Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Gavin Menke-Bailey
Mar. 25, 2025 11:38 am
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Parents: Matt and Kelly Bailey
Cumulative GPA: 3.515
Activities: Baseball (five years, second team all-district shortstop, first team All Union shortstop, second team All Conference shortstop, honorable mention All Conference shortstop), football (four years, first team All District linebacker, first team All District running back, honorable mention All District linebacker, second team All Union linebacker), wrestling four years, MPowerU leadership class
Other clubs: Harmony Bible Church small group (six years), club baseball four years
Future plans: Attend SCC, study Business and finish my associate of arts degree while also playing baseball.
How will your high school experiences help you in the coming years? My years in high school will help me because the amount of ups and downs through sports and difficult classes has taught me to never give up, and things can only be bad for so long.
Fondest memory of high school? Winning state baseball my freshman year.
Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? The teacher who had the biggest impact on me is my PE teacher Mrs. Bliven because she has always been the teacher I could go talk to about anything.
Who is your role model and how did they influence you? I would say my role models are my parents because they have displayed and showed me how to be myself, and also treat others.
What is special about your high school? I would say our school is special by the student group and staff. Because as a school, the people around you are always encouraging and wanting the best for you.
If you go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? I would tell myself to always be yourself, put your trust in God, and if you’re going to do something you might as well be the best you can be.