Megan Runyan Named SHS January Fine Arts Student of the Month

January 07, 2016

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Megan Runyan was named the January SHS Fine Arts Youth of the Month by the Seward Arts Council.  She is the daughter of Pat and Cathy Runyan of Seward.  

Megan is one of the most involved young ladies at Seward High in the area of Fine Arts.  This senior is a leader academically, as she is always recognized on the SHS Honor Roll and a longtime member and leader with the SHS National Honor Society.  She is often the Captain of the SHS Quiz Bowl team and competes with a variety of academically contests.

Megan is a leading musician at Seward High.  She is the accompanist for the Seward Swing Choir, a member of the Select Choir and participated in a variety of small vocal groups and solos for District Music.  She has also been a leader in the musicals at SHS for the last three years.  She also won the GFWC/NFWC First Place Music award in Piano and has been recognized time and again for her musical expertise.  Megan is also a member of the award winning SHS Bluejay Marching Band, along with membership in the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble and Pep Band. She has taken private lessons in music for over ten years as well.

Megan began her speech career winning the AK SAR BEN speech contest her freshman year.  She has been a member of the SHS Speech team for four years, participating in a variety of speaking and dramatic events on the Conference and District levels.  She has also been a leader in the SHS One Act program for all four years and featured in the SHS Competition play this year.  Megan has been involved in the various State Fair Education Activities including Shakespeare Monologue, Poetry Out Loud and Improv Team.  Megan also competed in the annual VFW Voice of Democracy Speech Contest and participated at the State Optimist Speech Contest as well.

She is also a leader in the local and state Skills USA program.  Megan has competed in a variety of Skills USA Contests, winning first at the state level in public speaking and was named First Runner Up nationally in the same event!  She was elected a Skills USA State Officer last year and traveled the state promoting Skills USA and the various Skills USA programs.  She is also a long time member of the SHS Student Council and has served as their Vice President previously.

In the community, Megan is very involved with her church-The United Methodist Church in Seward and is often called upon to be a voice of the youth for the Church.  She also serves as a substitute musician for many churches of the area.  She has served as a vacation bible school teacher and involved in the Youth Group programs as well.  She is a faithful member of their Godparent’s program.

Her volunteer leadership and involvement with the local Centennial Players for many years is outstanding, and she carried the lead role for the last two years, playing her melodrama role to thousands annually, all as a volunteer raising thousands for dollars for local scholarships through the Centennial Players at Olde Glory Theater.  Other “Service Above Self” activities include the annual “Crop Walk,” the Methodist Church “Trunk or Treat,” volunteering at the local Cross Makers workshop as a polisher, cutter and making jewelry from the crosses, and a host of Christmas Activities for the needy and less advantaged.

Her dream goal is to attend Stanford University and become an aeronautical/aerospace engineer.  After college, she hope to be employed by Skunkworks-the defense division of Lockheed Martin, serving her country in a way she believes best suits her abilities by designing safer aircraft for the military!