Grace Puttmann

Parents: Kirk and Sara Puttmann

Cumulative GPA & Class Rank: 4.0 GPA, ranked 1 of 79

Activities through the school: Student Leadership Team, Big Hawk Little Hawk Mentoring, Peer Tutoring, Silver Cord, FCCLA, National Honor Society, Individual Speech (All-State Poetry Performer), Group Speech (State Ensemble Acting Performer), Musicals (Into the Woods, Meet Me in St. Louis, Pirates of Penzance, Matilda - Student Director, Fiddler on the Roof), Plays (Deadline, As You Like It, Puffs), Mixed Choir, Treble Choir, Auditioned Madrigal Choir (Voted by peers as Queen), Mock Trial (Lead of Witness Team), Debate Club, Art Club, Prom Planning Committee

Other clubs: 4-H (Dog Project, Horse Project, Communication Project, Static Projects), Citypoint Church (Worship Vocalist, Kidspoint Volunteer), Washington Community Theater (Wizard of Oz), Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Future plans: I plan to major in Psychology at the University of Iowa. As I’m studying there, I am excited to look into working as a Child Life Specialist or another human services related field.

How will your high school experiences help you in the coming years? My high school experiences in speech and drama, as well as the Student Leadership Team have really taught me how to step out of my comfort zone and take initiative in a huge variety of scenarios. They have also helped me to learn how to communicate with people, regardless of our differences. Being a part of Big Hawk Little Hawk Mentoring (a program where a high-schooler is paired with a third or fourth grader to help with social or behavioral struggles) has given me the opportunity to hone in on my passion for helping others, especially kids, to understand themselves and work to improve. Overall though, high school has taught me a lot about balancing the academic, work, and social aspects of my life, and has made me appreciate every moment.

Fondest memory of high school? High school has been a whirlwind of activities and emotions, and some of the best times came from the chances to really live in the moment. On the first day of my senior year, my entire senior class came together to watch the sunrise before school started. Our principal cooked pancakes and sausages, we all snuggled up under blankets and chatted about the summer as we took in our very last first day of high school. The moment’s excitement and resolution became a combination of emotions that I will never forget, and I am so glad that I have that memory to hold onto.

Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? There have been so many teachers that have guided and supported me throughout the course of high school, both academically and socially. However, the teacher who has impacted me the most is Mrs. Collette McClellen. She has been my choir teacher through all of high school, and has taught me so much. From learning about the technicalities of music and musicianship, to emphasizing work ethic, respect, and an excitement for your passions, every class I’ve had with Mrs. McClellen has helped me to grow in knowledge and character. She has become something of a second mother to me, being someone that I can come to when I’m struggling, and always being a safe space, anything, anytime. Mrs. McClellen is intentional about calling her students out when we are in the wrong, and helping us find ways to be better. Mrs. McClellen has been an integral part of high school for me, and I am so grateful for all of her love, support, and belief in me.

Who is your role model and how did they influence you? My role model is my mom. She teaches math in my high school, and is one of the most dedicated people I know. My mom does everything to her fullest, and works hard to find the solutions that benefit the most people possible. She started and runs an elementary-high school mentoring program, runs our annual blood drive, and is fully devoted to helping her students become successful learners. My mom has always had my back, holding me accountable and helping me to stay on track, but most of all, my mom has helped me through some of the heaviest moments in my life, and I am incredibly grateful for that. She is exactly the kind of person that I hope to become someday, and I strive to show the same patience, kindness, and love that she shows to every person around her.

What is special about your high school? While it is cliché, Mid-Prairie is full of opportunities to get involved. There are tons of extracurriculars and clubs, and students are encouraged to be a part of a variety of activities. We excel in many of these activities, but the communities built and friends made make all of the difference at Mid-Prairie.

If you could go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? Find new perspectives. It is easy to go into high school with an idea of who you are and where you are going. It is easy to put your head down and go whichever way the wind blows. But it has been such a blessing for me to step out of my comfort zone, try new things, meet new people, and learn about new perspectives. It has made high school so much fun, and I am so thankful that I’ve had the chance to make tons of amazing memories.

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