October Student of the Month - Annie Ochs
Our Student of the Month for October 2012, Annie Ochs, is a Lowell Whiteman School senior. For the past four years, Annie has grown as a student and a skier. When Annie entered LWS as a freshman, she recognized right away that the work in her classes was more challenging than she had experienced in middle school. At first, she was concerned that she would not be able to meet these new expectations. Throughout the year, however, she assessed her performance and found ways to work harder, manage her time better, and improve in all areas. By the end of the year, Annie had earned her way onto the Headmaster’s List, and she never looked back.
In the classroom, Annie is a true scholar. Simply put, Annie loves to learn, particularly when the information is practical. For example, in her Advanced Placement Environmental Science class, Annie was drawn to the discussions about alternative energy sources and environmental policies. In fact, her love of environmental studies is informing her college choices. Annie wants to study environmental engineering so that she can contribute to finding solutions for environmental issues. In her spare time, Annie even reads articles about the projects that environmental engineers are working on so that she keeps informed about the field.
This past summer, Annie secured an internship with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory near her house in Crested Butte. She worked with a Dartmouth professor to study the population decline of bees and its connection to climate change and plant adaptation. Annie spent time both in the lab and in the field gathering data. When she returned to school in the fall, Annie was passionate about her love of science, her excitement about learning, and her enthusiasm for the practical nature of research and scientific study.
As a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club alpine ski team, Annie has dedicated herself to working during the ski season and in the off season to become the strongest competitor that she can be. When Annie narrowly missed the J2 Nationals during her sophomore year, she had a mission. She followed a rigorous dryland training program during the summer, and she set her sights on excellence during the season. For the month of February, Annie traveled with five girls from her team and her coach to Europe to race. Although she missed several qualifying races, Annie still made the J2 Nationals and was proud of her performance there. Annie’s dedication to getting better each and every day and dedicating herself to achieving her goals allows her to succeed as an athlete.
Although she has a full plate with all of the time and energy that she dedicates to her academics and athletics, Annie is passionate about addressing teen issues in Steamboat Springs. While Annie has spearheaded initiatives such as the volleyball tournament that attracted sixty teens and the campaign to raise teen awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, her most meaningful contribution came through her work to pass an ordinance that addressed teen use of non-cigarette tobacco products. Annie worked for a year collecting signatures for a petition, gaining local support, and presenting the goal to the City Council. In the end, the City Council approved the ordinance that includes an annual fee to make it more expensive and more difficult for teens to access tobacco. Annie values the opportunity that Teen Council gives her to directly influence the lives of teens in Steamboat Springs.
Annie is a dedicated student, athlete, and community member. Her love of learning, her desire to push herself, and her interest in contributing to the world around her distinguish her. Annie is always looking for the next passion, the next challenge, the next opportunity to learn and grow, which makes her an integral part of the Lowell Whiteman School community.