Latest news with #WinslowNicholsLeadershipAward
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Student leader helps others in the classroom and on the court
Mar. 31—Stillwater Christian School senior Carson Miller is a well-rounded student with a proclivity for math, music and mentoring. "Carson is a kind and compassionate student that seeks excellence in all areas of his life," Stillwater guidance counselor Michelle Fetveit said. Fetveit is one of three people who nominated him for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, which he received earlier this month. The Award recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. It is sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake. "We have other leaders in our school who will fulfill all that is required of them, but Carson takes to heart the purpose of his role as a leader, and he will plan, prepare, and execute his duties with a great attitude and effective skill and commitment," said fellow nominator Micah Hunter who is the choir director and dean of the conservatory at Stillwater. Hunter also pointed to Miller's leadership skills within the school's house system, which is a way of grouping the student body. House leaders spearhead meetings, fun competitions, chapel and retreats "As a house leader, he shows tremendous poise in leading discussions on difficult or personal topics, and he is always humble in his leadership. He has developed a great feel for leading by lifting others up," Hunter wrote in his nomination letter. Miller said he strives to be a servant leader, looking to Jesus as the ultimate example. "A servant leader is somebody who inspires the ones that he's leading but also puts their needs before his own. I try to remember that, but it's extremely difficult," Miller said. MILLER ALSO started a tutoring program at Stillwater about two years ago. He said he had been involved in a tutoring program that was discontinued during the pandemic, but the need for extra academic help remained and sought to establish a new program. Getting the green light from principals, he started contacting teachers to determine interest and recruiting classmates to serve as tutors for the new program called the Cougar Den, named after the school mascot. "He has a great desire to learn and takes great enjoyment in helping others learn as well," said his mother Tami Miller, who also submitted a nomination letter. When Stillwater didn't offer calculus this year, he decided, on his own, to take an Advanced Placement Calculus course, she said. "I do like math, yes, that's my thing," he said. Miller was exposed to advanced math concepts at a young age, starting in preschool. While most preschoolers are learning how to identify numbers and work their way up to addition and subtraction, Miller's older sister, who is now a math teacher, was giving him lessons in multiplication and division. After graduation, he plans to major in either physics or engineering at Biola University. He also plans to minor in music. "I did musicals from fifth through eighth grade," he said, with Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish. His first audition as a child was more at his parents' behest than his interest at the time. "I was like, no, I'm a baseball player, I'm not going to do musicals. But then I auditioned one time, I got in, and I actually ended up really liking it," he said. By the time he reached high school, he didn't hesitate to join band, jazz band, concert choir and chamber choir and will receive Stillwater's Conservatory of Music diploma at graduation. AS AN ATHLETE, his leadership skills extend to the basketball court. Passionate about the sport, he didn't wait to join the basketball team. Toward the end of his freshman year, however, he tore his ACL and underwent surgery. Undeterred by the setback, he worked hard to come back from the injury and succeeded. Then, during his junior year, the varsity team captain's ACL tore again, requiring more surgery. "I took that as a sign from the Lord for me to stop basketball because I was really committed to it. I would play, like, two hours a day, even when there wasn't practice," he said. Crestfallen he couldn't return to the court as a player, Miller didn't pass on his coach's suggestion to lead the fifth- and sixth-grade boys' basketball team. "[As a] player, yeah, you're just focusing on winning," he said. "But the coaching, I'm thinking about winning, but also, since it's fifth and sixth grade, I'm thinking about how to really be more of a teacher." Outside of school, Miller is a camp counselor at Big Sky Bible Camp in Bigfork. He and his siblings were all campers and said it was a natural transition to become a counselor. "You're just kind of thrown into the wolves, sorta, with like 10 elementary school age boys in a cabin for the week," he said with a laugh. He is also a counselor for Camp Promise, which is geared to people with disabilities. Fetveit said Miller is a positive influence in the lives of many campers in her nomination letter. "I just really love sharing the gospel with them and my love of the Lord with them," he said. With experience working with students of different ages through tutoring, counseling and coaching, Miller said his favorite age groups to work with are the fifth and sixth graders. At this age, he said kids have a level of maturity but know how to have fun. In addition to the award, Miller is a National Merit semifinalist, Ben Carson Scholar and has a 4.0 unweighted GPA. "I've grown a lot as a leader, spiritually and mentally," he said. LEARN MORE Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria: Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties. Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence. Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school. Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others. Forms are available at Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Whitefish student is a positive force among her peers
Feb. 10—When Zoey Marzo sees a need she acts. The Whitefish High School senior can make things happen. Behind the initiative, drive, and planning she puts into each goal, event and program, is the heart, passion and enthusiasm to improve the lives of those around her. "She is reliable, compassionate and charismatic. To be in Zoey's presence is a gift and our world is a better place with her in it. Not only does she work hard academically, her creativity and desire to enhance the lives of those around her is nonstop," Whitefish School District board chair Darcy Schellinger wrote in her letter nominating Marzo, for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award. The Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake, recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. "She is a high-achieving student leader who combines academic excellence with her proven ability to create lasting impact through student government initiatives and peer mental health advocacy," Schellinger wrote, describing Marzo as approachable and relatable. From her freshman year as class secretary, her junior year as student body vice president, she's now in her second term as student body president. She garnered student feedback during her tenure in student government and from it launched new events that have become annual traditions, Schellinger said, such as a semiformal winter dance and a spring spirit week and bonfire. Marzo said the reasoning behind organizing some of these new events came after the isolation of the pandemic and the desire to reconnect. "There wasn't that strong sense of community that Whitefish really does have and so we talked to the students and found out where the holes were and how we can get students engaged, involved and excited about school," Marzo said. "I always am someone who is trying to connect the right people and make the plans. Basically, when I think of leadership it's kind of like our mountains and the way small individual mountain streams join forces to create powerful rivers and beautiful mountain lakes. It's about bringing people together and multiplying individual positive forces for the greater good. So, I'm always looking at how we can make ourselves stronger, and that oftentimes does land me in a position of leadership," she said. During her high school tenure, she's competed in tennis, serving as team captain; competed in DECA, serving as a state officer; played cello in the orchestra and joined the National Honor Society, among other extracurriculars. She received certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid and a therapy dog program to volunteer in hospitals — all while maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA, ranking No. 1 out of 124 in her class. She doesn't think leadership necessarily came naturally to her but rather was instilled in her growing up in a military family. "My family moved a lot. I actually went to like 10 different schools before I even was 10, and looking back, I realized that it taught me a lot of important lessons like the value of service and just being part of something bigger than yourself, to moving and starting over again and again taught me the value of kindness and how simple little acts ... being invited to sit with someone at lunch or to play with them at recess — made a whole world of difference," Marzo said. Moving all the time meant she was always meeting new people and learning new perspectives. "I feel like that taught me really valuable leadership skills that I think helped me work with all groups of people while keeping in mind the intentions that I want to put out," she said. WHILE HER resume is packed with different leadership positions and academic and athletic achievements, some of her proudest accomplishments have focused on mental health and suicide prevention. "I think the role that means the most to me, and I feel has had the biggest impact, is helping found the Student Outreach Committee. In 2021, our valley was experiencing a youth suicide cluster and I realized I couldn't stand by while my peers were suffering — especially suffering on such a significant level. I had to do something," she said. Marzo talked with school counselors, administration, teachers and other students and the Nate Chute Foundation to create what began as a gold box outside the school counselor's office for anonymous student mental health referrals but grew into a student peer support system. The Student Outreach Committee comprises a steering committee of student representatives from each grade level and 36 peer mentors committed to supporting student wellness and inclusivity, she explained. The committee plans student-led programming and mentoring throughout the year such as during freshman orientation and final exams. Marzo said she's had the opportunity to share the model and strategies with other schools through the Nate Chute Mental Health Youth Summit. The process of developing the Student Outreach Committee became the basis of an undergraduate research class project at Flathead Valley Community College. "I'm working to make our Student Outreach Committee model and strategies accessible to even more students and more schools on a much broader scale," she said, including outside the state. "I'm excited to think that what we've built here, and what I've helped be a leader of is going to help students in other schools in our valley and even in other states. I'm really proud of building a program that empowers students to help students." "What I hope is it's kind of like a pebble dropped in the pond. The goal is to create expanding ripples of positive change," she said. As part of the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award Marzo received $250 to donate to a school club or organization. She plans to donate it to the Student Outreach Committee. "She is going to be a change-maker no matter where she goes in this world," Schellinger said. LEARN MORE Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria: * Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties. * Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher. * Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence. * Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school. * Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others. Forms are available at Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
