Ross R Briggs Named January Youth Rotarian of the Month
Ross R Briggs was named the January Youth Rotarian of the Month by the Seward Rotary Club at their first January Meeting of the Club on January 4 at the Jones National Bank and Trust in Seward. He is the son of Sue and Tom Briggs of Seward.
Ross is a long time academic leader in the school, always named to the SHS Honor Roll and a leader and longtime member of the SHS National Honor Society. He is one of the top scholars in his class and involved in the local Junior Jays Mentoring Program, along with being a counselor for the Outdoor Education program at the Seward Middle School.
Ross is a multitalented athlete, and earned varsity letters in both the SHS Track Team and the SHS Football team with various recognitions and awards-including recognition with the NSAA Academic All State Award for outstanding academics as an athlete. He also participated in the SHS Basketball program over the years.
One of his first loves in music and he has demonstrated time and again his leadership role in the SHS music program. Ross is a member of the SHS Bluejays Marching Band, the SHS Symphonic Band, the SHS Pep Band and the SHS Drumline and earned a Band Letter. He is also the drummer for the SHS musicals and SHS Swing Choir and involved in the 2015, 2016 musicals.
Ross is a member of the Rock Lutheran Church in Seward and a voice of their local youth program. He is an active member of their Godparent program. He also volunteers with his local church band for worship services.
Ross has been named an SHS Student of the Month twice-in 2013 and 2016 and is the recipient of numerous SHS PRIDE awards. He participated in both the Seward VFW Voice of Democracy Speech Contest and the “Poetry Out Loud” poetry recitation contest at SHS.
Ross is one of the senior leaders in the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). His leadership and work in the SHS Computer Science division generated the 2010 MOS State Championship in Microsoft Excel State Champion in 2015. He also has been recognized for other outstanding computer skills, and is the recipient of several State Championship awards and recognitions for his computer expertise.
Outside of school, Ross is employed with the family business and works with his family, assisting in the Briggs Cattle/Trucking operation and fills in a variety of jobs, where ever needed.
His “Service Above Self” volunteer effort is through his longtime work with the Junior Jays Program, where he visits and works with struggling students in the Seward Elementary School, assisting them with their homework-serving as a mentor and role model to these young children in a variety of settings.
His plans to become a high school math teacher and major in Math Education and has yet to decide where he will go to college.
Ross was recognized, honored and thanked for his “Service Above Self” and presented with Rotary Club information and mementos. He also is a finalist for the Youth Rotarian of the Year award, announced at the SHS Senior Honors Night in May. One local Seward High Senior is recognized every month at the local Seward Rotary Club meeting-named Youth Rotarian of the Month. The student application is available at the SHS Counselor’s office.