Haeley Johnston and Luke Thurber are Mountlake Terrace High School’s Students of the Month for January.

Student Name: Haeley Johnston
Mother’s Name: Andrea Johnston
Father’s Name: Todd Johnston
GPA: 3.97
Clubs & Activities: I have been part of Technology Student Association (TSA) all four years of high school. I was in Key Club for two years and I am currently a member of the MTHS Honor Society.
Honors: Technology Student Association Honor Society: Technology Student Association Silver Achievement Award; Technology Student Association Gold Achievement Award; MTHS Honor Society Treasurer and current President; MTHS TSA President and Reporter; Elected Washington State TSA Reporter, Vice-President, and current President
Awards: I have won seven state championships in TSA, placed seventh in the nation as a sophomore, and have won the Career Preparation event for Washington State four years in a row. Last summer I was presented with the Dr. Bob Hanson Award at the TSA national conference as the outstanding TSA member out of the 234,000 members nationwide. Most recently, I was named a Washington State Scholar in Career and Technical Education, an award only given to five students statewide.
Community Service: I have participated in Honor Society and Key club community events, tutored students in science and math, mentored TSA members who wish to become state officers, and I am currently organizing a Relay for Life event to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Significant School Project: Starting and building the TSA chapter at MTHS is something I am very proud of. I have also worked to expand TSA in Edmonds School District which now has six chapters of TSA and is recognized statewide for their STEM accomplishments. I currently have been helping some chapters get established in surrounding districts and will be going to Olympia later this month to lobby for increased funding for STEM education.
Current Employment: I work as a nanny for a local family.
Future Educational Goals: Next fall, I plan to attend Washington State University, where I am enrolled in the Honors College and plan to major in biochemistry.
Future Career Goals: After earning my degree, I plan to pursue a career in the biotech industry.
Anything else we should know? I love puns! What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator.

Student Name: Luke Thurber
Mother’s Name: Mary Thurber
Father’s Name: Brian Thurber
GPA: 3.96
Clubs & Activities: Since Freshman year I have participated in the Mountlake Terrace HS student newspaper, The Hawkeye. I was the Sports Editor in my Junior year and this year I am the General Manager of The Hawkeye. I have also been a Link Leader for the last two years. Link Leaders help Freshmen throughout the year guiding them through the transition from middle school to high school. As well as Link Crew and The Hawkeye I am also a part of DECA. Every year I have been a part of DECA I have qualified for the state competitions.
ASB: I was elected class secretary my Junior year. As a Senior I am serving as an inter-high school representative to coordinate joint high school events.
Athletics: I was a starting varsity defensive back for the Mountlake Terrace high school football team in the fall. I have played football at Mountlake Terrace for the last four years.
Honors: I received an award for Sports Writing and for Press Law and Ethics at the Journalism Education Association national convention. I have qualified for the state DECA competition for the last three years. This last area competition I got 1st place in Business Law and Ethics.
Awards: I was awarded 3A Wesco South 2nd Team in the defensive back category. I was also awarded the Snohomish County Football Officials Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete scholarship.
Community Service: I volunteer at church fundraisers (food booths at area festivals) in which the proceeds go to local charities like, the Boyer Children’s Clinic and Camp Agape for children with cancer.
Significant School Project: I am currently working on a research study with Dr. Alan Herr from the University of Washington looking at induced polyploidization in mutator yeast cells. This study will help us understand the behavior of cancer cells and how they adapt.
Future Educational Goals: My future education goal is to attend a university and get a degree in bio-medical engineering.
Future Career Goals: Work in a medical research field.
Anything else we should know? I am extremely grateful for everything that Mountlake Terrace has offered me over the last four years. Everyone has helped me open so many doors for myself and showed me how to not only make myself a better more well-rounded person, but also how I can apply myself so I can help the people around me.