Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Thompson Falls High School (TFHS) students have been working hard this school year. A number of students have been nominated for several prestigious awards and scholarship opportunities for their dedicated time and valor. Jodi Morgan, TFHS Counselor, has shared the good news as she wishes to recognize the students.

A TFHS senior has been selected as the state winner for the High School Heisman Scholarship. The Heisman High School Scholarship is a national program that recognizes the country’s most esteemed high school seniors by celebrating and rewarding outstanding male and female scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories happen not only on the field, but also in their schools and communities, according to the Heisman Scholarship website. The program invites male and female students from across the country to share their stories of leadership and impact.

The High School Heisman program has selected TFHS seniors Megan Baxter and Justin Morgan, as the school winners. “Both are academically high achieving, tri-sport athletes, involved in community service and serve as positive leaders in our school,” Morgan said. “In addition, Justin Morgan has been selected as the state winner for the males and will receive a $750 scholarship.” According to Morgan, each state has only one female and one male winner that are chosen.

While all senior student-athletes are invited to apply, both Justin and Megan applied to the scholarship on their own accord. The only involvement TFHS has in the process is to confirm the student’s applications are accurate. “I served as a reviewer for Megan, while Jake Mickelson reviewed Justin’s application,” Morgan stated. “This is the first time we have had one of our students selected as the state winner.

The scholarship awarded to Justin will be used to help pay for college. “Justin plans to major in electrical engineering and run cross country and track at college,” Morgan said. While Justin hasn’t committed to a college yet, Morgan says he has narrowed his choices to Montana Tech, South Dakota School of Mines, or Carroll College. Sierra Sievers from Power, was the female state winner also representing Montana.

TFHS has selected Megan Baxter for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen School nominee. The DAR Good Citizen Award and scholarship contest was created in 1934, and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship, according to the DAR website. “This award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities.”

“TFHS has selected Megan Baxter for the DAR Good Citizen school nominee,” Morgan said. “Also selected by our faculty for Good Citizenship Awards are seniors Cody Burk, Justin Morgan, Josey Neesvig, Jasmine Pearson, Renee Pearson, and Riley Wilson.” Once a student is chosen as the DAR Good Citizen, they are invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program, which consists of a personal statement and an essay. “Once nominations were made, the faculty voted, and the student with the most votes was selected to represent our school for the DAR Good Citizens program,” Morgan said. “The rest of the students were honored with Good Citizen Recognition Awards.” Morgan continued, “Megan holds high standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character. The staff at TFHS respects and admires Megan Baxter for her outstanding achievements in academics and activities, and we’re proud to select her for the DAR Good Citizen program.”