JEFF FIELDER Editor
MITCHELL – Corbin Batt, a senior at Mitchell High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Student of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank. He participates in football, basketball, golf, FFA, FBLA, and he’s also a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Mitchell. His GPA is 3.75. His parents are Dale and Jenny Batt.
Q: How is your school year going?
BATT: “Pretty good. I’ve been pretty successful. I’m keeping my grades up.“
Q: Has this school year felt different to you because you’re a senior?
BATT: “School-wise, no, but my activities are a lot more meaningful this year since it’s my last year. I’ve been trying to make the most of every minute of every practice and every game.”
Q: Has this school year been going by fast for you?
BATT: “Yes, it’s been going by really fast.”
Q: You’re involved in a lot of activities. Which one do you enjoy the most?
BATT: “I probably enjoy FFA the most because I grew up in an agriculture family, and a lot of my family members were in FFA. Both of my parents were in FFA, and my brother was in it, and both sets of grandparents were in it. I enjoy it because I’m going into an agriculture-related field in college. FFA has helped prepare me for college.”
Q: How many years have you participated in FFA?
BATT: “This is my third year. I’m going for my state degree, which is the highest level degree you can get in FFA for the state. I’m also going to go for my American degree.”
Q: What is another activity you’re really passionate about?
BATT: “I love football, but last year I broke my thumb, and I played with a cast. This year I broke it again and tore a ligament off, so my whole hand was messed up. I had to have surgery. I was out for six weeks in a splint and another six weeks in a cast. I couldn’t do any activities for another three or four weeks. At the beginning of the basketball season, I had to tape my hand up, so it was kind of rough for a while.”
Q: How is your hand now?
BATT: “It’s good now, but I had to go through physical therapy to get the use back in my ligament and in my hand. I have about 95 percent of my strength back. I won’t ever have full use of it again, but it’s better than it was, so that’s good.”
Q: How did that injury happen?
BATT: “I got caught in practice by a [football] helmet, and it just ripped it right off the side of my hand.”
Q: How’s the basketball season been going for Mitchell?
BATT: “We’ve been doing pretty good. We’re better than we were last year power points-wise.”
Q: You have a 3.75 GPA. Talk about how important grades are to you.
BATT: “My parents were both pretty successful in high school – they always got good grades. I really care about my grades, too. I really put my heart into things because I don’t like to fail.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
BATT: “I plan to go to EWC in Torrington to become an agronomist. I’ll do that for two years, and then I also want to get a precision ag certificate, which is like GPS and field mapping in farming. The reason I want to do that is because in FFA I started doing an agronomy contest [his sophomore year], and that kind of sparked my interest [in agronomy].”
Q: Have you always lived in Mitchell?
BATT: “Yes, I have. My parents have a little farm in Mitchell. We farm about 100 acres, and my grandparents have a 700 head cow/calf operation by Agate Fossil Beds north of Mitchell. We always help them. So, we have quite a bit of stuff to do.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed helping on the farm?
BATT: “I love doing farm work. I also work for another guy [on a farm] east of Mitchell in my spare time in the summer. I like it out on the farm because it’s pretty desolate out there.”
Q: What have you enjoyed the most about growing up in the Mitchell community?
BATT: “I like that everybody knows everybody, and everybody supports you. Also, the Scotts Bluff County Fair is pretty fun.”
Q: What is your favorite class this school year?
BATT: “I would say my math class. I don’t necessarily like the work, but I like the teacher. We learn a lot, and he makes it fun.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
BATT: “I would say Mr. [Walker] Dobry, our woods and welding teacher. He came in my sophomore year, and we kind of helped each other out that first year. I kind of grew a bond with him, and now he’s one of my favorite teachers.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
BATT: “I like to ride motorcycles. My parents and I always go riding. Also, I go hunting quite a bit. I’m also kind of creative when it comes to metal fabrication. That’s something I’ve always loved to do.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
BATT: “Classic country, like Alan Jackson.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
BATT: “Blue Bloods.”
Q: What are your three favorite apps on your cell phone?
BATT: “BigIron, eBay, and Facebook.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
BATT: “I would say the Marketplace in Mitchell. They have pretty good Italian food. Their lemon chicken pasta is really good.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
BATT: “I would say be more willing to listen to other people’s ideas.”
Q: Who is one of the kindest students at Mitchell High School?
BATT: “I would say Jonathan Pieper. He’s always a jolly, kind soul. He always makes you smile and is willing to help anyone out.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Mitchell community.
BATT: “Mike Cotant, the chief of Mitchell police. He always stops and talks to us, whether it’s in the parking lot or in the cafeteria. He’s very friendly and wants to make sure everyone is doing OK.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Mitchell, which one would it be and why?
BATT: “Redz Bar and Grill. First of all, they have good food. Secondly, they always make sure you’re treated right.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
BATT: “Fort Robinson State Park. I’ve been there quite a few times.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
BATT: “I have one brother, Jesse Young. He’s 26.”
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.
