Lauryn Buhr: Always lending a helping hand

Lauryn Buhr attributes some of her hectic extracurricular schedule to her dad, local banker Jamie Buhr.

“I get voluntold to do a lot of things,” says the Ronan High School Senior.

The list includes helping out with the community Thanksgiving dinner, Pioneer Days, the Ronan Chamber’s annual Crabfest and Ag Appreciation Dinner, the Boys and Girls Club and events at Mission Mountain Golf Course.

“He definitely gets me involved in a lot of stuff,” she says.

That hasn’t kept the 4.0 student from taking AP courses and playing a trifecta of varsity sports, including volleyball, basketball and track and field. She also participated in Pep Band and belongs to the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Business Professionals of America (BPA) clubs, as well as serving as a 4-H mentor.

Her mom, Shelly Buhr, teaches P.E. at Ronan High and Middle School, which may contribute to Lauryn’s ability to blend athletic skill and academic accomplishment. She’s earned Academic All-State honors for each of her three sports each year of her high school career.

She also earned Logan Health’s Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, presented each quarter to a Lake County student who demonstrates high academic achievement, character, citizenship and leadership.

“Lauryn is not only an outstanding academic performer who consistently achieves high marks across all subjects, but she also embodies the qualities of a true leader,” writes Eva Green, who nominated Buhr for the honor.”

Green, the Indian Education Coordinator at Ronan High, says Buhr has taken the initiative to lead various projects, including academic, extracurricular and co-curricular events. “Her well-rounded involvement showcases her dedication and ability to balance multiple responsibilities with efficacy.”

Buhr admits, “I definitely like to be in charge. I like to be able to kind of plan things out.”

She’s also approachable. As a team member, “I'm definitely the person people come to talk to when they need help with something,” she says. “Like on the volleyball team I had freshmen coming up to me asking for help. And I was always relaying stuff to the coaches.”

Looking back at her high school tenure, Buhr says she’s especially enjoyed the relationships she’s developed during the last four years. Green, the mom of one of her close friends, “has definitely been a huge part of my high school career … She’s always there to listen.”  

She also appreciates her English teachers, Madison Wickens and Carissa Anderson. 

The relationships she’s developed with team members and in various clubs have also made her path through high school richer. “The bus trips are always something to remember,” she says with a grin.

“It's definitely the people though,” she added. “That’s made it fun.”

As to her knack for balancing numerous undertakings at once, like four college-credit courses and a sport, she says it’s forced her to master time management – an aptitude that will serve her well in the next phase of her life.

Buhr says she’s ready to move on from high school to college. “Senioritis has definitely hit me.”

Grand Canyon University in Phoenix is at the top of her list of educational options. She plans to pursue a career in medicine, perhaps as a nurse anesthetist.

When she departs, Buhr will leave a positive mark on her school and community. “Lauryn is not only a role model for her peers but also someone who is always willing to lend a helping hand,” Green writes. “Her empathy and kindness further contribute to a positive school environment.”

Buhr received $250 to donate to a school organization as part of the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award. She plans to donate hers to HOSA, the organization for future health professionals.

To nominate a student for the leadership award, head to www.logan.org/about/the-winslow-nichols-leadership-award/.

    Balancing academics and sports is one of Lauryn Buhr's super powers. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)