"Kindness in Action" I have a friend, Annalyse, that is extremely frightened to be on stage. She sings beautifully, but the thought of an audience paralyzes her. At district choir, Annalyse and I were scheduled to perform a duet. Every time in the past she has tried to perform solo, the stage fright has completely overwhelmed her—she has run off stage, thrown up, or even fainted. Knowing how much she loved to sing and how talented she was, I decided to tackle that problem and help her overcome her stage fright for this performance. Before we walked out, she was shaking, convinced she would fail. I told her we were doing this together, and as we stepped into the lights, I simply held her hand. Throughout the entire performance, I kept a firm, reassuring grip. It wasn't about the music; it was about the physical connection, a silent anchor in her storm of anxiety. And it worked! She sang through the entire duet without faltering. This moment was important to me because it wasn't just about finishing a song; it was about showing up for a friend and seeing her triumph over something that had controlled her for so long. Witnessing her fear dissolve into a smile made me realize the profound power of simple support. "Creating Connection" The culmination of the 4-H year arrives with the Lake County Fair, and the intense Round Robin showmanship competition. This event brings together all first-place showmanship winners, requiring them to compete across every animal category, not just their own. For instance, a winner in the dog category must also exhibit showmanship with a cat, poultry, and rabbit. It is a unique challenge that relies heavily on a spirit of collaboration, as contestants traditionally share insights about their specific animals to ensure a fair and educational experience for everyone. Last year, the competition’s inherent spirit of sportsmanship was challenged. A fellow contestant, known for being highly competitive, refused to share any details about their dog, hoping to gain an advantage. Having competed against this individual for years and knowing her dog well from my own time in the dog project, I recognized that this was creating an atmosphere of exclusion and tension. To counteract this, I proactively organized an impromptu study session for the other contestants. I offered my knowledge on the different animals and their unique qualities, helping my peers understand the nuances of showmanship across the various categories. While individual preparation remained essential, this gathering helped re-establish a collective sense of encouragement. I worked to shift the focus from hoarding information to wishing each other well, successfully steering the competition back toward its foundation of good sportsmanship and mutual support. By stepping in, I helped restore a sense of belonging and inclusion for all participants, proving that shared success is far more rewarding than a singular, guarded victory.

Personal Background and Education My name is Elsie Detert, and I am currently a senior at Polson High School in Polson, Montana. My journey began in Anchorage, Alaska, where I was introduced to the beauty of the outdoors early on. I attended a Waldorf Charter school in Alaska, which provided me with a well-rounded foundation until my family relocated to Montana. This move allowed my father to assist with the family farm. From third grade until high school, my mother homeschooled both my little brother and me. I transitioned back to public school for my freshman year at Charlo High School. I quickly recognized the need for greater academic challenges, particularly in science, and more diverse sports opportunities. This led me to transfer to Polson High School for my junior year, where I immediately became involved in various activities. Interests and Extracurricular Activities I have eagerly jumped into the activities offered at Polson High School, joining every choir available to me. I have also participated in both cross country and track & field, lettering in both sports. My life outside of school is deeply intertwined with my love for animals and the outdoors. I always have a full menagerie of animals to care for, including horses, steers, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, and one fish! In addition to caring for my animals, I am an avid fisherwoman, and I enjoy hiking and riding my horse. Community Involvement I have been an active member of the Charlo Junior Stockgrowers 4-H club for 10 years, which has provided numerous opportunities for community service. Every year, I participate in various events aimed at giving back to the community: Road clean up Flower planting for the community Holiday card making and distribution to local nursing homes and senior centers Gift wrapping for the community Assisting with the County Fair, including setting up and taking down Post-High School Plans I will attend the University of Montana in the fall of 2026 where I will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology to become a game warden or park ranger. My Proposed Charity: Supporting Rural Elders If I were to start my own charity, my mission would be to help the elderly residing in rural areas. Montana is home to many strong, often stubborn, elderly individuals who still desire to do everything themselves, even as their bodies begin to fail them. Mission To provide necessary support for the elderly in rural areas, allowing them to maintain their independence and dignity. Who Would We Serve? Elderly individuals living in rural areas, such as those in Montana, who need assistance with daily tasks. Volunteer Services The volunteers would assist seniors with whatever is needed, working alongside them to ensure their dignity is preserved. Services would include: Companionship: Sitting and visiting with seniors. Errands: Going shopping with them. Outdoor Assistance: Helping them in their yard. Household Help: Assisting with house work. Thank you for this opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My family and I really appreciate it! Thank you for your time and consideration of my application.

Polson is an amazing place. I enjoy going to school here. I love the sense of community that Polson offers, whether it be the Parade of Lights, the Farmer's Market on Friday afternoons, the Cherry Festival, or the Flathead Lake Festival of Arts. The one thing that I would do to make the city of Polson a better place to live is to encourage the younger generation to become involved. I would like younger people to become interested in serving on boards and committees. I would like to see people volunteer to help organize events. I would like people to show up for community events! It seems that in the hustle and bustle of life, nobody wants to commit to things till the very last minute, if at all! They keep their options open in case better things pop up. The fun things that Polson offers would not happen without volunteers. More people need to volunteer so that the ones that have been doing it forever don't get burned out! The seniors at the highschool have to do senior projects to graduate and service is part of it. Maybe adding things like serving on boards and committees as a requirement for graduation would be good. I think once students experienced being on boards and committees they wouldn't be so intimidated and find it's not so bad. If more people became involved in the workings of Polson, it would be a better place to live.

The "pie in the sky" dream for me would be to become a veterinarian. It seems a bit too unattainable at this time. Not only is it expensive, but it is also a LOT of schooling! My brother was in an accident this past summer where he was life-fligted to Seattle with a traumatic brain injury, severely broken jaw, injured spleen, and multiple fractures and bruises. He and my parents spent a month in Seattle recovering. During that time I stayed home and kept everything running at home. I kept the yard alive as well as all the animals! Through my brother's injury, he was found to have an AVM (a cluster of vessels) in his brain that has probably been there since birth. Once found, it is recommended to remove it before it causes brain bleeds and strokes. So, he underwent brain surgery and there went any extra money my family had for my schooling. I have no desire to be tied to large school loans, so I have stepped away from that dream for now. Also, because of the stress of his accident, I am not sure I have it in me to endure 8 years of schooling (the amount of schooling to become a vet.) It just seems like an unattainable dream right now. I am now focusing on wildlife biology or something similar involving animals. The "spark" for my future has always been animals. Through 10 years in 4-H, I have learned so much about different animals. I would love to have a career involving animals in some capacity. If I don't become a veterinarian, I will work toward a degree that involves animals. Just to earn a 4-year degree will take some creativity in the financial department. I have been working hard at applying for every scholarship I can. I've decided to to to school locally to reduce college fees. I will have summer jobs and plan on working during school as well to help offset the cost of school. I am opting for the cheapest housing situation there is. Once I have finished my first year I will either rent a place with multiple roommates to keep costs low, or even live at home and commute to my classes. Since my brother's accident has left him with a traumatic brain injury, I will be the only child in my family going to college. I want to make the most of it to make my parents proud. But the lesson I really learned from his accident is that life is fleeting and I need to grab hold and enjoy it!