Spotlight on: Madelyn Collis
September 2026 Senior Student of the Month
The Student Council decides monthly student and teacher awards with a specific category each month. The category for September 2026 was “leadership” for both students and teachers.
The Senior Student of the Month awards go to two seniors per month who are nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-11.
The High School Teacher of the Month award goes to one teacher per month who is nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-12. All Teachers of the Month become eligible to become Teacher of the Year in June.
The September 2026 Senior Students of the Month are Madelyn Collis and Ace Boyd, and the September 2026 High School Teacher of the Month is Hollie Wolanski.
Below is a Q&A with Madelyn Collis.
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Q. What does being a good leader mean to you, and what qualities do you believe make someone a leader others want to follow?
A. Being a good leader means standing up for yourself and others. You use your voice to communicate to people in authority.
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Q. Tell us about a time when you stepped up as a leader to help someone, solve a problem or make a positive difference at school. What did you learn from the experience?
A. The time when I stepped up as a leader was actually today. I entered the choir room while Mrs. Matte was absent, and I saw that there was no sub coming, so I followed the sub plans, took attendance, taught them, answered and reviewed with them the music theory sheet they were assigned until an adult came. I learned from this experience to take action when things aren’t going as planned.
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Q. Who has influenced or inspired the way you lead, and what is something you have learned from that person?
A. Two teachers and leaders who inspired my way of leading are Mr. Watkins and Mr. John Krause – from Mr. Watkins, his delivery of expectation and instruction. From Mr. Krause, his passion and method of teaching.
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Q. How have you learned to balance leadership, academics, activities and your other responsibilities? What has that experience taught you about yourself?
A. I have learned to balance leadership, academics, cheerleading and all my musical activities through time management and being prepared every morning to be in three places at once every single day. You have to get used to not being home very often. It taught me how to work hard.
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Q. As you look beyond high school, how do you hope to use your leadership skills, and what advice would you give to other students who want to make a difference?
A. As I look beyond high school, I hope to use my leadership skills to direct choirs and musicals in schools and colleges. My advice to other students who want to make a difference is to show up, give respect, go the extra mile and take every opportunity you’re given. You never know what you’re missing out on.
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