JEFF FIELDER Editor
ALLIANCE – Khloe Felker, a 2020 Alliance High School graduate, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Felker competed in high school volleyball, basketball (two years as a player and two years as a student manager), and track and field (pole vault) for four years. The spring sports season ended up being cancelled this year due to COVID-19. Also in school, Felker participated in National Honor Society, student council, and Key Club. Earlier this year, she also volunteered to help deliver meals with Community Table in Alliance. Her GPA is a 3.98. She’s planning to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha beginning this fall. Her parents are Michelle and Dirk Felker.
Q: What were your goals coming into the track and field season this spring in the pole vault?
FELKER: “I was hoping to get 9 feet. That was my goal. My personal record was 8-6.”
Q: How disappointed were you that the spring sports season was cancelled because of COVD-19?
FELKER: “It was pretty sad because I really enjoyed being around all the people who were in track, and my coach was really awesome. I wish I would have been able to finish it out strong. I can see now that I took track for granted last year because I didn’t know it was going to be my last season. I wish I would have cherished it more.”
Q: You competed in three sports. Which sport did you enjoy competing in the most?
FELKER: “Volleyball. I’ve played it my whole life, and I really enjoyed playing with all of my teammates. Also, my mom and sister would always play with me, which was fun.”
Q: Reflecting on your four years of volleyball, describe how things went both individually and as a team?
FELKER: “I was a setter my freshman year, but I was a libero my sophomore, junior and senior years. I really loved that position. It was a lot of fun. I thought we did great as a team. We made it to state my junior year.”
Q: What is your top memory from your high school volleyball career?
FELKER: “I would say winning the district final game against Bennington [in 2018].”
Q: How did things go for you in basketball?
FELKER: “I played basketball because my friends were doing it. But I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be, so I just decided to be a manager [her last two years of high school].”
Q: How much fun did you have being a student manager?
FELKER: “It was pretty fun. I still got to hang out with everyone and go on all the trips.”
Q: Are you going to continue playing sports in college?
FELKER: “No, I’m not. I’ll probably play intramural sports in college, though.”
Q: How much are you going to miss competing in high school athletics?
FELKER: “A lot. I already miss it quite a bit. It was a lot of fun.”
Q: During high school, what was your favorite non-sports activity?
FELKER: “I really liked participating in student council because we did a bunch of fun activities all the time, and we always gave back to the school.”
Q: You were involved in National Honor Society. Talk about how important getting excellent grades are to you.
FELKER: “I’ve always put school first. I’ve always been very focused on my grades, so it was awesome getting into National Honor Society.”
Q: You said you were also part of Community Table. How rewarding was that, delivering meals to people?
FELKER: “It was really fun giving back to the community and helping people in need. It was very rewarding.”
Q: Talk about your plans now since you’re done with high school.
FELKER: “This summer I’m interning at a dentist office because I’m going to be going to school for dental hygiene. I’ll be going to the University of Nebraska at Omaha first for my pre-reqs, and then I’ll plan to go to UNMC to finish my dental hygiene degree. Then, hopefully, I’ll be able to come back to this area to work at a dentist office.”
Q: What got you interested in wanting to pursue dental hygiene as a career?
FELKER: “I’ve heard great things about it, and I feel like it would be a great fit for me.”
Q: Why did you pick UNO?
FELKER: “I’ve always wanted to go to a bigger school, and my sister also lives in Omaha. I kind of wanted to go out of my comfort zone a little bit.”
Q: Have you always lived in Alliance?
FELKER: “I lived in Grand Island until I was 5, and then we moved to Alliance.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in Alliance?
FELKER: “It’s nice because I know everybody here. It’s a tight-knit community, and everybody is very nice.”
Q: During your free time, what do you like to do for fun?
FELKER: “I like to go to the lake with my friends and family and hang out there for the day.”
Q: What’s your favorite lake to go to?
FELKER: “I like Angostura in South Dakota. It’s really big, and there’s a lot of cool things to do around there. Also, it has a big beach. It’s a lot of fun.”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
FELKER: “I like to read, and I go on bike rides.”
Q: What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
FELKER: “Probably ‘Looking for Alaska’ by John Green.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Alliance community.
FELKER: “Jon and Sandra Sperl. They’re always donating and giving time back to the community. They’re great people.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
FELKER: “I think Chimney Rock is pretty cool. It’s really pretty.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at Alliance High School?
FELKER: “I would say Peyton Kindred. She’ll be a sophomore. She always has a positive attitude and is always smiling and making people feel better. She’s just so nice.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
FELKER: “La Villa.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
FELKER: “A burrito.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
FELKER: “Country.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
FELKER: “Friends.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
FELKER: “Give back to the community.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Alliance, which one would it be and why?
FELKER: “Carter’s. It’s a hardware store, and they just expanded this year. They’re a family-owned business. They’re great people.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
FELKER: “I have an older sister, Kami (21). She’s going to nursing school in Omaha. I also have an older brother, Cole (25), who lives in Columbus with his wife and daughter.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865.
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
