JEFF FIELDER Editor
HEMINGFORD – Becca Hanson, who just completed her junior year at Hemingford High School, is this week’s First State Bank Female Student of the Week. She’s involved in National Honor Society, One Act, Three Act, speech, cheerleading, band, FCCLA, and Student Council. She’s also involved in the Methodist Youth Foundation, a Wednesday youth group at United Methodist Church in Hemingford, and she also participates in the community Christmas play every year. She also serves as a volunteer during fair week. Her parents are Josh and April Hanson.
Q: You’re involved in a lot of activities. Which activity is your favorite?
HANSON: “My favorite activities are the drama activities. It’s kind of nice being able to get up on stage and not be afraid to not be exactly who you are because no one is going to sit there and laugh at you. If they do laugh at you, it’s because you’re intentionally being funny.”
Q: Has acting always been a big part of your life?
HANSON: “It’s kind of always been that way. I moved to Nebraska when I was about 5, and I started with community Christmas plays when I was about 6 or 7. Then in junior high and high school, I started doing drama and theatre.”
Q: Do you plan to keep doing drama and theatre beyond high school?
HANSON: “When I look at colleges, I try to make sure that they have some sort of theatre program. I don’t necessarily want to grow up to be an actress or a director, but I would like to be involved in some sort of play in college.”
Q: How excited are you to be involved in National Honor Society?
HANSON: “It’s a huge honor. It’s an amazing organization. Those kids are always smiling and making sure that everyone is having a good day, and they’re keeping up the positivity in the school. I think they’re great role models. I’m proud to be one of those role models for the younger kids.”
Q: How passionate are you about getting good grades?
HANSON: “I am very, very driven about grades. My parents have never really had to worry about checking on my grades because I stay on top of those things. I’m on track to being valedictorian of my class next year, and that’s not a spot I want to let go of. Also, I have really high hopes for the future, and I know that grades will really help me get there.”
Q: How excited are you for your senior year?
HANSON: “I am beyond excited for my senior year. I have a bunch of classes picked out for next year. I like to say that I’m practically going to be a college freshman next year because of all the college classes I’m taking. I’m sad that high school is going to end, but I’m really excited for my next adventure, too.”
Q: What’s been the highlight of your high school career so far?
HANSON: “The highlight of my high school career would probably be making it to state speech this year. This was my first year going to state speech.”
Q: What was that experience like?
HANSON: “It was crazy. I was the only one from my team who made it, so it was really weird not having the others there with me. My best friend does speech, too, and it was the first speech meet that I’ve ever done without her, which was absolutely nerve-wracking. But I also had a bunch of family that was there to support me, and I kind of knew that [her best friend] was there in spirit. … It was an amazing experience, especially seeing how people from the other side of the state do their speeches.”
Q: What would you like to do for a career?
HANSON: “I plan to be a pharmacist.”
Q: What college do you hope to attend?
HANSON: “I’m hoping to attend Wayne State College, and then from there, if I get accepted into Wayne’s RHOP program, I will attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed living in Hemingford?
HANSON: “It’s been amazing. It’s fun because you know everyone. You walk through town, and you see people waving when you’re driving, and you smile at everyone on the street. You don’t have to be afraid of anything. I can take a walk around town and know that I’ll be OK, and if anything does happen, there are plenty of people around who will help me.”
Q: Who would you say is the kindest person at Hemingford High School?
HANSON: “That’s a tough one because there’s so many nice people. But for me, I think the nicest person I’ve met at Hemingford High School is probably my best friend, Rashell Neefe. I know I’m really biased on this because she’s my best friend, but she really helps to pick people up when she sees that they’re down. She’s never rude to anyone.”
Q: Which teacher has had the biggest influence on you?
HANSON: “Her name is Mrs. Shelly Smaha. She was my seventh through ninth grade English teacher. She would always encourage me to always do my best, and she definitely made sure that I was doing my best. She’s just been really helpful in everything. If I ever needed any papers checked over before I turned them in for something, she was more than willing to go through them and help me because she knows that I always want to put my best foot forward.”
Q: Name one person in your community who you feel deserves kudos for something?
HANSON: “I would say Janelle Visser. She’s part of a Panhandle Public Health group. She’s someone who you always see smiling around town, and she helps a lot with keeping kids active. We recently had our Walk to School Day, and she was there helping to provide snacks and helped with keeping the kids in line.”
Q: What’s the coolest place to hang out in Hemingford?
HANSON: “The coolest place to hang out in Hemingford would probably be the park. The park is just kind of a nice, open area, and it’s really well kept. It’s just a nice place to go and relax.”
Q: Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
HANSON: “I do. I have two sisters [Kayla Thomas, 23; and Danea, 16], and and one brother [Devan, 20].”
NOTE: Area high school students named Athlete of the Week or Student of the Week will be included in the upcoming issue of Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues), please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 60363, or call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 this month to Camp Scott. Nspire Today!, a locally owned and operated business based out of Scottsbluff, focuses on positive, feel-good and inspiring content on people in the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming.
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