Student of the Month for March 2018

Stockbridge Community News is pleased to launch this column in recognition of outstanding students, nominated by Stockbridge Community School teachers and administrators. This month’s Student of the Month is 8th grader Rylee Tolson.

Rylee Tolson

Article and photo 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 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 said she enjoys mathematics and science “because I love to challenge myself to complete the problems that earlier I thought would be impossible.” She added that she 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.”

Tolson looked to her parents, Ronald and Rosemarie Tolson, and to her family as powerful 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 her love of the oceans, she said, through making her watch Shark Week when she was very young and 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.”  

Having grown up in the area and attended Stockbridge Community Schools since pre-school, Tolson said she likes the area’s open and peaceful qualities and the school’s “friendly environment.” She said she rarely hears negative comments made 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 valued the smaller school size. “I have friends in every class, and I can talk and collaborate with them.”

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

This multi-faceted young woman may have summed up the underlying reasons for her selection as “Student of the Month” when she said, “I love to read, hang out with my friends, and listen to music…and I just want to say that I honestly love school.”

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