2010 Student of the Year Runner-Up, Lauren Hayes
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May 28, 2010 • Finley Wiese
Filed under Feature, Local, News, People and Clubs, Uncategorized
While many students deserve recognition for their efforts and participation in and out of school, very few meet the qualifications to be considered as a Student of the Year. The Signal is proud to honor Lauren Hayes as a 2010 Student of the Year Runner-Up.
Lauren possesses all of the traits that any successful student does. She focuses a lot of her attention on school and works to the best of her abilities, yet she still has the time and energy to dedicate her life to so many other things and so many other people.
“The dedication and work ethic [Lauren] puts in to each and every activity she is involved in is impressive and commendable,” Assistant Band Director Jessica Rensberger said. ”I frequently forget that she is a senior in High School; she is mature well beyond her years.”
One of Lauren’s key focuses beyond schoolwork is music. She plays, among other things, harp, bassoon, and mellophone, and she has dedicated much of her time during the summer to leading the marching band as Drum Major, a responsibility that very few people are cut out for. Being Drum Major requires a great passion for music, and a great deal of dedication to the band, and under Lauren’s leadership, the band has had two very successful seasons.
Between summer practices and before every weekend show, Lauren would send out emails to everybody in band reminding them of their responsibilities to practice and to remind them of schedule changes, report times, etc.
She stands out as a leader in the band, even after the marching season. Very often when both Band Director Tom Cook and Ms. Rensberger were out and there was a sub, Lauren would take over and conduct the band from the start of warm-ups to the end of class.
“Her accomplishments as a musician are particularly outstanding, students like her do not walk through a band director’s door often!” Rensberger said. With Lauren graduating, it will be difficult to find someone with her talent and dedication to fill her shoes.
“Despite all of the time dedicated to her practicing and her studies, Lauren makes the time to participate in youth activities at her church. She travels on mission trips and uses her musical talents to enhance the worship services,” Fort Atkinson Middle School English Teacher Martha Firari said.
Even with all of these things on her plate, Lauren manages to find time for friends, like Firari’s daughter Grace.
“On a personal level, I’m glad that Lauren is a part of [Grace's] circle of friends. She’s such an enjoyable guest because of her friendly demeanor,” Firari said.
Regardless of what she is doing, Lauren is able to excel and balance personal life with school life. Everything comes first and nothing comes second. She is deeply involved in music and the community, yet she is in rigorous courses and manages to keep up with her own work and also does her best to help others understand. “Lauren is the consummate student,” English Teacher Mike Hall said. “She is conscientious and compassionate and has left an indelible mark here at FHS.”
Lauren’s mark in the music department has been one of great passion, dedication, and sacrifice. She gave up her time, trekking almost daily through the infamous “Swamp Ookie-Pookie” (the flooded practice field behind the school), subjecting herself to the full power of Dr. Beat, standing tall and proud through sweltering days and freezing nights to lead a band of rag-tag soldiers whose only commonality was music to be the best that they could be. “She will be missed at Fort Atkinson, but I am looking forward to hearing of her accomplishments in Arizona – they are lucky to have her!” Rensberger said.
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