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Amy Carlson
(Reilly Melin is below)
Amy Carlson is the daughter of Bob and Karen Carlson of Rush City. Her academic activities include Knowledge Bowl in grades 10-12, National Honor Society, grades 11 and 12, peer tutoring in grades 11 and 12, academic letter winner grades 9-12, and Math League in grade 9.
 Athletic involvement has been basketball, grades 9-12, captain in 12, Most Dedicated Award, grade 11, 10,000 Shot Club, grade 11; softball 9-12, captain, grade 12, All-Conference honorable mention, grade 11, Tiger Award, grade 11; cross country, grade 9, football statistician all four grades, lettering all four years.
Amy’s fine arts activities include All-School play, grades 9-12, student director grades 11, 12; concert band, all four years, marching/pep band all four years, jazz band, all four years, saxophone quartet, grade 11, All Honors Band, grade 12.
Volunteer and community service activities include Girl Scouts, achieving the Gold Award for her project on the softball dugouts, achieving the Bronze Award with her work at Lions/Fire Dept. open houses, the Silver Award by making blankets for the Crisis Nursery. She has participated in FCCLA, lettering in 2005, receiving a gold star at state, is involved at her church as a Sunday School teacher since grade 9, in 4-H and has worked at the county fair food building, in the Horse Project for the past four years, the Oasis Saddle Club, received the Certificate of Excellence from United Way for outstanding volunteerism, assisted with Reading Probes in grades 11,12 and is in the Minnesota Metro Fastpitch League this year.
In her student essay, she wrote “Being involved in many activities has not only enhanced my high school experience, it is a major factor in my career plans. I plan to attend the University of North Dakota to enter the pre-physical therapy program, specializing in sports medicine.”
She said athletics played a large role in her career decision as she learned first-hand the injuries that can occur. She suffered an MCL tear and worked with sports medicine doctors and physical therapists. “I found it fascinating and decided it would be a great career,” she said.
“Girl Scouts and church have showed me how much benefit there is in helping others,” she wrote. “Through community service projects, I have met wonderful people who taught me valuable lessons about helping those less fortunate.”
“Being involved in band was a great experience, too. You need self-confidence to get up in front of people to perform. I learned that if you want to be good at something, you need to be dedicated,”
Staff member Colleen Daniels wrote Amy’s letter of recommendation.
“Amy Carlson exemplifies the impact which excellence in education, arts, and athletics can have on a student. She is a dedicated student and her dedication carries over to her participation in activities ... She truly embodies the character of the Triple “A” Award.”
Reilly Melin
Reilly Melin is the son of David and Karen Melin of Rush City. He is a member of the National Honor Society, 11th and 12th grade, an academic letter winner in grade 11 and a peer tutor in grades 11 and 12. He participated in basketball in grades 9-11; track, grades 11, 12; cross country, grade 12, where he was All-Conference honorable mention, and participated in golf in grades 9 and 10.
 His fine arts activities include All-School play in grade 12; One-Act play, grade 12; concert band, grades 10-12, marching/pep band all four years of high school and jazz band, grades 10-12.
Other activities, including volunteer work, include 4th grade kindness retreat mentor, grade 11;, Reading Probes, grades 11, 12; helping with elementary track and field day, grades 11, 12; 7th grade orientation sponsor, grade 12; Community Thanksgiving dinner, grades 9-12; involvement at his church with the sound system and mowing for four years, two years as Sunday school teacher, two years with AWANA, two years helping with VBS, and youth group activities for the past four years. He also helped with a fund-raiser for a Mexican orphanage, and provided food for workers for a missions trip.
Reilly said, “After high school, I plan on attending the Christian college Northwestern. While there I plan on studying to be a teacher, possibly a history teacher.” He said he is interested in studying history because it not only helps us learn about the past, but how we can use it to better the future.
Reilly feels that his involvement with the arts will help because they “give integrity, determination, initiative, a sense of purpose and many more positive qualities.”
“The arts will help me because they have taught me to look deeper into anything to find its true meaning and to use that meaning to discern the right from wrong.”
He said the best quality the arts has given him is patience and that is what will get him where he wants to be. “The athletics have taught me the importance of dedication. If someone is dedicated enough, then they will go places that most people can only hope for.”
“If I am to pursue my idea of becoming a teacher, then all of these attributes are needed. I will need patience to deal with the children and I will need to be dedicated to my job.”
“Most importantly, however, I need to believe that this future will give me, and the people who helped me get there, a sense of purpose.”
Reilly was recommended for nomination by faculty member Michael Vaughan, track/cross country coach and World History teacher.
In his letter, Vaughan said, “The Triple “A” award is designed to give honors to the students of the utmost character. One such is Reilly Melin. I feel comfortable in recommending him without qualification.”
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