Esther Hughes

Parents: Noah and Emily Hughes and late Anna Hughes

GPA: 4.032

Class rank: 4

Co-curricular activities: National Honors Society (2021-Present), Yearbook (2020-2021), Y-CO Student Government (2021-Present), Compassion Club (2018-Present), FFA (2018-2019), School Drama (2018), Cross Country (2018), Volleyball (2019-2022), Basketball (2018-2022), Soccer (2018, 2020-2022), Softball (2018-2022).

Community activities: Children’s Room at Church, Volunteer Work at Crowded Closet, Volunteer Coaching for 4-6th Grade Girls Basketball, Blood Drive, School Kits for Mennonite Central Committee, Take Away Hunger food packaging.

Future plans and goals: Play soccer and study computer science at Central College.

How will your high school experiences help you in the coming years? My high school experiences taught me skills that will help me be successful in many aspects of my life. The biggest thing that I think will help me, though, is the realization that I shouldn’t take anything for granted.

Fondest memory of high school: Sitting around bonfires with my friends.

Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? Not teachers, but coaches. Kari Heusinkveld and Tanna Boshart were my basketball coaches my freshman and sophomore years of high school. My sophomore season started not long after my mom passed away from bone cancer. These coaches were there for me during the worst time in my life. I still have a strong relationship with both of them.

Who is your role model and how did they influence you? My biggest role model is my dad. My dad is the hardest working person I know. Although it’s not how hardworking he is that makes him my biggest role model, but rather because of how he has shown love. The way I saw my dad care for my mom when she was sick was the most amazing demonstration of unconditional love I have ever seen. After her death, he stayed strong for my four siblings and me. My dad taught me to try my best in everything I do, and what it means to sacrifice yourself for others.

What is special about your high school? The ability to participate in anything you desire to. If I had gone to another high school, I wouldn’t have participated in as many things as I did. I have been given so many opportunities that I otherwise would not have had.

If you go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? Your life is going to change a lot. Don’t get caught up in what’s not important, and above all else, invest yourself in the people around you.