The Austin Noon Kiwanis has selected Lukas Howard as their student of the month for January. He is a senior at Austin High School.

“My academic experience at the high school has been great and has set me up for success in college,” Howard said. “Teachers and counselors have been my biggest supporters and have shown me the importance of a good education and work ethic. Throughout high school, my academics have improved substantially each year. I’ve realized it feels good achieving your goals.”

Activities and service projects Howard has been involved with include Austinaires, Link-Crew (a welcoming/mentoring program between freshmen and upperclassmen), football, youth camps, a mentoring experience with a teacher in the education field, and theater productions at Riverland and Southland high school.

“I think theater productions are a fun experience and a great way to give back to the community,” he said.

Regarding future goals, Howard plans on enrolling at the University of Saint Thomas this fall.

“I’m going in undecided on my major and plan on completing a Bachelors Degree,” Howard said. “I have already completed 28 college credits through the PSEO program and am hoping to graduate a semester early from college.”

Although he is undecided right now as to what career he will be pursuing, Howard is considering a major in history, psychology or business .

As to someone who has had a notable positive impact on his life, Howard said, “My senior year has been the best year of my life. I think Lynn Keenan, my counselor at the high school, has played a huge role in this. At the beginning of the school year, we worked together to create a flexible schedule that I can find success with. My schedule’s flexibility has enabled me to challenge myself with much more difficult classes and still achieve the A’s I want. Mrs. Keenan came to me with information and reminders for a very important scholarship that I have now applied for. She wrote a letter of recommendation for me for my job working at Southgate. Mrs. Keenan has always been there to answer my questions and help however she can.”