Annaleah Ernst

Student Representative for the Board of Education

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

2011-2012

My fifth-grade Quest class on a field trip to Anchorage. I'm the tiny blonde one, second from the left.

For the very first year of my elementary education, I was home-schooled. After learning an appreciation for nature, creativity, the alphabet, and good behavior, I spent the next two years at a private school in Kenai (READS Primary). I was taught an excellent base in language arts and discipline before being shipped to an entirely different experience: public school. Nikiski Elementary as a third grader was different in virtually every way from my previous experiences. I quickly adapted a grew to love my new school. Sadly, my first year was Nikiski El’s last, so for fourth through sixth grade, I was sent to the newly named Nikiski North Star Elementary. Upon graduation from elementary school, I began to attend my current place of education: Nikiski Junior Senior High School. Here, I have maintained a 4.0 since seventh grade, and as a junior, am taking almost entirely advanced courses. Next year, I plan to spend the majority of my educational time taking jump start classes at the college.

I was Peter Pan last year in the Kenai Performers production. Flying was a lot of fun, even though it left some sore bruises!

For years, I played the clarinet and oboe. My schedule no longer allows me to have a band class, but I still like to dust off my oldclarinet on occasion. Instead of playing instruments in school, I am now singing as the alto section leader in choir. I have am alsopart of the North Road Pounders, moose-hide drum group. We have play for various dance performances and at the closing ceremony of the Arctic Winter Games. I am a member of the 4-H and Junior Market Livestock Program. This amazing program allows me to pursue any of my interests while helping me grow my agricultural skills. I have been involved in 4-H for four years, and I greatly enjoy working with such a wonderful community of people. I love art, be it drawn, painted, sculpted, crocheted, folded, or crafted. Much of my extremely limited free time is spent in the creation of pieces of art or practicality. I have a great passion for the theater, particularly musicals. I have been involved in the school performances since seventh grade, and I have been in the last two Kenai Performers Shows, getting the lead role in Peter Pan. I love spending time with my friends and largeextended family whenever they return from school or the states.

Digging a ditch the summer before highschool in Costa Rica with Habitat For Humanity.

The following record of my community service is a somewhat disjointed list; I have participated in a diverse group of volunteer activities. I have dug ditches with Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica. I have volunteered with Cook Inlet Keeper to raise awareness about the Kenai watershed and marine health. I have worked for the Red Cross sorting pennies. I have donated my hair to Locks of Love twice. I have raised money for Relay for Life and worked on a committee to help start a mini-Relay at my school. I have prepared and served for at the annual AFS foreign exchange student banquet. I have spent literal days of my life raking pits, calling names, and resetting bars at district track meets. I have been a timer at the State Wrestling Tournament. I have been a counselor at a children’s science camp. I have given public presentations through 4-H. I have picked up trash on the side of the road. I have volunteered at the animal shelter. I have helped to maintain the headquarters of the Timberlost Trumpeter Swam Conservancy. I have spent countless hours behind the scenes with the Nikiski High SchoolDrama Department. I have worked at the Ninilchick fair grounds. I spend many mornings in our school’s writing lab helping underclassman perfect their papers.

My first extracurricular of the year is cross country running. This is my second year participating in this extremely challengingsport, and I’m finally starting to enjoy it. I also perform in dance troupe as a principle dancer. This will be my fifth year with the troupe and I learn new things with every class. Student council is another significant draw upon my spare time. I was the Student Body Activities Director as a sophomore, and this year, I have taken up the mantle of Student Body President, a rare honor for a junior. I am the Drama, Debate, and Forensics (DDF) Team captain, and must spearhead fundraising tasks and help the team prepare for our statewide meets. We are one of only three teams on the Kenai Peninsula, and it is gratifying to be a part of such a fun and beneficial program.

This past summer, I was able to attend a National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC. In this picture, I'm with amazing student leaders from around the country.

I have received various academic awards for my 4.0 and advanced courses including student of the month, quarter, semester, and year in various classes, and an academic letter. I have also lettered in DDF. I scored extremely well on the PSAT, though I was not eligible for the National Merit Scholarship because I was a sophomore. Last summer, I was selected to attend a leadership conference in Washington, DC. There I learned many valuable skills and met with representatives from our state. I was on the Language Arts Curriculum committee last year because I care a great deal about my education and that of my peers. I was selected to be a part of Borough Honor Choir. I have received a variety of awards through 4-H, including ribbons for my artwork, the Herdsmanship award, grand champion chickens, and Master Smallstock Showman. I am a second year member of National Honor Society and consequently spend a great deal of time volunteering for various community events.

I am honored to be a part of this school board and look forward to serving the students of this district. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your questions, comments, or concerns at annaleah.ernst@g.kpbsd.org.