Piper Hoxie: Passionate about helping others

Polson High graduate Piper Hoxie perches on a dock, looking out onto the mountains of the Mission Valley. Behind her, sits the city she loves and the community she continues to serve. From her church to the many clubs she dedicated her time to, the one thing she wanted to do most during her high school career was to give back to the place she calls home.

“My parents wanted me to help others and I want to be like that too,” Hoxie said.

As she recalls the surprise she felt when she found out she had won the prestigious Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, she remembers the 36 Krispy Kreme donuts delivered to her classroom. And since the class she was taking only had six people in it, she suspected the winner could be her.

“Fourth quarter, they just came in and they told me that the counselor had nominated me for this award,” Hoxie said. “It’s completely anonymous.”

The Winslow Nichols Leadership Award is given out by Logan Health to someone who is not only a strong student but is also an active member of the community they live in.

Hoxie, a 2023 Polson High School graduate, is on her way to big things, such as a chemical engineering degree at Montana State University. But, it all started with her impressive accolades in and out of the classroom.

“Piper is passionate about helping others,” Polson High counselor Chris McElwee said. “She volunteers to help in several areas around our community. Specifically, she helps with middle school developmental tennis, several camps, and as a LINK leader in our high school.”

Hoxie’s awards from those clubs include going to the MHSA State and District music festivals and earning Academic All-Conference honors for her tennis career while also going to state.

While she is sad high school is over, she spent the last four years competing to be the best student she could be and pushing herself to the limits in pursuit of success.

Her journey is now moving in a different direction: southeast to the Gallatin Valley to go to Montana State University.

“I have no doubt that she will be successful in all aspects of her life and an excellent representative of the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award,” McElwee said.

Hoxie is the winner of the final Winslow Nichols Leadership Award of this school year. But it’s not her only accomplishment. Hoxie was a 4.0 student and one of seven valedictorians. She took every AP class offered while also competing in tennis and holding a leadership position in the school’s band.

“I’m involved in National Honors Society and ski club and a bunch of others that I’m blanking on right now,” she said.

The grind of school and extracurricular participation is all fueled by her background: two relaxed parents and two brothers she tried to beat every chance she got.

Hoxie is Montana-raised, being born in Billings and living in Corvallis before finally ending up in Polson, where she would start school.

From there, she was all in on academics. And. while her parents were never hungry for their daughter’s next report card, Hoxie still wanted to prove she was the smartest in the family.

Her older brothers, Parker and Zach, were always her benchmark. She said her goal was to pass her brothers at every turn. Both of them were strong academically and took a shot at college before taking a break after one year.

“This is so bad,” Hoxie said while laughing about her biggest motivations. “It’s to beat my brothers a little bit. I’m really competitive and my brothers did well in high school but they didn’t get 4.0s. They weren’t as involved as I am and, after the first few years of getting a 4.0, I just wanted to go for it.”

Hoxie has always been engaged in the Polson community and says her involvement with the Church of Christ has helped fuel her inclination to give back.

Her temporary home, Bozeman, also has a Church of Christ and she hopes to form more bonds with students there while also connecting with some high school friends.

“I am excited about a lot honestly,” Hoxie said about what she most looks forward to at Montana State. “I am really excited about the classes. It's a super-great education and the campus is really involved and everyone really knows each other.”

The journey to college and receiving the accolades she has is indicative of her biggest strength and weakness: pressure.

No matter what the circumstances were, Hoxie said she would just keep going, even if it meant being hard on herself. She said she regrets being so tough on her younger self but she realizes now that she can be both laid back and organized while still achieving her academic goals.

But, before her collegiate career begins, she plans to soak in the sun, enjoy her accomplishments and remember the best parts of her high school career.

Her favorite memory? “Just hanging out with friends,” Hoxie said. “My friends and I would hang out and do paddleboarding on the lake. So, when it’s really stressful, like it’s finals or something, we’re like ‘Oh let’s go paddleboarding.’”