Alexander Heide
East Ridge High School
Alexander is one highly focused young man. Last year he achieved a 4.37 GPA with six AP classes; this year he’s signed on for five (plus an independent study aerospace course). He’s just as focused in the pool, receiving All-American consideration at the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke and participating on a medley relay team that finished second. “Swimming is, on top of being a great sport, a lifestyle,” says Alex, who is also involved with link crew and the 3M RC Flyers Club, which has helped him develop skills in designing, building and flying remote aircraft.
Favorite subject: AP Physics
Colleges you are eyeing: Purdue, Georgia Tech, MIT and the University of Minnesota
Career plans/interests: I hope to major in aerospace engineering and work in the field, but ultimately I want to start my own business.
ALEXANDER MAD LIBS
When I wake up, the first thing I do is stumble into the shower. I never leave home without my wallet. Three words that describe me: analytical, objective and ambitious. My pet peeve is when people say “me and my friends” instead of “my friends and I”. My favorite phone app is The Guardian News app. My favorite food is hard to choose. If I had to pick, I’d have to say sushi. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is re-learn how to play the viola and get proficient at it. My hidden talent is painting and drawing. My proudest moment was when the remote aircraft I built took off and flew. A fun fact about me is that I am trilingual (Russian, German and English). I was born in Moscow and lived in Berlin for a long time. My mother is Russian and my father is German, so I didn’t learn English until I moved to the U.S. in second grade.
Abby Gorter
New Life Academy
A top AP/honors course academic student who’s involved in student council, National Honor Society and two choirs, Abby has excelled on the volleyball court as an all-state player as well as serving as four-year varsity volleyball captain. This all-conference volleyball player also participated in track in years past, earning all-conference honors in the long and triple jumps. Abby is very committed to helping others: she’s taken mission trips to Guatemala, Mexico, New Orleans and New Mexico, and worked with Burma refugees in a Karen neighborhood. “My proudest moment was when my family could deliver a source of water to families in Guatemala,” Abby says.
Favorite subject: I love math because there’s always an answer to the problem.
Colleges you are eyeing: Hope College and Calvin College
Career plans/interests: Human resources management or business management
ABBY MAD LIBS
When I wake up, the first thing I do is pick out my school uniform. I never leave home without my phone of course! Three words that describe me: a leader, lively and understanding. My pet peeve is when my sister jumps in the shower right before me and takes a really long one. My favorite phone app is Instagram, and the #1 song on my iPOD is FourFiveSeconds by Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney. My biggest fear is spiders of all shapes and sizes. A perfect day for me would be sleeping in, eating waffles, heading to the beach for some sand volleyball, dinner at Yang’s and venturing out with my friends at night. My favorite food is potatoes of all sorts. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is learn to skateboard or snowboard. A fun fact about me is that I never miss my daily nap. What I’ve learned about myself so far, is that through experiencing many other cultures, I’m incredibly blessed to live in the Woodbury community.
Zack Hagstrom-Skalnek
Math & Science Academy
A participant in MSA’s jazz band since sixth grade, Zack plays drums and percussion as well as bass guitar. “The experience of playing drums helped give me confidence to perform in a group and in front of others,” he says. “I’ve improved my ability on the bass and my general musical knowledge as well.” Zack’s other activities include choir, madrigal/show choir, wind ensemble, musicals and National Honor Society. “I’m grateful to my school for being very rigorous, and to my teachers for connecting with their students on a personal level every day,” he says.
Favorite subject: English
Colleges you are eyeing: University of Minnesota, Berklee College of Music
Career plans/interests: My dream job would be a professional touring musician. If that doesn’t work out, a music-related career such as a sound engineer or acoustician. If those don’t work out, I’m interested in a mechanical engineering degree.
ZACK MAD LIBS
When I wake up, the first thing I do is take a shower. I never leave home without my phone, wallet, keys and a guitar pick (just in case). Three words that describe me: musical, driven and caring. My pet peeve is broken cymbals; they sound bad and are expensive to replace. My favorite phone app is a tie between YouTube and Guitar Pro and the #1 song on my iPOD is Flux, a song from my band, Aurae. A perfect day for me would be waking up around 9 a.m., taking my time eating breakfast, practicing drums, going on a bike ride, and then having my band over to write music and jam until the sun goes down. My favorite food is a Davanni’s buffalo chicken sandwich. A fun fact about me is that I have been traveling on airplanes since I was a baby.
Ellie Schwartz
Hill-Murray School
An academic letter winner, Ellie has a full plate of activities at Hill-Murray: she’s a two-sport varsity athlete (volleyball and basketball), peer listener, National Honor Society member, ambassador and a gold service award winner for participating in 40 or more service projects. In addition to school activities, Ellie coaches youth volleyball and basketball camps at Hill-Murray during the summer. “I also run a fitness blog, xoellschwartz.com,” she says. “People are always asking me about my workouts/nutrition, so I decided to start blogging about it.”
Favorite subject: Photography. It’s so cool to capture a moment through a photo.
Colleges you are eyeing: I’m still undecided!
Career plans/interests: I’d love to do something entrepreneurial with an emphasis on fitness and nutrition.
ELLIE MAD LIBS
When I wake up, the first thing I do is drink water! I never leave home without my iPhone. Three words that describe me: bubbly, athletic and sassy. My pet peeve is I like taking my time, so I hate feeling rushed. My favorite phone app is Vine and the #1 song on my iPOD is Only One by Kanye West. My biggest fear is heights. My favorite food is Chipotle. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is learn how to surf. My hidden talent is hockey; I used to play when I was little, and my dad builds a rink in our backyard every year. My favorite place to hang out with friends is Steepery Tea Bar. My proudest moment was when I tore my PCL this past basketball season; the doctors told me I probably wouldn’t be able to get back on the court that season. Well, I did! A fun fact about me is that I’m ambidextrous.
Katlyn Ableidinger
Woodbury High School
Katlyn’s passion is cross-country; she is captain this season and her goal is to run fast enough to earn all-state honors. “I love the sense of accomplishment after the hard work while always having a new goal to work toward,” she says. “And the people in the sport are some of the smartest and nicest people I’ve met.” Katlyn manages to maintain a 4.1 GPA while participating in National Honor Society, Nordic skiing, track and softball as well as teaching Sunday school and volunteering in the garden at Guardian Angels Church.
Favorite subject: Either AP Biology or Teacher Cadet
Colleges you are eyeing: A very long list including Montana State and the Universities of Colorado and Georgia
Career plans/interests: Marine biology, physical therapy among others.
KATLYN MAD LIBS
When I wake up, the first thing I do is go downstairs to greet my very hyper Yorkie, Rico. I never leave home without gum (I’m addicted). Three words that describe me: easygoing, caring and bubbly. My favorite phone app is 1010! and the #1 song on my iPOD is I’m From the Country by Tracy Byrd. My biggest fear is needles. My favorite food is bagels, pancakes, waffles . . . any breakfast food. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is learn how to scuba dive. My hidden talent is nail art. My favorite place to hang out with friends is outside—anything from roller-skating to running to hanging at the beach. My proudest moment was achieving third place for my age division in my first-ever half marathon. A fun fact about me is that I know the lyrics to 99 percent of the country songs on the radio, but couldn’t tell you the artist or name of the songs.
