Scottsbluff High School senior John Mentgen started singing and playing musical instruments as a child, and over the years, his hard work and love for music have helped him develop into one of the top performers in the state. But while Mentgen is excited about what he’s achieved as a performer, including being named the Fine Arts Male Student of the Year last year at SHS, what he’s most passionate about is using his talents as a performer to help uplift people, especially those with food insecurities.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Scottsbluff High School senior John Mentgen remembers getting the itch to play the guitar when he was about 3 years old.
“I begged my parents to buy me one,” he said with a laugh.
One Christmas morning, he finally got his wish.
“I was so excited when I saw that Santa had brought me a guitar,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to play it.”
At that point, he didn’t know anything about chords or finger placements on a guitar. But that didn’t stop him from trying to make music.
“I did what I could to play it,” he said. “I remember playing songs for my cats and dogs.”
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