Ellie Marble is a seventh grade student at La Conner Middle School in La Conner, Wash. She participates in volleyball, basketball, and track. Marble made the High Performance Volleyball team last summer for the Puget Sound Region where she travelled to Florida to compete in International competition for a week in July. She will be travelling to Colorado Springs over Christmas Break to the Volleyball Olympic National Training Center, where she will have the opportunity to train with USA Volleyball. When it comes to sportsmanship, Marble maintains a positive attitude and inspires her teammates to do their best with an inclusive attitude.

Marble is the ASB secretary for La Conner MS, and is very active with the school’s leadership committee. She led the canned food drive for six and seventh graders and raised 1,834 cans for the local foodbank. She volunteers at the local retirement home, and also started a sweatshirt drive for the teen shelter in Mount Vernon. Marble sets a great example for her peers and works hard to inspire others.

“My favorite thing about her is that when she sets a goal, no matter how big or small, she encourages them to be a part of that success,” said volleyball coach Aly Sehlin. “Ellie is a true leader in all she does!”

Jeron Griffin is an eighth grader at Tumwater Middle School in Tumwater, Wash. He is a member of the cross country and track squads, and swims competitively at the local YMCA. Griffin takes pride in his school through participation in sports, and demonstrating sportsmanship

Griffin is part of a Character Strong group at his school, which encourages student interaction, inclusivity, and teaches other student to follow rules. Griffin leads by example in his group both in the classroom and in sports by showing courage to do the right thing, and supporting his classmates and teammates to always do their best.

Athletic Director, Nick Reykdal, speaks highly of Griffin’s group effort and leadership on and off the field.

“He pitches in on other activities for the team such as [cross country] course prep,” Reykdal said. “Helping coaches with needed tasks, and leading warmups.”