Fuesting earns national attention

Local News

Related Photos

Matt Huber

Discussion

October 30, 2009

DHS senior 'a good role model'

BY ANNA HERKAMP The Commercial-News Fri Oct 30, 2009, 11:51 PM CDT

DANVILLE — For a Danville High School senior, natural talent isn’t good enough.

Melissa Fuesting does her best even when it’s easy, and she recently imparted this message to a group of middle school students.

“The best role models try their best even when they don’t have to,” she said, quoting her speech at the first quarter honors assembly at North Ridge Middle School earlier this fall.

Her goal was to motivate the students to do well, so that they’ll have continued success in high school and beyond.

And Fuesting truly is one to talk.

Although getting good grades has always come easily to her, she admits she still works hard in class.

Recently, she was recognized for her efforts, which have garnered her national attention.

Fuesting was named as a Commended Student in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship program for her scores on the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

She’s one of 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation. Commended students will not continue in the 2010 competition for National Merit Scholarships, but they are among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT.

DHS guidance counselor Amanda Campbell said Fuesting is not only accomplishes much, but she’s a good person, too.

“She’s an all-around good person. She’s a good role model for all DHS students,” she said.

“It’s really nice to be recognized,” she said. “I do work really hard.”

Fuesting said she knows plenty of other smart kids at DHS who don’t work hard, but she doesn’t understand their mentality: “Why not try to be the best you can be?” she says.

Can you imagine if Michael Jordan had stopped trying? she asks.

Fuesting is considering attending St. Louis University, where she’s been offered a provost scholarship, Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University or the University of Illinois.

She’s not sure what she wants to study yet, but she does want to attend a smaller school.

She’s interested and talented in a variety of subjects. This year, her classes include creative writing, AP calculus, AP rhetoric, physics and chemistry.

She doesn’t like chemistry.

If her biggest dreams came true, she’d become an author of sci-fi fantasy novels.

She does like to write in her spare time. She also reads a lot in that genre: this summer, she read about 25 books. Spy novels and young adult fiction are also among her favorites.

Fuesting isn’t always sitting quietly in her spare time, however.

She has a pilot’s license, and frequently flies with her dad, Michael, a local dentist.

Her mom is Kathy Fuesting.

If there was a job where she could combine all of her interests, she’d gladly take it.

Reading and flying are still only two of her occupations.

She’s also been to the state championships for tennis, where she competed in a doubles match. She serves as president of the school’s National Honor Society, vice president of student advisory board and will participate in the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering competition this year.

She also works 10 hours a week at the Danville Tennis Center.

Text Only

Local News

Justin Bieber makes dream come true for child with brain tumor
In August, Avalanna Routh "married" teen singing sensation Justin Bieber. This week, she finally got to meet her husband.

February 14, 2012 1 Photo
Viral video: Olympic swimmer wins gold, then proposes
How do you top the euphoria of winning a gold medal in a swim meet? Propose to your girlfriend, of course.

February 14, 2012 1 Photo
Class organizes fundraiser
February 14, 2012
Police, Fire Reports
February 14, 2012
Framed by love
Michael Holtz of Danville and his wife Jane, of New Jersey, first laid eyes on each other in 1971 when they met at a boat dock in southern Italy. Michael was serving in the U.S. Air Force at the time, and Jane had been backpacking across Europe for three months, with Italy being her final destination.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
City budget talks set to begin
Revenues are higher in several areas than they were a year ago for the city.

February 13, 2012
Meetings to start on combining shelters
Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon wants to study combining the county’s animal shelter and the humane society in the city.

February 13, 2012
Gathering offers ideas on child creativity
People involved with young children on a daily basis — as a teacher, day-care provider or a parent — know how important those early years are to a child.

February 13, 2012
Chemical spill occurs at farm
Walker Farms is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management regarding a chemical spill that occurred during the weekend.

February 13, 2012
Can't-miss movies: 2012 features big-buzz blockbusters
Sure, it's only February, but we're already planning out our trips to the multiplex over the next 10 months.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Fuesting earns national attention

DHS senior 'a good role model'

Site Map

Contact Us