Discus Award Winner
Winners Gallery
Madison Riley
12th Grade, FL
ATTRIBUTES
Community Service
Many people think of helping others as a task. Not necessarily a burden, but something that in many cases requires extrinsic motivation. For me, serving my peers and getting involved in my community is a hobby. Growing up in a christian home with weekly youth group activities, I am no stranger to assisting those less fortunate than I. My junior year of high school, I took my passion to serve to a whole new level. After learning about devastating wars in Northern Uganda, I founded, and am currently president of a club at my high school seeking to raise money and awareness for child soldiers in Africa. We raised over $1200 within a month, and that was only our first year. I am also actively involved in the leadership program at my school; as Class Leader I get to oversee my class's projects.
Faith
My faith is a huge part of my life, my views, and most of all who I am. I grew up in a Christian home; specifically the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons. I attend church every Sunday and youth group every Wednesday night, and often more youth activities on the weekends. I love the close- knit community my church offers me, and I love the consistency of my religion. Having moved 11 times in my 17 years, I am still amazed that no matter where I go, I know I can find a wonderful group of people who share the same values and beliefs as me. I love that my Faith answers so many of my questions, and I can honestly say that I would be lost without these answers. I am so grateful and blessed to have grown up with this enlightenment, and I love it.
Athletics
Most have my friends have one or two activities which they dedicate all their time and attention to in order to excel at. I, on the other hand, want to do it all. This isn't to say that I don't excel at what I do; I just don't stop at one or two activities. My freshman year I played tennis in the fall and JV softball in the spring. Sophomore year I continued with tennis, year- round. Junior year I added a new sport to my collection: Diving, and the accompanying swim team, as well as continuing with tennis. This year, my senior year, I am the dive team captain, swim with the swim team, am taking weightlifting as a class and will compete with the weightlifting team in season, as well as tennis yet again and I'm hoping to join the track team for high jump. I love my healthy lifestyle.
