THE GLOBE | WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021
DGLOBE.COM
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AREA GRADUATES
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CONGRATULATIONS ! 1 2 0 2 f o s s a Cl
See next week’s edition of The Globe for Worthington High School & Learning Center Graduates!
Introducing
THE GLOBE OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD 2021 WINNERS ALLISON LETCHER
AUSTIN TAYLOR
Windom Area High School Future Plans: University of Wisconsin-Stout, Psychology WINDOM — Allison Letcher has made a striking impact during her career at Windom Area High School, but while she’s excelled in the classroom along with a number of extracurricular activities, she’s also demonstrated a leadership ability among her peers. “Allison has used her position of leadership in the school to encourage students to not only have the courage to voice their opinions but also to learn the value of listening to the opinions of others and debate in a civil manner,” wrote Rachel Axford, a Windom Area teacher, in her letter nominating Letcher for The Globe’s Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. “At a time when most adults are wondering how to have difficult discussions or avoiding them entirely, Allison, a teenage girl, has the presence to lead the way.” Letcher, the daughter of Mike and Lisa Letcher, has participated in activities that include Eagle Choir, Mixed and Girls Pop Group and speech. She has advanced to sections in speech every year since seventh grade, and this year she represented Section 3A in the MSHSL State Speech Contest while being chosen as a member of the 2021 All State Speech team. She has also performed in four high school musicals at Windom Area and was a member of Student Senate and National Honor Society, a DARE role model and a leader with the Eagle Pride team. In sports, Letcher has been named to the All Big South Conference girls basketball team for the past three years. She is ranked fifth in Windom’s all-time scoring records with 1,251 career points, and in 2021 she was selected for the 2021 Academic All State Basketball Team. Letcher has also been manager for her school’s cross country and softball teams.
Adrian High School Future Plans: Dakota State University, Computer Science
“Being involved in all of these activities allows me to meet all different sorts of people, which is something I really enjoy,” Letcher told The Globe. “I have always been able to get involved because of the support from my family. Without them, I do not have room to grow and excel as a person while doing these activities.” Letcher credits Axford and Sheryl Hanefeld as two teachers who have been influential in her life, and names her grandfather “as someone who has always inspired me when it comes to my sports, and … a huge support to me in my development as a player.” Hanefeld’s sociology and psychology classes were among favorites in high school, and basketball at the top of her extracurriculars. Her love for performing is evident upon being asked to share a humorous high school memory. “My friend and I dressed up as Hans and Anna from ‘Frozen’ and performed the song ‘Love is an Open Door’ in front of the entire school during our Homecoming coronation ceremony,” she shared. ”It was so fun, and everyone really thought it was funny.” Letcher plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout to play basketball and major in psychology.
ADRIAN — During his career at Adrian High School, Austin Taylor did more than just stand out. After all, how many teenagers start successful businesses? Taylor, the son of Michael and Terri Taylor, has been involved in such activities as National Honor Society, Speech and Knowledge Bowl while maintaining a 3.9 grade point average. He has taken College in the Schools as well as PSEO classes, earning both high school and college credit. “Austin is a hard worker and will push himself to meet his goals,” wrote Sharyn Story, a counselor at Adrian High School, in her nomination letter for The Globe’s Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. “He shows initiative and motivation to prepare for his future.” One way Taylor demonstrated both initiative and motivation was via his participation in a CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) course with area schools. It allowed him to learn about processes involved with business development and create a project of his own; he was selected for participation from among many other interested students. “Throughout the course, we established a class business to generate seed money to start our individual businesses and donate to charity,” Taylor explained. “For the class business, the CEO Subzero Extravaganza, I was on the marketing team and later the head of marketing. Our team was tasked with creating advertisements, getting sponsorships and posting on social media. “I learned a lot from the CEO program, including how to act and dress professionally, how to work in both big and small groups, (and) how to write a business plan and present it to business professionals,” Taylor continued. Taylor was able to make valuable business
connections, gain an “amazing mentor in Bob Wolf” and improve his public speaking skills. He also created a small business, Looped In. “I created Looped In to help as many people as I could better understand the technology that surrounds them in their daily lives,” Taylor said. “For many years now, I have been the designated ‘IT guy,’ helping out my parents, grandparents and other relatives with their devices and technology problems. I decided to turn that into a business, which offers various classes that cover basic smartphone features, crucial security and lifesaving features, creating strong passwords, social media, phishing and many more.” Taylor suggested that it only makes sense to extend this type of helping hand. “As far as community service goes, I just like helping people,” he said. “When given the opportunity to do some good or help out in any way, I don’t know why you wouldn’t. Plus, when you see how grateful the people are who you have helped, it makes the whole experience even better and more worthwhile.” Taylor cites his parents as the most inspiring to him over the years and as well as Cody Henrichs, his art teacher from sixth through ninth grade. His future education plans include attending Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, and majoring in computer science.
Each nominee for The Globe’s Outstanding Senior Award had a remarkable high school career, and we congratulate them on their graduation and wish them luck in their next steps. Sibley-Ocheyedan High School
Kelli Greenfield
Timothy Jenson
Heron Lake-Okabena High School
Amber Ruthenbeck
Eli Fest
Murray County Central High School
Josie Harms
Rylan Behnke
Pipestone High School
McKenzie Dulas
Fulda High School
Seth Lingen
Mariel Olsem
Brandon Clausen
Luverne High School
Ainslie Robinson
Peter Baustian
Ellsworth High School
Kendra DeBeer
Dalton Senior
Southwest Minnesota Christian High School
Makenzie Snyder
Wyatt Decker
Adrian High School
Windom Area High School
Gracia Elias
Ryan Fauglid
Edgerton High School
Addison Fleischman
Gabriel (Gabe) Gilbertson
Harris-Lake Park High School
Kaia Urwin
Dylan Meyer
Jackson County Central High School
Mackenzie Henning
Cole Christopher
Hills-Beaver Creek High School
Lauren Tatge
Calvin Erickson
Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School
Bethany Byers
Ethan Mitschke
Worthington High School
Sophie Wietzema
Jordan Melendez