Wauzeka-Steuben names top seniors

Kelsey Kapinus has been named the valedictorian and Alexis Bird the salutatorian of the Wauzeka-Steuben High School graduating class of 2015.

Kelsey is the daughter of Bill and Lisa Wallin-Kapinus. She has been a very active, goal-oriented student throughout her high school career, earning academic honors all four years. In addition, Kelsey has earned four academic letters/pins for her excellence in the classroom. Kelsey has been actively involved in a number of extra-curricular activities over the past four years.

She has been a three-sport athlete throughout high school, participating in volleyball, basketball, and softball all four years and earning multiple varsity letters in each. Kelsey served as varsity football cheerleader for three years. She has earned numerous accolades for her athletic talent and commitment. She has been named to the Ridge and Valley All-Conference First Team in softball and to the Ridge and Valley All-Conference Honorable Mention Team in volleyball. She was named captain of her volleyball team.

Furthermore, Kelsey has been very active in numerous clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society and the Hornet Club; she is currently serving as president in both. She has also served as a PALS mentor for younger students in the district, participated on the Math Team, and is currently the co-editor of the yearbook. Additionally, Kelsey is a Silver Cord recipient as a result of volunteering her time to assist local organizations such as the Salvation Army, Wauzeka Lions Club, Wauzeka Summer Recreation Program, and the American Red Cross in their efforts to help others.

Kelsey plans to attend UW-La Crosse next fall to major in biology and then enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at UW-Madison. She would like to recognize her “entire family for their continuous support.” She would especially like to thank her parents, Bill and Lisa, for encouraging her to do her very best in everything she pursues.

Alexis is the daughter of Seth and Jessie Bird. She has also been actively involved in activities throughout her high school career while excelling academically. Lexi has achieved academic honors all four years, earning herself four academic letters/pins. During her junior year, Alexis was chosen by the Wauzeka-Steuben faculty and staff to represent the district at Badger Girls State. As a senior, Lexi was nominated by the faculty and staff as the DAR Good Citizen for the district.

She has participated in a variety of extra-curricular activities throughout her high school career, including volleyball, basketball, softball, and cheerleading all four years. Lexi has been recognized with a variety of honors and awards related to these activities. She was awarded a varsity letter in each and served as team captain in both volleyball and cheerleading. Additionally, she received All-Conference Honorable Mention in volleyball.

Lexi has been active in the Student Council and National Honor Society, where she has served in leadership positions as president and secretary/treasurer. Alexis has been a PALS mentor for younger students in the district and has been a member of both the Math Team and yearbook staff, serving as business manager.

Outside of school, Lexi is very involved in her community and church, serving as a church lector, catechism teacher aide, and algebra II tutor. Lexi also volunteers her time serving breakfast/dinner at her church and walking day care children to and from school. She is employed as a babysitter and at Timber Lane Coffee in Boscobel. She plans to attend Viterbo University next fall to major in psychology and then enroll in the psychology master’s program at UW-La Crosse. Lexi would like to recognize and thank her “mom and dad for being awesome and for pushing [her] to be the best that [she] can be every single day.”