Grand County High School staff are honoring Jason McKinney and Marguerite Groene as students of the month.
GCHS junior Jason McKinney (parent: Jill McKinney) enjoys active, physical classes but also values his medical anatomy course, despite the workload and difficulty. Jason plays on the GCHS basketball and baseball teams. “In sophomore year, I got All-Region (honorable mention) for basketball and I played in the all-star game for baseball,” said Jason. Outside of school, Jason coaches younger kids in sports and helps at his church. He works at Canyonlands by Night, where he enjoys fixing up RZRs. After high school, Jason hopes to get a basketball scholarship and hopes to get into coaching to help other young people grow as an athlete. His advice to other students? “Be kind to everyone,” he said. “You never know what is happening in their life. So just be kind.”
Senior Marguerite Groene (parents: Christy Calvin and Scott Groene) had her interest in science careers kicked off by her chemistry class with Ms. Reed. “It was super challenging in a totally new way,” she said. “It’s so rewarding when you finally understand it.” Marguerite is very active in school activities, playing on the varsity soccer, basketball and track teams for all four years of her high school career. She is captain of the varsity soccer and basketball teams. She also has participated in student government for three years in addition to Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, Science Sterling Scholar and serving as Senior Yearbook editor. Outside of school, she has interned with the United States Geological Survey and worked as a lifeguard. After high school, she intends to study environmental/chemical engineering and work in sustainability. Her advice? “Find the things you enjoy,” said Marguerite. “You can always find a way to be interested in whatever you’re learning, and it will make going to school worthwhile; you’ll 100% get out what you put into it.”
