As a senior, Derek Waldbillig is actually new to choir. After years of playing Alto Sax, Derek switched to choir this year, because his schedule at Farmington High school wouldn't allow him to put the time into sax he felt it required.
"I'm not gonna be one to just, oh, I'm just gonna blow-off studying, pull-off an 'A', says Derek. "And just get on 4.0 that way, I can't do that. It's not that natural, so I mean, I have to work really hard."
That hard work has produced a 4-point-plus G-P-A, and has Derek ranked 6th in a class of 390 students. He's the Senior class President, President of the Student Council, and a captain on the football team, where he holds the school record for rushing yards in a season.
Says Farmington Head Football Coach Mark Froehling, "He's involved in the community, he's involved in the school, he wants to make a difference where he is, he wants to make this place a better place, he's going to go out in the world and make the world a better place."
If Derek's story sounds vaguely familiar, consider that just 2-years ago we introduced you to Trey Davis, another Farmington football star and FCA member, who set the path for Derek.
"Like he told me about the saying, "I am third", says Derek. God is my first, others next, and you know, me next, and that's a good way to live life."
And now Derek Waldbillig does his best to make sure that others see what it takes to become an Academic All-Star.
Says Derek, "What matters is that you're making the right decisions, and you're doing things that will have a positive effect on how you're going to live the rest of your life."
(Copyright 2009 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
