By Kristen Yount
Trojan Tribune Staff
Photo by DanDy Photos

   “I was pretty shocked.” was the reaction of Senior Ashley Wagner when she heard that she won a cash prize for a writing assignment. “I didn’t expect to win.”
   West Central’s senior government students participated in the Financial Independence Essay contest earlier this year. As an assignment, each student wrote a five page essay, and the essay could then be sponsored by a teacher and sent to the state to be entered into a drawing. Every senior in South Dakota was eligible to apply, and of the eight students randomly drawn, Wagner was one of the selections to receive $2,000 in cash.
   Wagner was quick to decide where the money was going. “I will be saving the money for college,” she stated. After graduating, she plans to attend South Dakota State University for Pre-Vet, majoring in Animal Science. She will then continue her education in Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Wagner is “excited to graduate and move on with my life, but I’m also sad that I will have to pay for my continuing education.” At West Central, she has participated in cross-country and is continuing her high school track career this spring; at SDSU she will be participating in track and field.
   Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and playing with her pets—which she has several of. Living on a farm, she has six dogs, 15 cats, four horses, four sheep and numerous ducks, chickens and geese. Her family consists of her mom, Cheryl, stepdad, Jerrad, and stepbrother, Chance.

By Emily Mammenga

Trojan Tribune Staff

   The cross country season is in full swing, with two meets already run. The first meet of the year went very well for the team with six girls and three boys placing in the top 20 for varsity. Continue Reading