JEFF FIELDER Editor
MORRILL – Shandie Hess, a senior at Morrill High School, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Hess competed in volleyball and basketball (wing), and she was planning to compete in track and field this spring before the season was cancelled because of the coronavirus. Also in school, she participates in FFA (she’s an officer), FBLA, student council, and National Honor Society. Her GPA is 3.76. After she graduates from high school, she plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She wants to go into the medical field. Her parents are Tana and Shaun.
Q: How do you feel the basketball season went for the Morrill girls?
HESS: “I thought we had a really good season. There’s always going to be struggles, and we did have some bad games, but I thought we grew so much as a team, and I’m proud of how the season ended this year.”
Q: Was this your most enjoyable season as a basketball player?
HESS: “Definitely. We have a pretty hard program, and there’s a lot that goes into it, but I felt like I understood things a lot better this season.”
Q: Did you meet all of your personal goals this basketball season?
HESS: “I definitely did. Going into basketball, I didn’t really understand it. I wasn’t very good at it, for sure. I could have been better, but I’m definitely proud of what I did.”
Q: Out of all the sports you competed in, which one did you enjoy the most?
HESS: “It’s a tie between basketball and volleyball. Volleyball is the first sport that I felt like I really understood and got into. But I also really like basketball because of the family aspect of it. It’s like a whole different world sports-wise. It was really special.”
Q: How did the volleyball season go for you and your teammates last fall?
HESS: “I thought we did really good. We accomplished a lot, and we definitely improved. The seniors had a lot of fun in our last year.”
Q: What events did you compete in during the track and field season?
HESS: “This year I probably would have done the 4×800 and the 800. My freshman year I went to state in the 4×800, and I ran the two-mile.”
Q: How disappointed are you that this track and field season got cancelled because of the coronavirus?
HESS: “It was really disappointing because I had plans to work really hard this season and, hopefully, prove something.”
Q: What were your goals coming into the track and field season?
HESS: “I wanted to run the open 800 because the 800 is my favorite event. Also, I wanted my 4×800 team to compete a little bit better this year.”
Q: How much are you going to miss competing in sports?
HESS: “I’ll definitely miss it. I loved being part of the teams, and I loved having something to do after school.”
Q: What is your favorite non-sports activity at school?
HESS: “FFA. I love it because our ag teacher has really helped me understand things. I don’t have an agricultural background, but my teacher has done a really good job of making me feel like I can still be part of it. I was an officer for two years, and it was a lot of fun. It has a lot of team aspects to it as well. I would have been competing for my fourth year this year at state, and I got my state degree, which is a pretty big deal in FFA. It was a lot of fun, and I made a lot of memories.”
Q: What’s another activity at school that you really enjoy?
HESS: “I really enjoyed National Honor Society because it was an honor to be in the program. Also, we did a lot of good things in the program and helped a lot of people.”
Q: How important has it been to you to get excellent grades?
HESS: “School has always been super important to me. It helps set you up for the rest of your life. I’ve had a lot of fun and have made a lot of memories in school. Our teachers do a good job of making classes fun and interesting.”
Q: Has it been much of a challenge for you to keep your grades high while participating in a lot of activities?
HESS: “No, because I feel like I learned how to balance my time really well. It hasn’t been too stressful for me.”
Q: Have you always lived in Morrill?
HESS: “No, I haven’t. I’ve lived in seven states so far, but I’ve only gone to two different schools. I’ve been in Morrill since second grade.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in Morrill?
HESS: “I love Morrill. I think it’s such a good place to grow up because it’s a small town and you get to know everyone. It’s not like we have huge classes, so you really get to know everyone on a personal level. It’s a good place to grow up.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
HESS: “I like to hang out with my friends and go to the lake when it gets nice outside. I also like to go cruising like all the kids do on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
HESS: “I kind of listen to anything, but I have gotten super into older music.”
Q: What are your three favorite apps on your cell phone?
HESS: “Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
HESS: “I would say either ‘That ‘70s Show’ or ‘Friends.’”
Q: What’s the coolest place you’ve ever traveled to?
HESS: “I would say Hawaii, but I love Florida and California, too. I had a goal to go to every state before [college], but with the coronavirus, that kind of messed everything up. I have 13 states left to visit.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at Morrill High School?
HESS: “There’s a lot of them. We have a lot of great kids at Morrill. I don’t know that I could pick just one.”
Q: Which coach do you feel has made the biggest impact on you?
HESS: “I’d say Coach [Josh] Guerue because I feel like he’s the one who got me started in sports.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
HESS: “Ole in Scottsbluff, for sure.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
HESS: “I like to order the letter ‘D’ enchilada plate.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Morrill community.
HESS: “I would say Coach Guerue has made a big difference. I feel like he’s done a lot for the community. I also feel like Mr. [Craig] Hall has done a lot for the community, too. He was our assistant basketball coach, he teaches English, and he’s also the NHS leader. He’s done a lot to help everyone.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
HESS: “I do. I have three younger sisters [Brooklin, 14; Kinzley, 12; and Jazzlin, 10] and one younger brother [Daxton, 5].
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.
