Susan Herman

Ed. note: The Enterprise publishes “Catch a Rising Star” to recognize students who stand out among their peers academically, athletically, artistically or in in their attitudes. Students from Glen Lake, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, Leland, Northport, Suttons Bay and those living in Leelanau but attending Traverse City West High School will be featured. Catch a Rising Star is compiled by news editor Amy Hubbell and is published twice a month when school is in session.

Susan Herman, a senior at St. Mary School, is
this week’s Rising Star.

She is the oldest child of Kevin and Cathy
Herman and has a brother, Mitchell, a ninth grader at St. Mary, and a sister, Marta, a fifth grader.

Herman was recognized by her principal as an excellent student who has tackled challenging classes, including Advanced Placement courses at Suttons Bay. She is a 3-year National Honor Society member and has participated the past three years on the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council.

“Susan has great compassion for others and has a positive impact on everyone around her,” Principal Mark Gaubatz said.

She is also a dedicated athlete, participating in cross-country and basketball, and pitches on the Eagle softball team. In her free time, she enjoys movies (including action, comedy and romance), shopping, sleeping, and hanging out with friends.

Herman has been offered academic scholarship opportunities by Wittenberg University, St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Alma, and Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College and Hope.

“Because of her commitment to being an excellent student both academically and athletically, the staff of St. Mary, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, feels she is very deserving of this honor,” Gaubatz said.

Favorite Class: “Science because it allows me to explore greater questions about the world and mathematics because I enjoy the process of finding the correct answer. I’m a problem solver.”

Do you have a role model: “My grandmother, Mormor (Swedish for grandmother). Grandmother has such a strong faith life that she has always been an inspiration to me in strengthening my personal faith life.”

Career plans: “I’m moving toward pre-med and would like to continue to medical school to become a doctor in pediatrics or obstetrics.

Favorite plans to hang out: “Home because I can kick back and leave some of my worries behind and relax.”

Describe your perfect day. Who would you spend it with, what would you do and where would you be? With my family and we would be at my grandmother’s beach enjoying a barbecue and have fun just being together.”

What’s the best book you’ve ever read: “The Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison. It was full of history about segregation and other civil challenges and it detailed how individuals can become invisible in life. I found it to be really interested and insightful.”

Favorite musical group: Rascal Flatts.