20 UNDER 20
introduces you to this year’s 20 Under 20. You’re looking good!
compiled by Lissa Carlson , Kendra Arch & Helen Kirch
photos by Savanna Westbrook, Endless Images Photography (unless otherwise credited) Meet 20 local young superstars, all under age 20 when they made our community proud by going above and beyond in very different, yet equally inspiring, ways. They each give us their best parenting advice for raising our own superstars. The recurring wisdom they offer is invaluable.
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Coulee Parenting Connection • 11
20UNDER20
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Katherine Burelbach
Contributed photo
Advice for parents:
Let kids do what they love and support them in it.
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Katherine spent the summer in New York City completing the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet (GKA) pre-professional program. Among an impressive list of acclaimed artists, teachers, and ballerinas, Katherine even works with the famous ballerina, Gelsey Kirkland.
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Senior, Central High School
Namthip Nilawong
Senior, Viroqua Youth Initiative High School
Namthip lost most of her family in the Asian tsunami of 2004. Raised in an orphanage in Thailand, she embraced the opportunity to study in America in spite of knowing no one and very little English. Three years later, she is on the cusp of graduating and continuing with a college degree. Her strength in carving out a bright future against all odds is an inspiration to all.
Advice for parents:
I think parents should be open with kids, treat them like a friend, give them good advice but don’t always tell them what to do. Be a good example for them, and be a reasonable parent.
Gavin Sowa
4th grade, North Woods Elementary School
Gavin has been a tour guide at the Kane Street Community Garden for four years. He also performs nearly every job the garden offers, including helping prepare the new children’s garden. His grandmother says he is a loving and compassionate boy with a great sense of humor.
Advice for parents: Parents should be wise and treat their children gently… and give lots of chocolate!
Taylor Edwards
6th grade, Onalaska Middle School
Taylor is an all-around star. From coordinating her school’s annual food drive to representing her school in a fundraiser as a “Smarter than a 5th Grader” contestant, she recognizes the value of community contributions and kindness.
Advice for parents: 12 • Back to School 2013
Always remind your children how fortunate they are.
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Joe Vandermus
Senior, Onalaska High School
Not only is Joe a dedicated athlete, but an outstanding teammate on the Wave Swim Team. Head coach, Annie Ryder, says he encourages and coaches the team’s youngest swimmers, proving he’s not only an excellent swimmer, but also an excellent role model.
Advice for parents:
Show your kids how amazing and great Jesus’s love is for them and simply spend time with each child. My advice is to follow God’s advice which He provides through His word.
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Coulee Parenting Connection • 13
20UNDER20
John Divney
Senior, Aquinas High School
John started dancing when he was 6 years old. As a male dancer, he sometimes experienced ridicule of his dance talent, but took it in stride and remained dedicated. His payoff? This December, he will be the first high school student to dance the role of Nutcracker Prince in the La Crosse Dance Centre’s “Nutcracker Ballet.”
Advice for parents:
I would encourage all parents to not give into society’s stereotypes about what boys and girls are supposed to do. A child’s dreams and aspirations are the purest form of their strongest desires, but their confidence in these dreams is fragile when they are young. When your child hopes to become something other than what society says is normal, nurture that hope, and watch your child come alive.
Kaleb Kidd
3rd grade (transferring from Irving Pertzch to Sparta School District)
Last Mother’s Day, Kaleb witnessed as a lawn mower backed into his 3-year-old brother. He helped his older brother go through the yard to find the toes. “He is such a strong and amazing boy,” his mother, Courtney Schroeder says. “He blamed himself for the accident, but we assured him that he saved his brother.”
Kaitlin Volten
Freshman, UW-Madison
Kaitlin organized a project that offered personalized prayer shawls to hospice residents. Her efforts earned her a Girl Scout Gold Award.
Advice for parents:
Encourage your kids to pursue whatever they wish to do, and support them wholly in their endeavors.
Ben Smith
8th grade, Lincoln Middle School
Karen Solv erson, Va lley Vision s Photogra phy
Work together as a family.
Photo cre dit:
Advice for parents:
Ben tickles the ivories like no other 12 year old in the Coulee Region. He’s won his division at the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association’s State auditions multiple times. Last year, he tackled the third movement of the Haydn Concerto in D for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony for Youth concert.
Advice to parents:
My advice to parents with children taking music lessons is to make practicing as much fun as possible by giving rewards, making music a family activity, and not putting on too much pressure. Sometimes I was ready to quit because I didn’t feel like practicing or was really frustrated, and then my parents would usually let me take it easy for a while, or they’d turn it into games, or just try to help me out a lot. Then it would eventually get better and I’d be back to enjoying it.
14 • Back to School 2013
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Contributed photo
Tevy McKee
5th grade, Wyeville Elementary School, Tomah
Tevy organized a fundraiser for the students of Moore, Okla., after the May tornadoes devastated the area. Tevy once lived not far from Moore, and raised $100 for the cause. Principal Marlon Mee says, “Not many 4th-grade students would undertake a task like this.”
Advice for parents:
My best advice to parents would be to keep your kids and family involved in the community. Projects like cleaning up parks or volunteering at a shelter. Teach your family that helping others makes you feel good inside.
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Coulee Parenting Connection • 15
20UNDER20
Janie Felton
Senior, Viroqua High School
For four years, Janie has been the team captain for her own Relay for Life team, which has earned her Bronze Sponsor status. She started the team for her grandfather and a late teacher, Judy Olson. In addition, Janie is an accomplished musician, playing an assortment of instruments, including violin, guitar, piano, banjo, and mandolin.
Advice for parents: Contributed photo
Challenge your kids and foster their curiosity. Also, empower them to explore and pursue what they are passionate about. Having an outlet, whether it’s creative, analytical, or purely humanistic, is a great way to develop a strong sense of self while also helping others.
Tony Modtland
Junior, Logan High School
Tony was nominated by the Boys & Girls Club for his star attitude. In spite of losing his father and moving from home to home, he recognizes his potential as a leader and looks forward to living a life of success in spite of his past.
Advice to parents:
Sophomore, Aquinas High School
Efer moved to the Coulee Region from Peru when he was 7 to have surgery for a vascular malformation of his face. His adoptive parents have seen him through countless surgeries and treatments since then. They say the most amazing part of his story is that his birth parents selflessly allowed him to be adopted so that he could get the medical care he needs. He is a swimmer and a 2012 semi-pro logrolling champion.
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Efer Christopherson
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Never underestimate the power of three words… I love you. Through good times and bad, it’s important for your kids to know that you love and support them.
Advice for parents:
Parents give you good advice and lead you to a great future. From the beginning to end they are always there for you.
Lindsay Schmidt
6th grade, Longfellow Middle School
stay strong and love life!
16 • Back to School 2013
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Advice for parents:
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Lindsay served as a 2012-13 Hospital Hero for the Children’s Miracle Network, raising awareness and funds to support the organization. She was born more than 13 weeks early and spent 77 days in the NICU. She realizes how lucky she is to be here and cares deeply about helping other kids in need. If your child is born with disabilities or born early, just remember to
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Luke Eber
Freshman, UW-Madison
In spite of breaking his foot, femur, tibia, and then his knee during his high school career at Central, Luke went on to play football his senior year. “Overcoming adversity has become quite common for me over the last few years of my life,” he says. “However, the choices that come with handling adversity are what truly define a person, and my parents have been there every step of the way, giving me the support and trust I need to make the outcome of these obstacles extremely positive.” Luke returns that support; his mother is confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis.
Advice to parents:
Never restrict your child’s choices in life. Successful parenting is when your young adult is passionate about making healthy life choices and doing the right thing, not because that’s what their parents want, but because that’s what they want for themselves.
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Coulee Parenting Connection • 17
20UNDER20 Keegan Eide
Senior, Blair High School
Keegan’s unilateral hearing loss hasn’t stopped him from ranking in the top 25 percent of his class, as well as keeping active in football, basketball, track, theater, band, choir, and drum line. An exemplary young man, he has studied dance at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts for 10 years.
Advice for parents:
Do not enforce your personal views on a child. Present to them the facts of a certain situation and let them come up with their own educated opinions, rather than just follow the opinions of their parents or mentors. Also, to support them in everything they do, because in the end it will mean a lot to them.
Contributed photo
Andrew Hoeft
Senior, UW-Whitewater
Between his sophomore and junior years of college, Andrew took an idea he had while working at Festival Foods in La Crosse and turned it into a company, Pinpoint Software. The company, now based in Whitewater, offers Date Check Pro to help grocery stores manage expiration dates. It’s used by more than 30 grocery stores nationally.
Advice for parents:
One of the best things my parents did for me was to let me be a dreamer. I constantly had crazy business ideas, including a strawberry patch and an ice cream shop called Hoefty Scoops. They always encouraged me to keep dreaming as well as continually pushed me to work harder so someday I would be able to achieve those dreams. I would certainly not be where I am today without them.
Sheridan McCoy
Junior, Aquinas High School
Sheridan was nominated by Kristina Smaby-Schoh, who says she’s known Sheridan since she was about 7. “She’s always been a charismatic, ambitious, and loyal young lady,” says Smaby-Schoh, who instructed dance to Sheridan. “She has a good heart at such a young age and I can’t wait for her to share that with the world as she ventures off to college and a career. She’s a product of what you get when you work hard and do it with passion.”
Advice for parents:
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It’s hard to give advice to parents when I’m not one myself. I know I have appreciated that my Mom and Dad have always asked what I wanted to do and supported me by helping to organize schedules, pointing out opportunities, and encouraging me to try new things.
Ashley and Alyson LaRue Freshman, Central High School
Photo credit
: The Studio
This dynamic duo organized a Kids Against Hunger drive, which to date has brought people together to package nearly 27,000 meals for those in need. Kids Against Hunger is a humanitarian food aid organization that works to feed starving children worldwide.
Advice for parents:
Support your kids in everything. As we get older, we make many more of our own choices and decisions, so we want you to give your truthful opinion and advice, yet support us with what we decide. It is your support and advice that means the most to us.
18 • Back to School 2013
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ENCHANTED FOREST
2013
Saturdays, October 19 & 26: 10 AM–2 PM A non-scary trick-or-treat hike where magical characters come to life. Hans Mayer, children’s musician, will perform. Tickets are available at the EcoPark starting October 1. Children $7; adults $3. Bring in this ad to receive 10% off tickets purchased on or before 10/16/13. Restrictions may apply. www.mhecopark.org .ZSJDL1BSL%St-B$SPTTF 8*t
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Presented by
Franciscan Healthcare
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Emily & Jessica Kupka Emily is 12 and Jessica is 10.
Last year, Emily & Jessica lost their older sister, Megan, to brain cancer after a six-year battle. The sisters maintained an inspirational and heartfelt CaringBridge website throughout that time. The family took up horseback riding after her death as a way to bond. However, earlier this spring, a serious fall from a horse left their mom hospitalized with months of recovery. They are an inspiring testament to living happily and positively through life’s most difficult times.
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Coulee Parenting Connection • 19
