Running A Small Business While Helping Others: WI Star Student

WISCONSIN — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Meg Sranske who nominated Addison of Wisconsin.

Star local student’s name

Addison

Star local student’s home state

Wisconsin

How do you know the star local student?

I am the State Chairperson for the Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin program. Addison Strunz is our Distinguished Young Woman of Prairie-du-Sac (and Second Runner-Up to the Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin) for 2023!

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Addison is a very accomplished high school senior. Addison holds several key leadership positions at Sauk Prairie High School, including Class Secretary of 2024, President of their School Student Council, and Team Captain of the Varsity Gymnastics team. She is also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, where she received first place in the Wisconsin FBLA competition in Business Ethics.

Outside of school, she is President of Active Striver 4-H Club, where she shows pigs and dairy cattle. Addison was named Most Valued Member of the club and has served as a delegate for the 4-H Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. She was also named “Jr. Fairest of the Fair” in 2021 at the Sauk County Fair. She dances with Kris Pickar’s School of Dance and works for Honey Creek Tree Nursery. Impressively, she runs her own business called Tangled Crochet Crafts, which you can find on Etsy!

Equally impressive are her public service activities where she has committed her time and talents. Addison is a Middle Level Leader in the Optimist Club. Additionally, she volunteers for 6:8, a community program for families in need, where she tutors young in her community. Addison has learned to work with people of all ages, how to give back to her community and the importance of servant leadership.

I met Addison through the Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin program, when Addison was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Prairie du Sac, 2023. Through this local program achievement, Addison qualified and progressed to the state-wide program, in which she competed in five categories, including interview, scholastic, talent, fitness and self-expression. She was awarded the Second Runner-Up to the Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin for 2023. She was also honored with a “Be Your Best Self” award.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Distinguished Young Women (DYW) is a scholastic honorary program for high school senior females that awards college scholarships to deserving young ladies. Addison stuck out to me in the program because of her poise, self-confidence, leadership, intelligence and maturity. I know that is more than one thing but it's her combination of qualities that made her an exceptional representative of the DYW program throughout this entire year.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Addison!

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Know an outstanding student? Nominate them here.