Ben Guise

Parents: Mathew B. and Elizabeth A. Guise

Cumulative GPA & Class Rank: 4.0437 & 3rd

Activities: Cross-country (4 varsity letters), track and field (4 varsity letters), honor roll (4 letters), band (honor band and 4 letters), chorus (honor chorus and three letters), tech internship (Byte Jam champions and student choice), National Honor Society (chapter president), theater (George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast), individual speech and drama (division I rating in public address at State), large group speech and drama (division II rating in short film and improv at districts), quiz-bowl (varsity team captain), Talented and Gifted program, Student Council (vice-president), Family, Career, and Consumer Leaders of America (FCCLA), and Iowa Students for Tobacco Education and Prevention (ISTEP).

Other clubs outside of school: I have earned the Silver Chord award through approximately 116 hours of community service by repairing school computers, roadside cleanup, umpiring Little League baseball, cleaning up debris from tornadoes/storms, volunteering at the Heartland Humane Society animal shelter, packing food for Meals From The Heartland, yardwork for my neighbors, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and youth group. I also participate in the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival every summer and am a rising senior in the Pekin Ruritan Club.

Future plans: My plan involves enrolling at Indian Hills Community College to earn an Associate of Arts degree for the first year after I graduate. Throughout high school, I acquired numerous college credits through dual enrollment and advanced placement (AP) classes. The degree I am pursuing typically takes two years to attain, but with the credits I already have, I am determined to finish it in one. Following the completion of the initial general credits, I aim to transfer to the University of Iowa. There, I intend to delve into my deep-rooted interest in the past by majoring in history. During this period of my life, I can express the more creative side of myself by participating in various music clubs and organizations and even minor in theater. After reaching the milestone of graduating college, I aspire to initiate the next chapter of my life by becoming a history professor. A career in this would ignite my fervor for social studies and provide me with the footing to live a life of genuine happiness.

How will your high school experiences help you in coming years? I believe that my high school experiences have equipped me with a diverse set of skills and attributes that will continue to benefit me in the coming years, both personally and professionally. High school has taught me important interpersonal skills that will serve me well in college and employment. I also learned that working hard helps you stand out. Someone with ambition will make it far, not just in high school but in the real world as well.

Fondest memory of high school? My favorite memory from high school happened the night before an indoor track meet at Iowa State University last year. We were staying at a hotel because we were going to compete early in the morning the next day. After lights were out, some of my teammates and I were hungry, so we decided to take the elevator down to the lobby for a snack from the vending machine. As about six or seven of us crowded into the elevator, the door slammed shut and trapped us inside. Between the singular shared brain cell from all of us, we finally pried the door open to reveal Mr. Eihdal on the other side, instructing us to go to bed. The next morning we all joked about it with him and ran at the meet.

Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? While not a teacher, Mr. Babcock was the staff member who had the biggest impact on me. He is the school IT guy and has taken me and several other students under his wing so we can learn about technology and how it works. He’s taken us to various competitions, where we have placed first and were selected as student choice. He has given me a chance for a meaningful internship, which I am grateful for.

Who is your role model and how did they influence you? My role model in high school was my freshman and sophomore music teacher, Mr. White. He always supported me both in and outside of the classroom. He was a very talented musician who valued his students. His character is one of genuine kindness I am proud to follow.

What is special about your high school? Going to a small school is special because I know about everyone who attends or works at Pekin. It makes it easier to make friends and participate in multiple activities. I also appreciate the fact that my dad works as an art teacher at my school. It is always nice to have him close if I ever need support in the middle of the school day.

If you go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? I would advise my freshman self to appreciate everything to its fullest potential. The memories you will make from the bus rides home from cross-country meets or late-night musical rehearsals are things you will always value, so make them worthwhile.