By Brayden Dirks
This week for the senior spotlight we will be showcasing Taylor Harpenau. Taylor lives in Remsen with her parents: Eric and Terra, and her siblings: Kylie and Eli. Taylor is currently undecided of where she will attend next year but is planning on majoring in kinesiology or exercise science.
Taylor has been involved in numerous activities throughout high school including softball, basketball, volleyball, track, dance, Student Council, SkillsUSA, Royals Impact, Speech, and National Honor Society. She has also received several awards such as being First Team All-Conference in basketball her sophomore and junior years, along with Second Team All-Conference in basketball her freshman year. In volleyball she was Second Team All-Conference her junior year, and in softball she was First Team All-Conference her junior season. She has also gotten All-District honors in softball and basketball multiple years. Taylor made it to the state track meet her freshman and junior seasons in the 4×800 meter relay. Academically, Taylor has been in the Top 5 of her class every year and has been on the high honor roll every year. She says her greatest accomplishment throughout high school was making it to state in basketball her junior year, breaking the school record in the 4×800 meter relay, getting Top 5 academically, and reaching 1,000 assists in volleyball. Taylor’s favorite memories from high school were winning homecoming her junior and senior year, state basketball, and Mrs. Bottjen’s classes. Her favorite year of high school has been senior year because of less stressful classes and homecoming.
Outside of school, Taylor likes to play sports, hang out with friends and family, and cheer on Iowa State. She has also worked at Heartland Care Center throughout high school, there she does activities with the residents. Her pet peeve is when people are late or budge in line, and her biggest fear is dying. Her favorite song is “Til You Can’t”, and her favorite movie is High School Musical 3. Taylor’s advice to underclassmen is to make the most out of everything you do because high school goes fast. She says she wants to be remembered as someone who works hard all the time, is always there for everyone, and would do anything for anyone. Taylor’s hopes are to have a job that she enjoys and that she is able to make an impact in the world.