"I’m not an official grant writer for the district. I just seek out money to try to help our students whenever I can."

"Believe in yourself. God is with you. Don’t forget—it’s okay to lose. You can beat them. Anything positive, really."

"If someone tells me I can't do something? Watch me—because I’m going to succeed 100%."

"You’ve got to make sure the opportunities are there for the kids. If that means co-oping, then you do it. But you always look for what we might be able to build right here at home."

"If they want it, and I’ve got the tools to build it—let’s get to work."

"You see a different side of the kids out on the lake. You’re not just coaching—you’re meeting them where they feel most themselves."

"Everybody deserves to eat. It seems like a low bar for humane treatment of our fellow man, doesn’t it?"

"These kids don’t deserve anything different because of their zip code."

"I remember being a freshman and thinking, I’ve got to do something cool so people remember me."

"Everybody knows everybody. It’s like one big family here."

"So much is gone from when we graduated—Main Street, the stores, the hangouts—but maybe this will stay. Maybe this tree will be the one thing that doesn’t change."

"I was very excited when my mural got picked. I get all the creative power. It’s pretty sick."