, science club, math team, National Honor Society
favorites: Fresh corn on the cob, exercise, happy music, TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and The Mindy Project.
words to live by: Perseverance—I learned to persevere through running. I now try to run almost every day, thanks to my perseverance. I also have a favorite quote from Maya Angelou:
I strive to make other people feel better after talking to me.
Regan Smith
One of the things Regan Smith says his newer friends might not know about him is the fact that he lived in China for a year. “My dad’s job moved him over to Shanghai in 2010,” he says.
Liberty Classical Academy is known for its rigorous academic program, and Regan balances a 3.13 GPA with work at Target in Vadnais Heights, an impressive Ultimate Frisbee resume, and a passion for journalism and photography. He’s considering universities all over the country, from Missouri to Michigan to Nebraska.
Along with 40 other students from around the state, Regan was designated by the Minnesota Family Council to participate in the inaugural Minnesota Student Statesmanship Institute in 2014, which he says was his proudest academic moment to date.
“Personally, I struggled my first two years trying to figure out how to fit in,” he says. “So I’d tell underclassmen to keep going and not give up. High school does go by fast, and it gets a lot better if you apply yourself, so get out there and do things.”
age: 17
school: Liberty Classical Academy
activities: Ultimate Frisbee, Minnesota Student Statesmanship Institute, photography
favorites: All food; musical groups the National, Andrew Bird, Father John Misty; and Instagram and Twitter
Wyatt Newpower
A young man of many nicknames—Newps (half his last name), Ricky (after pro golfer Ricky Fowler, whom he enjoys dressing like) and Pete Sherman (from Finding Nemo, a movie his team watches before hockey games)—Wyatt Newpower grew up playing a number of sports, but only hockey and golf stuck.
Perhaps he hopes to convey this to the next generation of youth stars as well. “I help coach my little cousin, who’s in fifth or sixth grade, and plays on a summer team,” he says. “Mostly I’m just giving back to what I once [learned]; and seeing the little kids have a great time, that it’s not all about winning and losing, is just a great experience.”
In fact, last year, he was selected Suburban East Conference defenseman of the year, an honor voted on by all the coaches in the conference. “Wyatt is a tremendous player, but an even better person and teammate,” coach Tim Sager says. “He plays with great intensity and has a great deal of integrity. He is a leader of this team, and an outstanding role model for our younger players.”
And, true to form, he offers this advice to underclassmen: “Stay focused on bettering yourself every day,” he says. “Don’t get caught up in the outside attention and social media stuff. Zero in on yourself and making the best decisions you can make for you.”
age: 17
school: White Bear Lake Area High School
activities: Hockey, golf
favorites: Chipotle chicken burritos, TV show The Blacklist, country music, Twitter
words to live by: Excellence—’If you’re not better than you were yesterday, then you’re doing something wrong;’ I keep this posted in my bedroom, remind myself every day. Determination and perseverance—especially when it comes to sports.
Peyton “P.K.” King
“Work your butt off and enjoy high school, because even though it’s stressful, when we’re grown up and look back, we will realize how precious it was.” These are the words of a leader, so it’s apropos that they’re spoken by White Bear Lake girls’ hockey and tennis teams captain Peyton King.
Multiple-year all conference nominee and two-time Most Determined Player of the year, Peyton’s leadership extends beyond her own ice and onto the ice of the Hendrickson Foundation, an organization for disabled youth hockey players for which she moonlights as a coach. “These are kids who can’t walk and don’t have full muscle control [who] strap themselves to a sled that has a single blade, [move around the ice] using picks and two sticks on each hand,” she says. “I’m very lucky to be a part of it, it’s great.”
The Bears’ head coach Jerry Kwapick, who nominated Peyton, credits her academic ability as much as her athletic prowess, and with good reason: A weighted grade point average of 4.167 is impressive indeed. She has an artistic side, as well.
“A lot of my friends don’t know that I’m a writer,” she says. “I write a blog about high school called Betwixt. It’s one of my major passions,” one she hopes will take her out of state for college, perhaps Boston College, Georgetown, Northwestern or Duke, where she hopes to major in English and minor in feminist studies and business.
age: 17
school: White Bear Lake Area High School
activities: Hockey, tennis, student council, Hendrickson Foundation
favorites: Mashed potatoes, raspberries, chocolate milk, the bands Kings of Leon and Needtobreathe, TV show Modern Family, books We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
words to live by: Take control—I like what my language arts teacher wrote on the board one day: “Be the walker, not the dog.” When I was little, my dad would read me this book, tales where the girl was the hero, and that definitely formed the way I think. I’m definitely a “girls can do anything guys can do” kind of a person. Perseverance—I think that’s the most important quality one can have. That, and resilience and determination.
