Sean C. Morgan
Seniors Megan Hager and Nich James were named Sweet Home High School’s Junior First Citizens on Sept. 27.
They will attend a Rotary Club dessert held in Albany on Nov. 5 where a boy and girl will be named Linn County Junior First Citizen. The junior first citizens from Linn County’s eight high schools will ride in the 68h Annual Veterans Day Parade in Albany at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.
A committee of three staff members selected the junior first citizens following interviews about their academics, involvement in the community, civics and accomplishments.
Junior First Citizens each receive a scholarship.
Hager, 17, is the daughter of Sunhee and Mike Hager. She plans to attend Colorado State University where she will swim and study bio-medical science before going on to medical school. She plans to become an anesthesiologist.
James, 17, is the son of Gregg James and Cara Solomon. He plans to wrestle and, like Hager, study to become an anesthesiologist. He is considering Luther College or Montana State University. He also may apply to Stanford University.
“(Hager) exemplifies Husky pride through consistent demonstration of perseverance, respect, integrity, dependability and excellence,” said science teacher Michelle Snyder in a nomination letter. She challenges herself in a variety of advanced courses, and “she always impresses me with her hard work and consistent push to be the best she can be.”
During the summer, Hager participated in an internship with Snyder at Oregon State University’s Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, where they spent three weeks learning about the current research taking place in the lab and then adjusting that research to a high school-appropriate lab activity for Snyder’s classroom wave tank.
Hager also helped Snyder write a grant application based on their work during this research with the hope of securing Vernier probes and sensors for Snyder’s classroom.
“During this three-week time period, Megan exhibited poise among college researchers, the ability to problem solve in laboratory situations and demonstrated her advanced writing and editing skills,” Snyder said. “Megan is a stellar academic and is a dedicated athlete.”
She has been a state contender in swimming and track throughout her high school career, Snyder said. She competes in a swim club and is working to secure her place on a Division I college swim team.
“I hold the highest expectations for my college preparation classes, and Megan has exceeded them countless times,” said science teacher Harrison Neal in a nomination letter. “Megan is never afraid to ask questions, but her questions are always well thought out and complex, striving for deeper understanding than the class standards.”
Her passion for school is outweighed only by her passion for swimming, Neal said. She has set multiple school records during her time at SHHS.
She also has done outreach in her community, he said. She has been an active member of the Youth Watershed Council and other organizations, including volunteer and community service hours to help provide services, education and enrichment to the Sweet Home community and youth.
“Megan’s future is bright,” Neal said. “With her sights set on a pre-med track at a four-year university, she wants to use her academic success and passion for science to help others in her community and beyond.”
Math teacher and wrestling coach Steve Thorpe nominated James.
“I got to know him when he started in junior high wrestling,” Thorpe said. “I have had the pleasure of watching him grow, being around him at school and through wrestling on our many trips around the country.
“Nich can best be described as a worker and a doer. He works with tireless effort to achieve his goals. He is a leader in school and always willing to do what he needs to do to make Sweet Home High School a positive place to be.”
He doesn’t always lead with a loud voice, Thorpe said, but rather by actions and example.
“As a wrestler, Nich has worked with the younger kids in the mat club and on the team and has been instrumental in our team’s success,” Thorpe said. He has many accomplishments. He is a folkstyle state placer, once as a finalist. He is a multiple freestyle and Greco state placer, a conference champion and a member of the Oregon National Teams.
He helped lead the Huskies to a 4A wrestling title in 2017, a third-place finish in 2018 and a second-place finish in 2019.
“He has had to work for all of his success,” Thorpe said. “None has come easy, yet he has continued to work. Because of his work ethic and dedication, Nich has established himself as ‘that guy’ around our school, and he is a leader both on and off the mat.”
Academically, he is on track to be a Class of 2020 valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA in all honors and college prep courses, Thorpe said. He recently scored 1,390 on the SAT, without a calculator because it had broken.
It has qualified him for many scholarships and opportunities, Thorpe said, but he isn’t satisfied and is retaking the tests this month.
“Nich works very hard at being the top in all of his classes,” Thorpe said. “He has been working toward college to study anesthesiology and compete in wrestling. He is not afraid of the challenges in front of him, but rather he is embracing those challenges.
“Where Nich excels most is as a young man of character and integrity. Nich James is the kind of person that you would be proud to call your own.”
“I am grateful, and I’m glad to be given the opportunity to represent my school and community,” Hager said of the award.
“I was really thankful to be able to represent the school,” James said.