Roncalli seniors are this week’s Manitowoc County Stellar Students
The Herald Times Reporter is continuing its tradition of highlighting Manitowoc County’s exceptional high school students in its Stellar Students series.
This series features high school students selected and submitted by their schools.
Stellar Students this week are Roncalli High School seniors Matthew Ehmke Zimmer and Amber Fiecko. Here’s more about them and what makes them stellar.
Matthew Ehmke Zimmer aspires to be a college math professor
Parents: Michael Zimmer and Jill Ehmke Zimmer
School: Roncalli High School
Grade: Senior
GPA: 3.979
What extracurricular activities have you been involved with during high school? I have been involved in jazz band, pep band, Scouts BSA, school theater productions, basketball, tennis, soccer and the 95th annual chess championship.
What is one academic accomplishment about which you feel particularly good? I would say that my composite score on the ACT of 33 is one of my biggest academic accomplishments.
Which class or extracurricular activity influenced your decision regarding the career you plan to pursue? The eighth-grade math bowl made me realize math could be really fun to do and explain to others.
What advice do you have for those just starting their high school career? Do everything that you can. For one, it makes your applications and resumes look better. Also, you never know what fun activities or clubs you haven’t tried yet.
What are your plans after high school? I plan to study mathematics at either the University of Wisconsin-Madison, UW-Platteville or UW-Marquette.
What would you like to be doing 10 years from now? I would like to be a college math professor at a research university.
Teacher recommendation: “My favorite thing about Matthew Ehmke Zimmer is his joy of learning. Matthew doesn’t stop at what is merely necessary or easy; he is constantly pushing the envelope of what he can learn, and that is an inspiration. He is also so willing to help others; his peers know they can trust him to give whatever help he can.” —Michelle Bishop, Advanced Placement chemistry/physics teacher
Newspaper history: Manitowoc’s newspaper roots trace to 1850 and the ‘Weekly Herald’
Amber Fiecko aims for career in finance or marketing
Parents: Mike and Janelle Fiecko
School: Roncalli High School
Grade: Senior
GPA: 3.87
What extracurricular activities have you been involved in during high school? Volleyball, basketball, track & field, theater, National Honor Society, Manitowoc Chamber Junior Leadership, Edge core team leader (middle school faith formation), Girl Scouts, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
What is one academic accomplishment about which you feel particularly good? I am proud that I have never received below 90% in any class for the last three years of high school while I took Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes, in addition to my many extracurriculars and sports.
What class or extracurricular activity influenced your decision regarding the career you plan to pursue? This year, I had the opportunity to have an in-house internship with Roncalli’s finance department, and my internship has influenced me to pursue a future in business and finance.
What advice do you have for those just starting their high school career? My advice to anyone starting high school is to apply yourself. Apply yourself to everything, even if you don’t think you’ll like it. You may end up finding a new passion.
High school football: Dombeck: Two Rivers, Reedsville and Plymouth football are undefeated. Can they win state?
What are your plans after high school? After high school, I plan on attending an in-state college to acquire my bachelor's degree in business.
What would you like to be doing 10 years from now? I am hoping to be working for a business where I can work in the finance or marketing department.
Teacher recommendation: “I know Amber well having had her as a student and having worked with her in our drama program. She is a confident, reliable, intelligent and independent young woman. She is an outstanding student and role model with a bright future. I am proud to have been her teacher.” — Tim Olson, theology teacher and drama director
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Roncalli seniors are this week’s Manitowoc County Stellar Students
