Kolten Lindstrom Naselle GRV Valedictorian

 

Karen Bertroch

Another photo was taken of Naselle's State Baseball Trophy with Kolten but this one is better.

In any school in America, the Valedictorian is the top member of the graduating class. They are first in their class with the highest grade average and most likely a good citizen who was student body or class president, or vice-president in Kolten's case. These graduates usually have shown leadership, citizenship, concern for others and is respected by teachers as well as students. I could write all this about Kolten Lindstrom, Naselle GRV High School's Valedictorian, but I would be falling short, I suspect. Principal Justin Laine described Kolten so well:

"Kolten is one of the most exceptional, three-sport student-athletes I have worked with during my 23 years in this school distinct. He is this year's valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and an all league, all area, and all state athlete. One of my athletic highlights for Kolten was watching him pitch a no hitter during the state quarterfinal game last spring and follow it up with A 1-run ball in the state championship. Before spring break, he hit a grandslam and pitched a shutout against league rival, Mossyrock.


"Yet, as outstanding a student-athlete as he is, he is an even better citizen and person. He always treats students and staff with the utmost respect. He has also been one of our most dependable community servants. Last summer, I called on him multiple times to help during Finn Fest and he always answered the call. He truly is an outstanding citizen and role model. His quiet leadership will be dearly missed next year."

My own image of Kolten after visiting with him is that Kolten is all about sports with baseball first, then football and basketball. He didn't join the seniors who went to Olympia recently because he had a baseball game and there was no question about his priorities; it's all about baseball first, period. He told me that when he was a little guy, he wanted to be a Ninja Turtle, but as he grew older, he literally dreamed about playing college baseball then to play for the Mariners, of course. We laughed about that. But he excels in baseball and loves it the same way Lauren Katyryniuk loves basketball. Baseball is in Kolten's blood. He has been a solid 4.0 student and says school work comes easily to him. Along with being in high school, playing baseball and making plans, he works part-time for his Dad's contracting business. He will be attending Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon with a baseball scholarship. Next fall he will be studying business and playing football, I bet. He likes to work, cook, lift weights and woodworking. He likes construction and prefers remodeling but does not like working with sheetrock, so he's set some boundaries already. He appears to be always busy thinking. While I sat with him, his mind was busy pondering answers to my questions, so it was fun to talk with him. And then of course, the little boy with Ninja Turtles is my "takeaway." After college graduation, he plans to start his own business and that of course, is already planned because he knows exactly when he wants to do. His goal for Naselle GRV High School is to see every student work hard, even if they're young and new to school. Kolten is a jewel in that he is calm, confident and honest. He has enjoyed his years in high school where he describes his class as "tightknit." And his curly blond hair adds to his good looks, too.


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