JEFF FIELDER Editor
LINGLE, Wyo. – Gage Correa of Torrington, a senior at Lingle-Ft. Laramie High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Student of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank. He participates in football, basketball, baseball, and student council. His GPA is 3.75. His parents are Mario and Brandi Correa.
Q: How has your senior year of school been going?
CORREA: “It’s been going great. I’ve been having fun. My favorite part of my senior year was basketball. It was really fun this year.”
Q: How did things go in basketball?
CORREA: “We did all right. We made it to the state tournament, which was a lot of fun. I was glad I had a chance to play with this group of guys.”
Q: Talk about your role on the basketball team.
CORREA: “My role was to play good defense.”
Q: How important is getting excellent grades to you?
CORREA: “School is very important to me. I think it’s important to further my education because I want to be an elementary school teacher.”
Q: Has it been very challenging for you to maintain a high GPA while participating in multiple activities?
CORREA: “Not really. The teachers are really good at my school about helping me, and I think I’ve done a good job of balancing my school work with my sports.”
Q: How excited are you about graduation?
CORREA: “I’m very excited about it. I’m ready for college.”
Q: Has this been a pretty challenging time for you and your senior classmates because of the COVID-19 outbreak?
CORREA: “Yes, it has. There’s a lot of uncertainties right now, with prom being one of them. Hopefully, we’ll still have it. It’s the same with graduation. I’m hoping – and I’m sure all my peers are hoping, too – that we have an actual graduation.”
Q: What’s been your favorite class this school year?
CORREA: “My favorite class this year is American History. I love the teacher. His name is AJ Gross. He’s a real fun guy. He makes the class fun, and he takes the time to help us learn.”
Q: How much do you enjoy being part of student council?
CORREA: “I’ve been in student council since my freshman year. This year I was awarded the Hidden Hero award, and I was also named all-state student council, which is something I value very much. I appreciate receiving it. What I do [in student council] is help organize school-related functions, such as pep rallies and stuff like that. Also, we’ve done a bunch to help with the community. Like last year, we did a food drive, and that was pretty fun. Also, in the past we’ve helped senior citizens with technology.”
Q: Explain a little more what the Hidden Hero award is.
CORREA: “The Hidden Hero award is an award that is voted on by your council for a member that doesn’t always get the recognition that he or she deserves. Receiving that award was really cool for me. I had never really received an award like that before. I really appreciated it.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
CORREA: “I plan to attend EWC and get my generals there, and then from there, I’ll get my [bachelor’s degree in education].”
Q: Why did you decide to start at EWC?
CORREA: “It’s close to home, and it’s pretty affordable. They set you up pretty good with scholarships.”
Q: What led you to want to become an elementary teacher?
CORREA: “Well, I’m pretty good with kids, and I also want to coach kids. I think it’s a good field to get into.”
Q: As an elementary school teacher, what do you look forward to stressing to your students?
CORREA: “I’m going to tell them that it’s always good to help out in the community, and I would also like to stress to them the importance of being kind to everyone.”
Q: Are you excited to start college, or are you a little sad that high school is almost over?
CORREA: “It’s a little bit of both. It’s bittersweet. I’m going to miss high school. It was a lot of fun, but I’m ready for college.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed going to Lingle-Ft. Laramie schools?
CORREA: “It’s great. It’s a little community. Everybody knows everybody. I love it.”
Q: After you graduate from college, do you hope to move back to the Goshen County area to teach?
CORREA: “I think it would be cool to teach in Goshen County, but I’m open to anything.”
Q: Even though you can’t go to school right now, are you still staying pretty busy with school?
CORREA: “Yes, school is keeping me pretty busy. I’m enrolled in a few online college classes, so that kind of takes up a lot of time.”
Q: Do you have any big plans for this summer?
CORREA: “I was planning on going on a big graduation trip to Mexico [in May], but we’ll see if that happens. I was also planning to play baseball [for the Torrington Tigers], but we’ll see how that goes.”
Q: Out of all the sports you compete in, which one is your favorite?
CORREA: “Baseball. I’ve been playing baseball since I was really little. It’s kind of a family sport. A lot of my family members have played baseball, and I just love being out there.”
Q: What is your favorite professional baseball team?
CORREA: “The New York Yankees.”
Q: Who is your favorite professional player?
CORREA: “Derek Jeter, when he played.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
CORREA: “I enjoy all kinds of music, but mostly country.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
CORREA: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Q: What are your three favorite apps on your cell phone?
CORREA: “Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.”
Q: What is something you wish people would do more of?
CORREA: “I wish people would be more kind to other people.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
CORREA: “Fort Laramie.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
CORREA: “Lira’s [in Lingle]. It’s food that I grew up on. They make amazing food.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
CORREA: “I like to order the enchilada dinner.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at Lingle-Ft. Laramie High School?
CORREA: “I would have to say Cooper Hill. He’s a junior. He’s an out-going guy, and he’s always looking out for people. He’s a good guy.”
Q: Name one person who you feel is a big difference-maker in your community.
CORREA: “I would say Erin Estes. She’s my student council advisor, and she’s always doing something for the community. She’s always helping out when she can.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
CORREA: “I have a little brother. His name is Kane. He’s 9.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Student 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.
