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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Ella Huisenga
WACO HIGH SCHOOL
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Parents name: Joni and Bill Huisenga
Cumulative GPA: 3.889, Class Rank: 10 out of 32
Activities: Volleyball (2021-2025) Basketball (2021-2025) Soccer (2021-2025) Theater (2021-2025) Choir (2021-2025) Band (2023-2025) Class President (2021-2025) Student Council (2021-2025) NHS (2023-2025)
Awards: Academic All-Conference Girls Varsity Volleyball: Fall 2023, Varsity Letter Girls Volleyball: 2022-2025, Varsity Letter Waco Girls Basketball: 2021-2025, Varsity Letter Waco Boys Soccer: 2023-2024, Certificate of Membership Waco NHS: 2023-2025, Honorable Mention Girls Varsity Basketball: 2024, First Team All-Conference Girls Varsity Basketball: 2025, Honorable Mention Varsity Boys Soccer: 2024, Girls Varsity Volleyball “Best Teammate”: 2023
Future plans: Currently, college plans are on hold, but I know I am interested in a career field that will allow me to travel. Also, knowing myself, I can confidently say that I know whatever path I end up going down will allow me to meet people, experience new and exciting things, and most of all, be happy.
How will high school experiences help you in coming years? My high school experiences will help me in my next chapter of life by providing a foundation for essential life skills that are necessary. Such skills include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. I find all of these to be very important, and know they will help further my education, assist me in the workforce, and help navigate future personal relationships.
Fondest memory of high school? My fondest memory from high school would be one that just occurred recently on February 28th, 2025. Several senior classmates and I traveled together with parents and Waco music staff to Chicago. We visited The Art Institute of Chicago, dined at The House of Blues, and then went and watched a Broadway performance of ‘Clue’. We stayed overnight at a hotel connected to the theatre, and it was just such a blast spending time with friends, enjoying the city of Chicago and live entertainment.
Which teachers have made the biggest impact on you and why? I would have to say these three wonderful individuals have made the biggest impact on me:
- Mr. Shaw, my English teacher and soccer coach has taught me to not settle with simple answers and always try to take things an extra step further in order to better myself and those around me.
- Mrs. Weir, also an English teacher at Waco, taught me to really value self respect, and to speak my mind respectfully.
- Mrs. Lefeber has taught me that not everyone learns the same way, and that calls for discovering/using new strategies, and having patience with others, as well as myself.
Who is your role model and how did they influence you? My role models would be my parents. I know this is a basic answer, but my parents have raised me with core values that I appreciate and think are important. Both have taught me about hard work and patience, and best of all, have provided me with an awesome 17 years of life so far. I am extremely grateful.
What is special about your high school? Waco is special for a number of reasons, but one of the most important factors of Waco is the teacher and staff commitment to being there for the students. I appreciate and trust Waco staff members wholeheartedly, and I feel confident that most of Waco’s student body feels the same.
If you could go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? I would simply give one piece of advice: seek relationships with your peers, whether that be students or teachers. Getting to know those around you is such a blessing, and it truly helps shape your social abilities, as well as how to create and build strong relationships. High school is supposed to be memorable and fun-- so make it!
