JEFF FIELDER Editor
TORRINGTON – Alissa Greene, a senior at Torrington High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Female Student of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank. She has a 3.8 GPA. Her parents are Don and Karen Greene.
Q: How important is it to you to maintain excellent grades?
GREENE: “It’s pretty important, especially to be able to get college scholarships.”
Q: How challenging has it been to maintain such a high GPA?
GREENE: “It hasn’t been that hard.”
Q: For you, what’s been the key to achieving success in school?
GREENE: “I think taking college classes because we get a little grade bump at the end of the semester for those classes. It helps your GPA.”
Q: Up to this point, what has been your top academic achievement?
GREENE: “I think I’ve been on the gold honor roll every semester since middle school.”
Q: When you came into high school, did you have any specific academic goals?
GREENE: “Yes, I wanted to excel in math. I doubled in math my freshman year so I took Geometry and Algebra II.”
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
GREENE: “Probably English. It’s a college class. We write a lot of papers. I like it because we’ll read articles and then we’ll have discussions in class. I like talking about the articles and being able to debate topics.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you think has made the biggest influence on you?
GREENE: “Mr. [Brian] Harms. He teaches math. I had him my freshman and sophomore years, and I’m his teacher’s assistant this year. He’s always willing to help you if you have an issue, whether it’s academically or even outside of school. Also, he has different ways to explain things if you don’t understand something the first time. He’s very patient with you.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
GREENE: “I think I’m going to go to EWC and get my generals and figure out what I want to go into.”
Q: What types of careers are you considering?
GREENE: “The medical field or behavioral health or teaching.”
Q: How much do you enjoy living in Torrington?
GREENE: “I like it. My cousins live in Philadelphia, and when I visit them, I’m always really glad to come home to Torrington.”
Q: What advice would you give younger students as far as how they can achieve success academically?
GREENE: “I would tell them to do what you want to at your own pace and don’t let people push you into something you don’t want to do. Also, be willing to take classes that you think you might not like because you might end up liking those classes.”
Q: Outside of school, what do you enjoy doing for fun?
GREENE: “I like playing with my animals, and I also like bike riding and weight lifting. I also like listening to music and playing the guitar.”
Q: What kind of animals do you have?
GREENE: “We have a dog and some cats.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
GREENE: “Right now, it’s ‘Person of Interest.’”
Q: What kind of music do you like listening to?
GREENE: “Pretty much anything.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Torrington, which one would it be and why?
GREENE: “Probably Java Jar because of their customer service. They’re good at what they do.”
Q: Do you work?
GREENE: “Yes. I work at the practice after-school program at Lincoln Elementary.”
Q: What are your duties there?
GREENE: “I help students with homework, and I’ll watch and play with them on recess. Sometimes we’ll do a craft activity, or they’ll play games or do a physical activity in the gym. We do that until their parents come get them. I enjoy it. They’re always happy, so they make you happy, too.”
Q: Name one person who you feel is a big difference-maker in the Torrington community.
GREENE: “I would say Jeff Halley. He coaches a lot of sports, and he’s a teacher, too. He’s very active in the community and does a lot of nice things for people.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
GREENE: “Probably just be more kind to people and help them out instead of looking down on them.”
Q: Who do you feel is the kindest students at Torrington High School?
GREEEN: “Onalise Albaugh. She’s a senior. She says hello to everybody in the hallway, even if she’s not close friends with them. She’s also part of student council and other activities. She’s always at all of the different school events.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
GREENE: “Yes – Elizabeth [22].”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Students 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. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in December to the Veterans and Military Families Emergency Relief Organization.
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.
