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.

Justin Priest

Justin Priest, a senior at Glen Lake School, is this week’s “Rising Star.” He is the son of Lori and the late Todd Priest of Cedar, and was nominated by Glen Lake secondary Principal Kevin Kelly.

“Justin is in a 4-way tie for our Class of 2008 valedictorian honors,” Kelly said, noting Priest’s 4.0-grade point average and score of 34 on his ACT (college aptitude test). A 36 is a “perfect” score. “He is an outstanding scholar and a gentleman.”

Justin has three siblings – Cody, 19, Jenna, 15, and Rachel, 3, and after graduation plans to attend the University of Michigan to study chemical engineering.

Interests: Reading science fiction and fantasy novels, staying current with science and technology, building physical fitness, and playing paintball, chess and euchre.

Favorite Class: AP calculus. “It appeals to my logical mind, it’s a great preparation for becoming an engineer, the pace and content are challenging and stimulating, there’s a strong feeling of accomplishment after every assignment. But most of all, the teacher, Ms. Wiesen, is exceptional; she has high moral standards that bring out the best in me and she has a passion for both passing on knowledge and learning new things.”

Do you have a role model: “Without a doubt, my grandmother, Margaret Miller. She has a lot of confidence in herself and her abilities and approaches daily challenges with a silent determination and capacity for endurance that belie her age. My grandmother has a strong sense of self; she is shaped by her religion and personal beliefs, rather than the pressures of society. Between her naturalistic approach to medicine, gardening, simple lifestyle, humbleness, generosity, and devotion to God, she is living a life that I would like.”

Favorite plans to hang out: “At home, where I am surrounded by family and books.”

Describe your perfect day: “I would be with my dad for one more day, just relaxing at his house, listening to his stories, laughing with him.”

What’s the best book you’ve ever read: The Princess Bride, by Williams Goldman. “It is a comical tale of true love and adventure that satirizes the formulas of fantasy writing and contains some of the most memorable characters in the genre — the Spanish fencer Ingio Montoya, the dazzling cunning Vizzini, and the gentle giant Fezzik, to name a few.”

Favorite musical group: ‘It’s a draw between Flight of the Conchords and Daft Punk.”