University of Texas Hooks Both HPHS Blanket Winners
The University of Texas will receive two of the best and brightest in Highland Park High School’s Class of 2013.
At Senior Honors Day on May 30, Kathryn Stouffer and Will Vanderstraaten were presented with the Blanket Award for exemplifying the four pillars of the National Honor Society: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Stouffer and Vanderstraaten each maintained an average GPA of 4.26, were officers on the Student Council, played varsity sports, and volunteered for more than 1,100 hours of community service.
They were also humble when accepting the award.
“I love this school,” Vanderstraaten said. “I’ve had a great time, and I’m very honored to win this award.”
Stouffer, the daughter of Jeffrey and Gayle, will be in the Plan II Honors program at UT, where she wants to study nutrition. She plans to spend her summer interning at Children’s Medical Center.
Stouffer also received the Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger Leadership Scholarship at the Senior Honors ceremony. She was involved in the swim team, an officer in the ASTRA service club, and graduated in the top 10 of her class.
“I could never choose a single favorite memory,” she said, “but one of my favorites, I know it sounds cheesy, were the pep rallies senior year. It was so fun to have the Scotsmen in your grade.”
Vanderstraaten, the son of William and Mimi, also received the Silver “H” Award, the 550 Award for outstanding commitment to community service, the Kellis G. White Scholarship, and graduated cum laude. He was an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, co-president of the Young Republican’s Club, and played football.
His summer plans include traveling to Europe with friends, spending time with his family, and attending summer school at UT — where he will be in the business school.
Stouffer and Vanderstraaten both the cited Student Council as one of their favorite extracurricular activities thanks to John Hinton, the teacher sponsor.
“He really cares about the students,” Stouffer said, “and being a good example for us.”
