JEFF FIELDER Editor
GORDON – Grace Anderson, a senior at Gordon-Rushville High School, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Student of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank. She participates in volleyball, basketball, track and field, National Honor Society, Mustangs Committed, GR Club, Medical Explorers, and the spring play. She also volunteers for different groups, including the Gordon Youth Basketball Association. She also tutors underclassmen for math. She has a 4.0 GPA. Her parents are Angela and Travis Anderson.
Q: How has your senior year of school been going overall?
ANDERSON: “It’s been going really good. The volleyball season was really fun, and I’ve been taking some upper level classes, which helps a lot.”
Q: How does it feel to have a 4.0 GPA at this point of your high school career?
ANDERSON: “I’m very proud of it because I’ve been working hard for it my whole high school career and even in middle school. I’ve always held myself to a high standard and have wanted to be the best I could be. I’ve always taken higher level classes to challenge myself. The fact that I’ve kept my grades up while doing that makes me proud.”
Q: What is your favorite subject in school?
ANDERSON: “Math and science.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
ANDERSON: “I would say my math teacher, Mrs. [Kacy] Heiser. I’ve known her since I was in elementary school. I’ve always talked to her, and she kind of helped me fall in love with math. She’s always made it fun.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
ANDERSON: “I’m going to attend Wayne State. I got into the RHOP program there. I’ll be majoring in medical lab science.”
Q: Why did you pick Wayne State?
ANDERSON: “Because of the RHOP opportunity and getting full tuition.”
Q: What would you like to do for a career?
ANDERSON: “I want to be a medical lab scientist, so I would work in a hospital in the lab.”
Q: How excited are you to graduate from high school?
ANDERSON: “I’m really excited to graduate. But with my family and my friends, I’m going to miss them a lot.”
Q: Up to this point, what has been the highlight of your academic career?
ANDERSON: “I would say getting into National Honor Society.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
ANDERSON: “Mostly play sports and also help my dad on the ranch.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
ANDERSON: “Today’s pop hits.”
Q: Do you have a favorite TV show?
ANDERSON: “Criminal Minds.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area?
ANDERSON: “Probably China House in Chadron. I really like Chinese food, and I like their buffet.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
ANDERSON: “I would say Fort Robinson State Park. My family goes there a lot. We like to go camping and just hang out and relax.”
Q: What’s the most exciting place you’ve ever traveled to?
ANDERSON: “Washington, D.C. I went there the summer after my eighth-grade year.”
Q: What are your thoughts about what’s going on with the COVID-19 outbreak?
ANDERSON: “I feel really bad for the people who are being affected by it. I wish I could do more. It’s just too bad it’s my senior year. I’m missing out on some things that I was really looking forward to.”
Q: Are you and your friends staying pretty calm about the outbreak?
ANDERSON: “Yes, we’re staying pretty calm because there’s no one close to us that has it. But we’re all still taking precautions.”
Q: Being a senior, what’s the worst part about this for you?
ANDERSON: “Just missing out on things I was looking forward to for a really long time and not knowing if I’ll get to do some of those things, like prom and graduation.”
Q: Has the outbreak given you a different perspective about anything, or has it taught you any life lessons?
ANDERSON: “Yes, it’s taught me to take advantage of any opportunities I have at the time and also to live in every moment.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in the Gordon-Rushville area, which would it be and why?
ANDERSON: “I would say Essence. It’s a flower shop. They handle all of our flowers for prom and homecoming, and they handle tuxes for kids for prom.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
ANDERSON: “Yes, I have a younger brother, Carter. He’s a freshman [at Gordon-Rushville High School].”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Students of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank, 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, students 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.
First State Bank has been a community bank for more than 80 years with locations in Scottsbluff, Gering and Colorado Springs. First State Bank’s new mortgage center has the convenience of applying online without giving up the personalized customer service people have come to expect. Visit www.fsbcentral.com to find out why when First State Bank says, ‘We’re Big on You,’ they mean it. Find First State Bank on Facebook at firststatebank1935.
