By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Holly Stene, the daughter of Paul and Laura Stene, is the 2020 salutatorian at NRHEG High School.
“I kind of expected to become Salutatorian,” says Stene, “because ever since ninth grade, many kids in my class kept track of who was where in terms of class rank.” Stene says she wasn't exactly working to become Salutatorian. “I was working more towards getting the best grades that I possibly could, and becoming Salutatorian kind of just came with that.”
Stene is methodical with study habits. “When I sit down to work on assignments, I make a list of everything that I need to work on,” says Stene. “Then I start working on finishing the things on my list. I usually finish the stuff that I can get done right away first, so I have less of a distraction when I am trying to work on bigger assignments.
“During the stay-at-home order, my school schedule really didn’t change much,” Stene continued. “Most of my classes are online college classes, so they did not change. The two classes that I did have at the high school were converted to online classes, but the transition was relatively smooth. I have actually been able to complete all of my weekly classes much quicker than I did before.”
Stene said her parents, teachers, and friends probably provided her with the most encouragement during her high school career.
Her extra-curricular activities included FFA, 4-H, 4-H ambassadors, PALS, Drama, Panther Press, Knowledge Bowl, Speech, Color Guard, Student Council, High School Ambassadors, National Honor Society and Reader’s Theater. “I was also a Teacher’s Assistant and a Vacation Bible School Crafts Teacher at the Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church,” says Stene.
Stene's favorite subject is history, especially European History, but she says it's hard to pick just one favorite teacher. “So many of my teachers have had a great impact on me,” says Stene. “My favorite teachers are Mrs. Bently, Mrs. Buendorf, Mrs. Economy, Senora Olson, and Mrs. Thorstad.”
Of the things she will miss about high school, Stene says, “I will miss seeing some of my friends on a daily basis, and I will also miss having all of my classes be in the same building.”
After high school, Stene plans to attend Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN. “While I am at Bethany, I plan on obtaining a Broad Field Social Studies degree with a teaching licensure track,” says Stene. “With this degree, I plan on becoming a high school history teacher.”
Over the summer, Stene plans to continue working at Prairie Senior Cottages in New Richland. “I will also be completing an online college course through Bethany Lutheran College,” says Stene.
Like other seniors this year, Stene sees the big impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on the final events of her high school career: “Due to the pandemic, my senior year will be different because we will probably not have a class trip, senior service day, or even a typical graduation,” she says.
“I would tell the underclassmen that the time will fly by quicker than they realize,” says Stene, “and to not spend too much time trying to plan out their life. I really do not think that anyone has their life fully planned out, and eventually everything will work out.”