Faces in the Crowd

Check out who’s standing out in our community.

IS THERE SOMEONE YOU’D LIKE TO NOMINATE?

Please email steph@mcsapcoalition.com and tell us why this individual has stood out in your crowd.

Sarah Popp Langford Horses, guinea pigs, frogs, turkeys—it doesn’t matter what kind of critter it is, Sarah Popp Langford loves them! Her kind heart for all living things and positive attitude are two of the reasons she is one of our Faces in the Crowd. Sarah, a sophomore at Granada-Huntley-East Chain, “has experienced more in her 16 years than most adults will in their lifetime. She is wise beyond her years,” said Brenda Millmann, GHEC substance abuse prevention Youth Coalition advisor. “I have known her since elementary school and have enjoyed watching her bloom into a responsible young lady.” She is a loyal friend and a support for classmates, and “I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes as she finishes her high school years,” Brenda said.

Grace Miller A constant in Grace Miller’s life is music. She’s been a singer for community theatre, her church, and Fairmont Area School choirs. She also participates in the school’s bands as an alto sax player and drum major. “I love being involved in activities that music plays a crucial part in,” Grace said. However, one of her favorite activities is co-leading vacation Bible school at Grace Lutheran Church. She has been part of the leadership for the substance abuse prevention Youth Coalition (YOCO) at Fairmont for two years and is a member of the National Honor Society and has enjoyed the many service opportunities that has brought. Grace’s parents are James and Andrea Miller. Her brother, Noah, is a sophomore at FHS.

Samantha Urban Volleyball, basketball, and softball are Samantha Urban’s main sports. But when she’s not playing, she’s fishing, hunting or boating. In her free time, she likes learning about God. She is a member of the Truman substance abuse prevention Youth Coalition which she enjoys “because we have done lots of fun things and are developing more activities that interest kids,” she said. “Sam stands out because she is definitely a leader in our school. She loves to get involved in things going on,” said teacher Jim Utermarck. “She is a very positive person in a negative world. Sam is always full of energy, and her entire class looks up to her.” Samantha is an eighth grader at Truman Public Schools.

Austin Espinosa Austin Espinosa, a Martin County West junior with a deep interest in physics, applied to and was accepted into an elite STEM program in Indiana, the Rose-Hulman Project Select. Project Select is an immersive, hands-on science and engineering camp for high school students. During the project, he worked with professors to explore how science can solve difficult problems. He was most excited to use state-of-the-art equipment to test designs. He plans to share what he learned, get a robotics team going again at MCW, and continue to solve problems and create new things with science. Many members of Austin’s community showed their strong support of him by contributing funds toward the $2000 tuition and incidentals so he could attend without worrying about the expenses.

Tyson Kube Annually, the Minnesota State High School League chooses student recipients for its ExCEL Award which recognizes high school juniors who are leaders in their schools and active in their communities. Tyson Kube, now a senior at Martin Luther High School in Northrop, was chosen as one of MSHSL’s recipients for 2021! Tyson is on the school honor roll and was inducted into the National Honor Society. He plays football, basketball, and golf and participates in track. He volunteers many places including at the local food shelf, with the substance abuse prevention youth coalition, with the blood drive, and at church. To be considered for the award, Tyson wrote an essay and got a reference before his application was considered by an independent panel of judges.