Conemaugh Township's Kaylee Frederick strives to inspire others by earning a big honor.

Whether she’s training for an ultramarathon or sitting in class at Conemaugh Township Area High School, Kaylee Frederick hopes that her story can inspire other high school students to strive for their own goals.

The 17-year-old, from the Krings area of the township, was recently named The Challenge Program’s 2022 Student of the Year at the annual Crystal Owl Gala, in Pittsburgh. She was one of three finalists for the award, who were selected from nearly 400 entrants representing 132 high schools in the region.

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What is The Challenge Program?

The Challenge Program is a nonprofit, based in Johnstown, that motivates sophomores, juniors and seniors at participating high schools to give their best effort at school. With the financial backing of a local business partner, The Challenge Program offers a number of cash awards each year to students who succeed in five categories: attendance, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), community service, academic improvement and academic excellence.

As well as sponsoring the awards, the business sponsor shows the type of work it does to the students, offers job-shadowing and internship programs and promotes local job opportunities that are available.

Conemaugh Township’s business sponsor is North American Hoganas.

The Challenge Program is also active in the Meyersdale, North Star, Rockwood, Salisbury Elk Lick, Shade, Turkeyfoot Valley and Windber high schools and at the Somerset County Technology Center.

“It's a really good program,” Frederick said. “It’s for everyone. You don’t have to be the smartest kid in school or the best athlete. You just try to do your best, and hopefully it pays off.”

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'Everyone deserves a chance'

Despite having an excellent academic record and participating in a variety of extracurricular activities, Frederick said she struggled with her self-confidence during the last school year. The Challenge Program’s “Why Not You?” motivational program helped her learn to break that negative mindset.

“I didn’t have a lot of friends and I wasn’t real confident in myself,” she said. “The Challenge Program made me realize that it’s OK to be who I am, and that built my confidence a lot.”

“Everyone deserves a chance (to succeed), and that’s what The Challenge Program does — gives (every student) a chance.”

As the Student of the Year, Frederick received a trophy and a $2,500 cash award, which she plans to save for college expenses. She wants to major in both biology and secondary education and eventually become a high school biology teacher.

She also found out a few weeks ago that she is to receive a $25,000 scholarship from the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program, which awards 106 scholarships annually to high school juniors who have overcome personal adversity to succeed academically, in school activities and through community service.

Kaylee, her sister, Carla, and their mother, Georgetta Frederick, were heartbroken when their father and husband, Eric Frederick, died in 2010 in an automobile accident.

In her Student of the Year finalist video, Kaylee Frederick said The Challenge Program has helped her to appreciate her unique family and the challenges they’ve overcome together.

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'Go be somebody'

This summer, Frederick is working at a local ice cream stand and training for a 200-mile ultramarathon she plans to run in September. She ran her first ultramarathon — a race of more than 50 kilometers — at age 14 and completed her first 100-mile race at age 16.

She also wants to earn her Level 1 CrossFit certification during summer vacation.

“I want to inspire someone (that) if you have a goal, you can accomplish it despite what anyone says,” she said. “It could be any goal you have in life, and it might seem impossible at the time — but keep pushing yourself, no matter what, to achieve it.”

She also enjoys serving as an ambassador for The Challenge Program, trying to get more students involved and promoting the program throughout the area.

"Whatever your (future) path is, (The Challenge Program) will help you,” Frederick said. “It teaches you to have a better work ethic and that will help you throughout the rest of your life.

“If your thing is community service, do that. Whatever you have a passion for, go be somebody. If you want to be somebody, you can do it. Go for it — don't hesitate.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Kaylee Frederick is The Challenge Program's 2022 Student of the Year