This is the eighth in a series of Prep Talk Graduation '09 blogs featuring area WIAA Scholar-Athletes and the essays they wrote as part of the consideration process for the WIAA's highest academic award.

AARON KONDRASUK, Monona Grove

Sports: Football (10, 11, 12); Boys basketball (11, 12); Boys tennis (9, 10, 11, 12).

GPA: 4.0.

Class Rank: 1st of 225.

Other extra-curricular activities: Choir.

Civic & community activities: Youth Volunteer for School Summer Camps (Football, Basketball, Tennis); Volunteer for Community Optimist Programs (Tri-Star Sports, Bike Safety); Volunteer Help at Local Church; Community volunteer (Cottage Grove Fall Festival); Student Leader for interaction with Middle and Elementary school programs.

ESSAY

Athletics have had a profound impact on my high school career and my life, teaching me the value of hard work, dedication, and responsibility. Playing three sports, football, tennis, and basketball, and the training during the off seasons took up nearly all of my available time in high school. Whether it was lifting weights every morning in the summer, speed and agility training all year round, getting up for two-a-days at six in the morning, or playing in packed stadiums and gyms, high school sports taught me a lot about myself and instilled me with a work ethic to be successful in life. It has given me the work ethic to be successful in school and life. My teammates, classmates, and teachers have described me as hard working, dedicated, and caring, I know this is due to sports participation. I attribute my success in the classroom to the values that were so highly emphasized and essential for success in sports. I’ll continue to apply these values I’ve learned from participating in high school athletics to help me to be the person I want to be in the future. Sports have taught me the true meaning of perseverance, to always try my hardest, and to compete with honor and pride. I can easily say that when I’m older the lasting values that will stick out in my mind the most about high school will be the priceless memories I have with my friends playing sports for our school and community.

-- Aaron Kondrasuk, Monona Grove High School, Class of 2009