Senior Spotlight Students Bookmark Their Important Moments

We are pleased to feature this year’s Senior Spotlight students in our annual review of local high schoolers, making an impact on their school and home communities. Local schools nominated a wide breadth of impressive students, and our team was wholly impressed by the nominees’ academic excellence, extracurricular talent and personal drive. All are deserving in their own way.

The outstanding Senior Spotlight members our committee chose to highlight represent themselves and their schools in inspiring ways and underscore the sheer quality of students and educators that are part of our communities.

Hannah Bubb

The Blake School

“Hannah Bubb, a standout junior at The Blake School, represents the pinnacle of academic excellence and civic dedication. Her selection as one of only 15 students nationwide for the USA Development Debate Team underscores her analytical prowess, yet her impact transcends her competitive accolades. Hannah is defined by her exceptional character and a leadership style rooted in integrity and inclusivity. As a veteran leader on the Blake Debate Team, she doesn’t just win rounds; she fosters a culture of rigorous intellectual curiosity and mutual respect. Recognizing that a legacy is measured by what one leaves behind, Hannah is currently helping with the development of a middle school debate program … This initiative highlights her selfless commitment to the community and her vision for long-term institutional growth … Hannah embodies the spirit of a true community member—one who uses her individual success to elevate everyone around her.” —Shane Stafford, debate coach, The Blake School

Hannah points to Stafford as making an impact on her life. “When I joined Blake debate, I lacked confidence in my voice. [He] saw that I had something to say and cared enough to listen,” she says, gaining trust in her power and learning to advocate for herself and others. “That education is a gift, which has changed my life for the better,” Hannah says. “And, when debate becomes about anything other than education, I live by [Stafford’s] words: ‘Learn, and have fun.’”

With her academic, extracurricular and life pursuits, Hannah meticulously organizes her schedule but says she couldn’t do it without the support of family and friends. “It is easy to get absorbed by academics and forget why you are working so hard in the first place,” she says. “So, sometimes, the best way to manage [being overwhelmed] is to connect with the people who matter most to you.”

Hannah in Three

Best High School Class: “Every week in Advanced Seminar, my classmates and I analyze rich sources of history, investigating a variety of perspectives and forming our own opinions about complex events … At the end of the week, we have a full class discussion about what we learned. As a debater, this class is not only fun but a great way for me to tackle topics experimentally, outside of a win/lose situation.”

Favorite Motto or Quote: “Be brave, not perfect.” —Reshma Saujani

Skill to Learn: American Sign Language to “bridge gaps in communication that can feel extremely isolating.”

More about Hannah:

• Cornell Debate Camp: champion, Worlds division (2025); Cornell Debate Camp: semifinalist, Worlds division (2024)
• Ed Long Invitational Tournament: second speaker overall, Worlds division (2025)
• Harvard Debate Camp (2026)
• Harvard Invitational Debate Tournament: sixth speaker overall; Harvard Invitational Debate Tournament: quarterfinalist, Worlds division (2026); Harvard Westlake Debate Tournament: champion, Worlds division (2026)
• John Edie Holiday Invitational Tournament: 15th speaker overall, Worlds division (2024); John Edie Holiday Invitational Tournament: champion, Worlds division (2024); John Edie Holiday Invitational Tournament: quarterfinalist Worlds division (2025); John Edie Holiday Invitational Tournament: [speaker award] (2025)
• Middle School Worlds Debate Pipeline Development Program volunteer: designed and piloted program to introduce middle schoolers to Worlds Debate (2025–26)
• National Speech and Debate Tournament: 19th speaker overall, Worlds division (2025); National Speech and Debate Tournament: double octo finalist (2025)
• New Tech Coppell Online Tournament: second place Worlds division (2025)
• The Blake School Varsity Debate Team (captain, 2025, 2026)
• Tim Averill Debate Tournament: champion, Worlds Debate (2025)
• Tournament of Champions: Selected to participate (2025)
• Wayzata Volunteer Club (2024–25)
• Worlds Team Debate: Blake High School [team captain, 2025, 2026] (2024–26); Worlds Team Debate: Team USA Development [team captain, case team captain, 2025, 2026] (2024–26)

Marley Jack

Minnetonka High School

“Marley Jack is an exceptional young leader whose impact is felt across academics, athletics and her school community. She balances a demanding schedule of advanced courses and PSEO college classes while competing at a truly elite level in track and field. Her coach highlights her remarkable achievements: an All-State runner, a Nike Nationals competitor and a school record holder. Despite these accomplishments, Marley remains a humble, dedicated teammate … In Spanish IV, she sets the tone for the classroom through her kindness, respect and maturity … Her commitment to academic rigor is impressive, but it is her empathy and character that elevate her even further. Beyond the classroom, she is a steadfast community leader. Marley contributes meaningfully to the Black Student Union, helps organize the Cultural Fair and competes in both soccer and track. She consistently gives more than she takes, modeling what it means to uplift others. She is a true self starter and a shining example of how to engage with one’s community with purpose and heart.” —Monica Jones, school counselor, Minnetonka High School

Marley has a full plate of academic demands and extracurricular activities. How does she keep it all in check? “I make an egregious amount of lists! I’ll take a look at my week … and I make lists for high priority tasks, tasks that I have more time with, tasks for clubs, etc.,” she says.

Through her experiences, Marley points to Jones, who nominated her for Senior Spotlight, for having a major impact. “She has looked out for me since I have met her,” she says. “She’s nominated me for countless opportunities and has checked in on me when she knew I had a lot on my plate. She has guided me in so many more ways, even though she is not my counselor. She has made me want to be better, just because she believes I can.”

Marley in Three

Best High School Class: “AP Pre Calc! It made me love math again, and it had the right amount of challenge vs. joy for me!”

Favorite Quote: “This too shall pass.”

Self-description: “Witty, hardworking and passionate”

More about Marley: 

• Academic Anchors tutor (2025/2026 school year)
• All American (2025: track)
• All Conference/All state (2025: track)
• All State Academic (2025: track)
• AP Scholar (2025)
• Created MHS’ Black Student Union (2025/2026 school year)
• DECA state participant (2025)
• First Mate (2026/2027 school year)
• Legacy Club 2027 student leader (2025)
• National Honor Society member (2026)
• Plan and operate Minnetonka High School Cultural Fair (2025, 2026)
• Qualifier for College Board National Recognition Program School Recognition Award (2026)
• Representative at Experience Minnetonka (2026) experience
• Skipper Student of the week (2025)
• Varsity letter (2024, 2025)

Jack Errington

Minnetonka High School

“Jack Errington is an exceptional communicator and a natural leader. This fall, he was a member of the winning team for our VANTAGE Public Policy Education Policy Sprint, a competitive, fast-paced program that challenges students to research, develop and present policy recommendations …Additionally, he has a deep commitment to the arts, frequently being cast in featured or lead roles … Finally, his service to his peers as a writing coach exemplifies his generosity and pedagogical skill. He has served in the Writing Center since his sophomore year, conducting regular one-on-one writing conferences, offering constructive feedback and helping his fellow students develop stronger final projects for their courses.” —Theresa Exenberger, school counselor, Minnetonka High School

The busy life of a high schooler can be overwhelming. To stay on course, Jack organizes his tasks, using reminder apps as visual cues. “Beyond just this, it always helps me to remember who I am working for,” he says. “While I may get stressed at times, I can at least know that I’m making my parents, teachers and friends proud.”

While organization is important, having an inspirational person in one’s life is key. Jack points to Trent Boyum, Minnetonka Theatre’s artistic director. “He has always been able to cultivate a space where I can escape all the stresses of my life outside of performing,” he says. “While in rehearsal, although I am technically playing someone else, I really feel free to actually be myself. Trent always talks about how theater is the most collaborative art form, and through Minnetonka Theatre, I have met some of my best friends who are just as passionate as me. That wouldn’t have been possible without Trent’s unceasing love for the theater.”

One might be surprised about Jack’s other interest—sports, having tried his hand playing baseball, basketball, football and soccer. “I found that I certainly wasn’t going to be a pro at any of them. However, I still follow most of these sports,” he says, participating in fantasy teams and dabbling in pickleball. “All this to say, although the world views those into theater and those into sports as separate, I prove that these interests can coexist.”

Jack in Three

Best high school class: AP U.S. History

Favorite Quote: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Happy Place in the Community: “The Excelsior Commons during the summertime.”

More about Jack: 

• A Level Honor Roll every semester of high school
• AP Scholar
• Cast member of Cabaret and Anything Goes, which both received the highest possible designation from Hennepin Arts Theater Trust
• Concert Choir member, traveling on annual domestic tours and competing in state competitions
• Former member of Model U.N. Club
• Member of Interact Club
• Member of MHS’s National Honor Society chapter
• Member of the MHS Principal’s Advisory Council
• Participant in International Studies, a two-week foreign exchange program with a corresponding high school student in Germany
• Part-time daycare teacher’s aide at a preschool in Chanhassen
• Performed in featured or lead roles in every fall musical, winter play and spring musical through MHS’s highly competitive theater program
• Student of private vocal and dance training
• Winner of VANTAGE Education Policy Challenge; Winner of VANTAGE Team Cookie Building Challenge
• Writer for Minnetonka Breezes
• Writing coach at The Writing Center at MHS

Chloe Kern

The Blake School

“Chloe Kern is a born scholar, quick to notice details, make connections and add nuance. In a class of outspoken students who frequently debate historical topics, Chloe impresses with the quality—rather than the volume—of her contributions … Beyond her clear academic skills, Chloe demonstrates a willingness to foster intellectual curiosity in others. For a midterm project, she wrote a nonfiction picture book about the War of 1812 that introduced complex themes and basic research skills to middle grade readers in an accessible way … she also created the illustrations, demonstrating that she is a gifted artist. In an art history class, she created a dream gallery based on the theme of Memory, asking the question, ‘What do we choose to remember?’ With this question she connected 20th century artists who are rarely, if ever, grouped together. Chloe is a scholar, artist and creative thinker who cares about people and finds new connections among us.” —N’Jai-An Patters, social studies teacher, The Blake School

Chloe’s classmates are likely aware of her classroom and extracurricular activities (Ask her about Sotheby’s art crime summer program!), but she has another tool in her academic toolbox: studying Norwegian for six years. She attends Bemidji’s Concordia Language Villages’ Norwegian village, Skogfjorden, and works with a tutor during the school year. While learning the language and culture have obvious benefits, studying Norwegian enabled Chloe to find and translate primary sources for her sophomore year research project. (She also studies French and Latin!)

While Chloe’s academic pursuit away from The Blake School has been important to her, her time in high school has left a lasting impact. She points to Bill Colburn, visual arts teacher, who has helped inform her art and outlook on life by challenging her to “view the world in novel ways,” she says. “He always encourages his students to reflect on the world we inhabit and pushes them to constantly rethink the way they view it. My time at Blake and the way I approach art and life in general would not be the same without his influence.”

Chloe in Three

Best High School Class: Global Power and Resistance

Happy Place in the Community: “I love to walk on the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail with my dog!”

Self-description: “Curious, driven and enthusiastic”

More about Chloe: 

• Advanced Action Research: Identities & Representations – Conference Pittsburgh, PA (spring 2026)
• All State Academic Award (2024–25 and 2025–26)
• Blake Bear-to-Bear Program Peer Tutoring (2025, 2026)
• Blake’s Martha Bennett Gallery Curation Team (since 2024)
• Blake’s student newspaper, The Spectrum, staff writer (since 2023)
• Enjoys painting, writing, fiber arts, hiking, being outdoors and learning new things
• Irene Tove Dahl Merit Scholarship (Norwegian Language study, Concordia Language Villages 2025)
• Lunds & Byerlys employee (since 2025)
• Nordic Ski Awards: Girls’ MS Rookie of the Year (2022–23), Most Improved (2024–25) Spirit of Nordic Award (2025–26), Mother Hen Award (2025–26)
• Nordic Ski Team Captain (2025–26, 2026–27 seasons)
• Scholastic Regional Writing Award (Silver Key 2025)
• Science Bowl Team (2025–2026)
• Sotheby’s Summer Program in Art Crime (2025)
• Studies Norwegian, French and Latin languages
• Swiss Semester study abroad program (2024)
• Varsity Letter in Nordic Skiing (2024–25, 2025–26)