Sweet Home High School senior Andrew Winslow was named Linn County Junior First Citizen last week.
The honor was given to one boy, Winslow, and one girl, Lauren Weerts of West Albany High School, during an Albany Rotary Club luncheon at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center on Nov. 3.
Winslow was selected, along with SHHS senior Jill Mahler, as Sweet Home junior first citizen last month. The county title was decided through an interview process.
“Andrew is the first Sweet Home Junior First Citizen in the last five or six years,” said teacher and activities adviser Michael Anderson.
Winslow said the competition was tough between himself and seven other boys.
“All of them were very, very qualified,” he said. “I honestly thought they would beat me. I was really surprised,”
The announcer walked across the front of the room, away from Winslow. Winslow thought then the award had gone to another.
“My heart dropped when he said ‘from Sweet Home,'” Winslow said.
Winslow credits his parents and the Sweet Home community for helping make him who he is today and being in a position to win this award.
“If I lived in any other town, I don’t think I’d be the same person, and I don’t think I’d be involved in as much,” he said. Knowing people, the ability to communicate and work with people throughout the community, “affects your whole life.”
SHHS Principal Pat Stineff said Winslow’s selection “really makes me proud.
“I thought we had a good chance this year. He’s an all-around great kid. He’s involved in a lot of stuff. He gets good grades. He’s more than that. He’s the kind of kid you’d like to have as your own.
“I’m sure it has everything to do with his family. His parents are good role models. His grandparents are involved in the community too. He’s just carrying that on. I have no doubt he’s going to be the same kind of person.
“He’s a real leader in this school.”
Anderson said Winslow is an excellent student body president, and noted he’s active in soccer, baseball and church.
“Andrew is not a leader because he likes to be heard or in the spotlight but rather because he conveys confidence; and others are willing to follow his example,” Anderson said.
He is academically motivated, carrying a 4.0 grade point average. And he hasn’t cut corners to get that GPA, Anderson said.
“He has taken the hardest classes Sweet Home has to offer.”
Winslow, 17, is the son of Keith and Brenda Winslow. His father, formerly principal at Oak Heights School, is now assistant principal at the high school.
Andrew Winslow is involved in activities and youth group at Community Chapel, where he has served as an usher and on mission trips to Mexico and Montana.
He is a four-year member of the varsity soccer team. He has played baseball for three years, playing varsity last year.
He also joined cross-country team members in running the Portland to Coast Relay last summer.
He enjoys hunting, fishing, playing the piano and hanging out with friends. He also likes to run.
Winslow plans to attend community college or a small Christian college for the basics after he graduates, then transfer to Washington State University to study biochemistry.
He wants to research diseases and develop vaccines and treatments, he said.