April’s Student of the Month: Rylee Tolson

By Cindy Lance

When asked to name any recent accomplishments, 8th grader Rylee Tolson rattled off statistics from an indoor track and field event at the 14U Youth National Championship in Ypsilanti where she broke a state record. “I ran the 3000 in 10:22,” she said of an 8th-grade race and “the 1500 meter race in 4:55.”

Come to find out, this athletic brunette is a two-time national champion in indoor track and field, and she recently received the Coaches’ Award…in basketball.

Junior high principal Joe Wenzel described the teen in terms of her work ethic and attitude.

“Rylee Tolson is a focused, mature and diligent worker,” he stated. “She produces high quality, thoughtful assignments. Rylee asks excellent questions and helps to facilitate discussions. She is kind to her peers and leads through her positive choices and behavior.”  

What stood out most to Tolson’s 8th-grade math teacher, though, was her student’s exceptional intellect. Lissa Avis described her student as rarely missing a single point in her class’s rigorous mathematics curriculum. “As a matter of fact,” Avis said, “she frequently pushes the boundaries of the course with her questions during class. Her admirable positive attitude and passion to excel in academics are energizing to the classroom. What a great kid!”

Tolson says she enjoys mathematics and science “because I love to challenge myself to complete the problems that earlier I thought would be impossible.” She says she also enjoys science “because I find it interesting the way that everything connects in the world, and how doing something small could affect the entire world.”

Having attended Stockbridge Community Schools since pre-school, she finds “the school’s very friendly and open to all kinds of people, despite not being very diverse.”

Tolson looked to her parents, Ronald and Rosemarie Tolson, and to her family as the greatest influences on her life. “I owe everything to them, my achievements, my grades, everything. Without them, I would never, ever do anything in life, and I am very grateful for how supportive they are of me.”

Older brother Ronald, or Ronnie as she calls him, introduced her to running and “always tries to push me toward my goals, in every way he can.”

Eldest sibling, Ryan, an MSU student, inspired a love of the oceans in her, she said, through making her watch Shark Week when she was very young and through his studying marine biology/zoology in college.

She is “so so so so thankful” to her teachers “because I know that whenever I have a question, they will either already know the answer and immediately explain it to me, or look for an answer for me.”  

Tolson appreciates the area’s open and peaceful qualities, and she likes Stockbridge school’s “friendly environment.” She said she rarely hears negative comments about others, and when they are uttered, “almost immediately there is another person who steps up to say how amazing that person really is.” She also likes the school size. “I have friends in every class, and I can talk and collaborate with them.”

Tolson is hoping for a full-ride scholarship to college, possibly in cross country and track. Her future field of study? “A degree in marine biology,” she replied, “or veterinary medicine.”

She said she tries to stay mindful of a saying, author unknown: “I run because I can. When I get tired, I remember those who can’t run, what they would give to have this simple gift I take for granted, and I run harder for them.”

As far as role models go, Tolson looks up to her first generation, American-born grandmother. “Once a job has begun, never leave it till it’s done,” she said, quoting her grandmother. “Be the labor, big or small, do it well, or not at all.”

In addition to running and basketball, she likes to play trumpet in the school band and is involved in National Junior Honors Society, robotics, and Yearbook.

“I love to read, hang out with my friends, and listen to music,” she said, “and I just want to say that I honestly love school.”

Stockbridge Community News expresses its gratitude to SRSLY for sponsoring this monthly column.