Jules Staley is a standout senior at Prairie High School. As she prepares to graduate this spring, Staley has made a lasting impression on her school and community through her academic accomplishments, bubbly personality, and athletic drive. Known for her infectious enthusiasm and commitment to excellence, Jules’ journey through high school is nothing short of inspiring.
Jules’ academic journey has been marked by nothing less than exceptional achievements. Over her past four years she has maintained a near-perfect 3.96 GPA while also taking 8 AP classes, passing every test at the end of the year, and “loved every class”. Her academic quality was recognized during her Sophomore year when she was invited to join the National Honors Society, which is not a shoe-in club. The club maintains rigorous academic and personal requirements such as a minimum 3.5 GPA and 12 required volunteer hours outside school. Jules has exceeded all requirements, exuding each of NHS’s pillars of excellence (scholarship, service, leadership, and character). Jules has never failed to impress not only her classmates but also her teachers. While her teacher Tina Bump has only had her in one class she can confidently remark about Jules’ success in the classroom. “She is a very diligent and hard-working student,” Bump commented, “she goes over and above whatever she needs to do.”
Her achievements, though, are not just limited to the classroom. Jules has participated in school athletics each of her four years. She joined the soccer team freshman year, after practicing with them as an eighth grader, and secured a permanent position on the Varsity roster where she worked hard on and off the field, earning the role of Captain her Senior year. While her achievements seem effortless, Jules’ busy soccer and school schedule posed a unique challenge. “My biggest challenge was definitely being able to connect with other people when I felt so busy with soccer and school all the time,” Jules recalled. However, soccer allowed Staley to connect and build friendships with people who shared a common interest and drive. “Most of my close friends came from soccer so that was a blessing in disguise,” Jules added, “I loved being able to come out on the field to not only play a sport I loved but to find people to share it with that had the same passion.”
Jules also had other means of connecting with her peers when she joined the band her freshman year. While she had also played in the band in middle school, she found her home with the Prairie band and “really found a way to connect to people around me as well as a teacher.” She not only discovered her home but also met her biggest mentor, the band teacher, Mr. Messling. “I know I can go to him any time of the day if I ever need anything,” Jules noted, “he’s the kind of teacher that makes you like being at school.” She has further excelled in band becoming the Section Leader for saxophones in the top band.
Jules’ achievements also go beyond high school. She plans on furthering her education and soccer career at Whitworth University, where she plans to major in bio-engineering with a minor in kinesiology. She will continue her passion for athletics after graduating, wanting to go into a sports engineering job, designing equipment and resources to help athletes perform better. Jules Staleys’ exceptional high school journey, marked by academic excellence, athletic achievements, and strong community involvement set the stage for a promising and fulfilling future, displaying what it means to be a Prairie Falcon.
