Taylor Munson and Taylor Squires have more than just a first name in common. The two Tracy Area High School juniors are also this year’s nominees for the ExCEL Award.
The ExCEL Award – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – is a recognition program designed just for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. The award is sponsored by the League’s corporate partner TruStone Financial Credit Union.
TAYLOR SQUIRES
Squires, the son of Mary and Eric Squires, is active in four sports: wrestling, baseball, cross country and clay target. He is also a member of the high school band and participates in FFA and weightlifting.
Squires is a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s student council.
Squires credits the adults in his life who have served as role models for him.
“These leaders have shown me how to be a good person, both on and off the mat, how to be a high academic achiever and how to serve my church and community,” he wrote is his student essay. “I am very thankful for the role models and leaders I have had in my life, and as I grow older, I realize how important it is to give back to the younger kids who look up to me.”
Looking back, Squires recalls his seventh-grade year where he had older students and teammates help guide him.
“In all my team sports and my involvement with Future Farmers of America, I make sure that every single person is injected as much as they want to be. This is exactly what happened to me when I was a seventh-grader just testing out the waters of my involvement, and I find that making people feel welcome and supported is just as important as having success, whether that’s in sports, academics or in FFA.”
Squires managed his family’s lawn care business this past summer. While working on someone’s lawn, he noticed an elderly woman struggling to mow her lawn with a push mower. He and a friend visited with the lady and offered to cut her grass at no charge.
“I have noticed since then that her yard is never overgrown now,” he wrote. “This volunteer work impacted me because I know I am doing a good deed for someone. Whether I am helping many people or one individual, I know I am able to make a difference in my community by helping those who could use help but may not ask for it.”
TAYLOR MUNSON
Munson plays golf, basketball and volleyball for the Panthers and earned All-Conference honors and earned a trip to State in golf her sophomore year. She was also All-Academic in volleyball this past season.
Munson, the daughter of Michael and Rachelle, is also a member of the TAHS band, was an academic letter winner her sophomore year and earned an academic letter this year. She is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and FFA and is involved with the Prom Committee and weightlifting.
When it comes to being a leader, Munson says actions truly speak louder than words.
“Actions by doing things for your teammates and peers is the way I like to show leadership, rather than telling my peers what I am going to do to be a good leader,” she wrote in her essay. “I might not have the leadership titles written all over the school and awards, but I do have the friendships and connections by being there for my peers and teammates whenever and however I can be.”
Munson is an altar server at her church and is a Big Buddy. Her volunteer work has included packing nutritious meals for children and families in need and collecting and delivering donated books to a local women’s shelter.
Munson said being a Big Buddy has positively impacted her young life.
“It positively impacted my life by being able to see how happy these kids are when I come to see them,” she wrote. “Knowing that if someone is having a bad day, one person with a smile on their face can change their whole day around.”
