By Kay M Roth
Scio High School senior Wyatt Briggs has done a lot in his young life. So much, in fact, that you might consider him a Renaissance man in the making.
He is an athlete – the 2008 Class 2A State Champion in the discus, co-captain of the Logger football team that advanced to the semifinals, and a member of the boys’ basketball team.
He is a scholar – his grade point average is a perfect 4.0, he is enrolled in both honors and advanced placement courses.
He is a leader – senior class president, a member of the school’s leadership class and a very active member of the Scio FFA.
He is a role model for younger students – he has been a counselor at Outdoor School for sixth graders from several area schools.
Now, he is also the winner of one of two inaugural $1,000 Qwest Scholarships. The first qualification for the Qwest scholarship was to be named the player of the game, a feat Wyatt accomplished during the Loggers semi final loss to eventual state champion Knappa.
In early November, Wyatt received a letter from Judy Peppler, Qwest president in Oregon, congratulating him on his player-of-the-game honor and informing him that he was eligible for the fall scholarship. He had just over one month to put together his application packet, which included two letters of recommendation and an essay on ways he has shown his leadership abilities.
His essay not only reiterated his leadership skills and the huge number of hours he put into those projects he was a part of, the essay also showed his passion for being a contributing member of his community.
“A leader,” his essay began, “is defined as a person who rules or guides or inspires others. They are respected by those who follow them. In my life, I have had the opportunity to become a leader in my school, on the sports field and in my community.”
Wyatt’s leadership skills have taken him from the playing field and classroom to the farm and camp. “On the athletic field I have been allowed the opportunity to be a captain and a leader.”
As a senior on the football team, Wyatt said he was a role model for younger players just beginning their high school athletic careers. He has performed well, earning letters in football, basketball and track.
In the classroom, Wyatt has excelled to the point of being a straight A student. He is a proud member of the National Honor Society. His performance in the classroom has made him a great example for his peers. Being an outstanding student, said Wyatt, “has earned me the respect as an academic leader.”
As part of his high school FFA career, Wyatt has earned his State Degree, the highest honor a state organization can give a member. Earning that degree meant a lot of hard work both in the classroom and on the family farm east of Scio. His market hogs consistently were awarded blue ribbons at the Linn County Fair and required, as Wyatt put it, “daily responsibilities for many months.” To earn that coveted State Degree, Wyatt also participated in the group’s leadership program, helped construct a new greenhouse at the high school and then helped raise plants for the group’s annual plant sale.
Being an Outdoor School counselor is more than just keeping tabs on the young charges in one’s cabin. Wyatt calls his time as a counselor at Camp Tadmor his favorite school-related community service activity. In addition to working directly with the students in the capacity as teacher, Wyatt and the other counselors act as role models, friends and even surrogate parents. “It’s a really great time.”
Wyatt is on course to become the Class of 2009 Valedictorian and he will once again be involved in Outdoor School. Dee and Vance Briggs of Scio are his parents.
