Wildcat of the Week #17 is Po-Hi Junior Kyle King

The Heather Cannon for the 2022-2023 school year was presented to Ponca City High School Junior Kyle King. Kyle is the quintessential Wildcat!” said PCPS Superintendent Shelley Arrott.

“First of all, he is highly intelligent and takes all AP courses, plus Chemistry 1, and Spanish 3, and has a GPA of 4.4. Additionally, he is highly involved in a multitude of activities including being team captain of the varsity swimming team, participating in marching and symphonic band, and an active member of student council. But that’s not all … Kyle has a dynamic personality. He is kind, personable, a great conversationalist, a wonderful friend, and a great teammate.”

“Once a Wildcat of the Week is selected based on nominations they receive, Team Radio sends me the recipient’s name and I like to add specific reasons they are the perfect selection as Wildcat of the Week by seeking comments from teachers. I have never had more teachers, directors, and coaches respond with information about a nominee. Without doubt everyone said Kyle is reliable, dependable, self-motivated, an excellent communicator, very inquisitive, and all his teachers said he is one of the brightest students they have ever taught or that he is one of the best kids they have coached or directed. Ms. Smith, Kyle’s AP English teacher, said she would be shocked if he is not the number one valedictorian next year!”

“Specifically, his instructors shared wonderful examples of why Kyle is an amazing Wildcat. Mr. Landers, his chemistry teacher, said, ‘Kyle is very engaged in the learning process in that he shares his views openly with the class so students get another perspective, which few are willing to do, but is key to making the classroom work and engaging.’ Mrs. Klein, his AP Calculus teacher, shared, ‘Kyle has an inquisitive mind and is constantly challenging himself. For example, last semester we were optimizing the cost of an aluminum can by minimizing the amount of material. He and another student took that a step further and tried to answer the question … what would the height of the can be if it was only one atom thick. They come up with a number and I just had to take it on faith they were correct!”

“Coach Heather Harris, his swimming coach, bragged, ‘He is captain for the boys’ team, a 4X regional champion, 3X all conference swimmer, 3-year letter winner, and 3-year state qualifier. This year he finished third in his 100 Free at the state meet!’ She added, ‘I am glad he is receiving this award because Kyle is one of the best kids I have ever coached and he shines in and out of the water.’ One of his band directors, Mr. Pratt, said, ‘Kyle is very bright with a fantastic memory. He absolutely would win the best marcher in the band if there were such an award! In fact, I would recommend him for the Drum Corp, which is like the marching music’s major league for percussionists, but he plays the clarinet.”

“Kyle, it was quite amazing presenting this award to you at the Orchestra in Review concert on Thursday night, and I was so thrilled to brag about what an amazing young man you are in front of parents and so many of our younger Wildcats. You are an amazing role model, and your passion for learning and work ethic is second to none, and it was evident the crowd thought you are pretty amazing, too.”

“Obviously you have little free time because there is a great deal of additional expectations in AP courses, and when you are not completing projects for coursework, you are improving as a swimmer, marcher, and clarinet player. On top of all that, you go above and beyond in STuCO to help make Po-Hi an incredible place to learn by promoting school spirit and fun activities. Mrs. Carter said that you juggle all of your responsibilities extremely well and you put 110 percent into everything you do!”

“I thought it was quite comical that one of your teachers said that your biggest shortcoming is lack of a twin! I had to give you a little bit of a hard time because Mrs. Cochran mentioned after she shared all your remarkable traits that there was that one time you lost your tuxedo shirt for symphonic orchestra. Hey, no one is perfect, but your fellow Wildcats and our school family think you are pretty close!”

“The adult-like characteristics of taking pride in your work, pushing yourself to improve in all areas of your life, and the way you love to represent your school with such dignity is impressive for a junior in high school. I know you plan to go to college upon graduation and become an aerospace engineer. I have no doubt you will accomplish that goal and will be highly successful! You make your family, your school family, and your community extremely proud. One day we will all look back and say I knew him when he was in high school when we witness your accomplishments and the mark you leave on the world. As I told you last night, you are a Wildcat Trifecta, Kyle!”

The “Wildcat of the Week” Award is sponsored by Heather Cannon Honda. The award is for a deserving high school student who follows the characteristics of the Wildcat Way which are Work Ethic, Improve, Leadership, Discipline, Compete, Attitude, and Teamwork. These characteristics may be exhibited in any setting and is open to all Ponca City High School students.

Several Ponca City patrons are involved in making the “Wildcat of the Week” a reality. These partners include Tina Christian, Senator Bill Coleman – TEAM Radio, Heather Cannon – Heather Cannon Honda, Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters, and Tyndall Dentistry.

Each week a new “Wildcat of the Week” will be selected from the nominations of TEAM Radio listeners and viewers. Winners receive a free BBQ sandwich meal from Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters and a T-shirt from Boss Custom Tees. PCPS will make the presentation weekly at Po-Hi. If you know an outstanding student at Po-Hi who is living the Wildcat Way, please use the form in one of these links https://www.poncacitynow.com//32875-2/, or visit www.PoncaCityNow.com, www.PoHiSports.com, or www.pcps.us.