With advanced coursework, jobs, sports, extracurricular activities, friends, family and more, high-achieving students are busier than ever. Lucky for us, we were able to get these star students to slow down for a moment to share a bit of insight. So, drumroll please—meet the 2017 Prep Elite students.
Alec Jann
Mahtomedi High School
Activities: Track and field, math team, National Honor Society, Treehouse youth group
Top college picks: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Despite being dedicated to getting good grades, I maintain a healthy balance between work and relaxation. I try not to be hyper-focused on school, and instead, branch out socially and personally. This well-roundedness is something I’m very proud of.
What is your favorite subject in school?
Math. Puzzles, numbers and logic always interested me as a kid, so math fit my interests really well.
What are you most insecure about?
I am most insecure about how I come off to people. I am always at least partially focused on winning people over and presenting myself in a positive way.
What are three interesting facts about you?
I love spicy food. I sing unabashedly way higher than my vocal range just for fun. I love math, puzzles and anything logical—but I can’t solve a Rubik’s cube.
What’s your secret talent?
My secret talent is my ability to memorize long numbers (credit-card length) in maybe a minute or less.
What gives your life meaning?
I find meaning in life through making others happy and spreading positivity to other people. If I can brighten someone’s day with a joke or some brief conversation, I usually will. Other than that, my friends and family bring me a lot of happiness.
Madison Loppnow
White Bear Lake Area High School-South Campus
Activities: Nordic skiing, swimming, Ambassadors, Leadership Academy, Chemistry Club, National Honor Society
Top college pick: TBD
What is your proudest accomplishment?
One of my proudest accomplishments has been being voted captain of the Nordic ski team.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to?
I have been meaning to get scuba diving certified, but have not had the time to take the course.
What’s the best way to start the day?
The best way to start the day for me is by having a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise.
What gives your life meaning?
Many things give my life meaning, but some of the major things are my family, my friends and my two dogs, Oliver and Indiana.
Who inspires you to be better?
My family and my friends all inspire me to be better and to do my best in all aspects in life.
What are some of the events in your life that made you who you are?
Joining both the high school swim team and the Nordic ski team have definitely shaped who I am. I am a more driven and dedicated person because of it, as I have learned the value of hard work to be very important.
What is something that your friends would consider “so you”?
Reading books for fun would be something my friends would consider as “so me.” I’ve been a bookworm since day one.
What are three interesting facts about you?
I have a webbed toe. I have two dogs. My favorite author is Stephen King.
What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?
I enjoy ham, pickles and cream cheese, all together.
Peter Klarr
Liberty Classical Academy
Activities: Basketball, soccer, track
Top college pick: Purdue University
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Every senior class [student] has to write a thesis paper on a topic of their choosing, present a shortened version of it, and then defend it in front of a panel of judges who will try to dismantle it. In my junior year, I wrote a 10 page paper and for my senior year, it was 20 pages. I have no doubt it will be my proudest accomplishment.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to?
I’ve been meaning to try to learn computer coding for some time.
What gives your life meaning?
Helping whenever and wherever I can, even if I am not recognized for it—especially then.
What are you most insecure about?
Not being good enough.
What is something that your friends would consider “so you”?
Calculating the perfect half-court shot, then executing it just as perfectly.
Who inspires you to be better?
Anyone who has overcome a challenge; they show what we as humans are capable of, and that drives me to see how far I can go.
What are three interesting facts about you?
I have always been about a head taller than most around me, even as a toddler. I can adapt to almost any situation or group very quickly. I pride myself on being a sort of jack-of-all-trades, and look to grow that whenever.
What’s your secret talent?
An intuition that hardly fails me—it’s sometimes scary.
What’s something that all your friends agree on?
A good laugh comes from quick wit with excellent timing.
Lily Engebretson
Mahtomedi High School
Activities: Cross-country running, Nordic skiing (captain for upcoming season), track and field, symphonic band, concert choir, theater and Eco Club.
Top college pick: University of Minnesota-Duluth
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment has not happened yet, in my opinion. That may sound pessimistic, but we are, as students, still young and have so much life ahead of us. I am going to travel the world, spread love with every touch I give, conquer tidal waves, and change the world one way or another. Later, as I look back upon my life lived full, and bursting with life, I shall know the answer.
What is your favorite subject in school?
Science. I am interested in how things work and work together; it is like solving a puzzle!
What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it?
I want to travel the world. I went on a medical brigade in July to Nicaragua with the Mayo Clinic, which is an eye-opening experience of places in poverty—very different than the United States.
What’s the best way to start the day?
The best way to start the day is by waking up early to watch the sunrise, either with good company or in solitude. Everything is completely still, and the only sounds are the birds, the wind and the rustling of life waking up around you.
What gives your life meaning?
I give my life meaning by pursuing my passions, experiencing and expressing all human emotions, positive and negative, as well as loving fiercely and freely everyone and everything in it.
What are three interesting facts about you?
I enjoy sad music, even though I am a relatively happy person. I sing in the church choir in the adult and youth group at my church, St. Mary’s. My spirit animal is an alpaca.
What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?
I enjoy grilled curry potatoes with Top the Tater.
