Since childhood, it’s always been school then sports for most student athletes. This rule has carried through to high school, where athletes may be offered  leadership opportunities on their teams  and extracurriculars. Some students who take advantage of these opportunities learn to balance it all — and some students for the Heisman High School Scholarship and Award. 

Students like senior Lynette Alsot.

The Heisman celebrates and rewards outstanding males and female scholar-athletes. It honors the nationś most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. It allows students to share their stories of leadership across the country. The program aims to inspire students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents to further their own futures, while improving the communities around them.  

Alsot applied to the Heisman High School award along with many other students at MCHS. Alsot was our school’s winner. Though she did not advance to state competition, being the school’s winner is a big accomplishment within itself. Her character traits, academics, and athletic abilities qualified her to apply and receive the award. 

“I was looking at Mr. [Curtis] Menke’s running list of all the scholarships and some of the requirements for these scholarships,” described Alsot. “I saw that it was a national scholarship and I was like, ‘What are the chances of me winning?’ So I decided to just apply because I never you never know. Then I found out I won the Heisman award.”

The Heisman consists of three pillars: leadership, athletics, and academics, which students have to be involved and excelling in.

Alsot represents the leaderships aspects through National Honors Society and her roles in other organizations. 

“I’m the president of our NHS chapter, a part of Warrior Buddies, which is leading the kids with cognitive and learning disabilities so we do fun events with them,” explained Alsot.

Chosen by her peers in NHS, she gained the role as president. This is due to her qualities that she represents on a regular basis, showing her ability to be a successful leader. 

“Lynette does a great job leading NHS with her ability to lead by example,” described Jamie Rosinski, the NHS advisor, “encouraging others to share ideas, and always stepping in where help falls short. When concepts or ideas haven’t worked in the past she tries to find alternative ideas that may work instead. She’s definitely an asset to the NHS board and as the NHS Presiden.,” 

Another major aspect of the Heisman award is athletics, Alsot fulfills this through the sports that she has played throughout her highschool career. 

“I play basketball and volleyball right now,” stated Alsot. “I used to play softball up until sophomore year. I am the basketball varsity captain and the volleyball girls varsity captain.”

Within the sports she plays, she is captain and an important asset to each team. 

“Even as a junior, she was captain of the team,” explained Rob Niemic, former girls basketball head coach. “So that’s a pretty important role since a lot of times they are just seniors, but she kind of exceeded those expectations as far as doing what we expected, but also relaying that leadership and to other people.”

Another reason Alost has been awarded captain of her team’s many times is because of her personality and efforts towards bettering the team and her teammates. 

“The biggest role she had on the team was being one of those positive environment people. She always lifted people as they played basketball,” described Niemic, “I’ve seen her in many different roles, but the one thing you get with her that all the time is she doesn’t really have a bad day ever. With her personality, she brings in the spirit every day. That positive spirit is really contagious and people like that are hard to find.”  

The Heisman takes the academics of the applicants very seriously. Alsot fulfills this portion through her hard work and leadership in the classroom. 

“She is a role model both in the classroom and outside of it,” explained John Lunkenhiemer, the head girls basketball coach and teacher of Alsot’s. “While maintaining a great GPA because she works very hard, always has things done on time, she participates, helps classmates out, and is always on task.”

The award was not always her goal to receive, but her goal has always been to be the best person possible. 

“I’ve definitely tried to be the best person I can be,” described Alsot. “I don’t think the Heisman scholarship was in my clear vision when I started as a freshman, but just the idea of trying to be a person who has good character, tries to excel in the classroom, and a leader on the basketball and volleyball court.”

The other applicants were also very qualified for this award, so it means very much to Alsot that she was chosen. 

“I’m very honored that I was chosen to be the school’s winner because I do know some of the other people who had applied for them, and they are phenomenal candidates,” stated Alsot. “I think it’s more of an honor to be chosen, and kind of be recognized for that. I’m very thankful and grateful that I was chosen.” 

The pillars of the Hiesman award and scholarship are something that every student should strive to excel in. They are the structures of forming a great school community and for success in future endeavors.