Student of the Week: McKynzie Clark

At Niwot High School, the name McKynzie Clark has become synonymous with “leader.” In fact, it might be easier to list the clubs and organizations that she hasn’t helmed over the past four years than the ones she has.

A non-exhaustive list of her titles just from senior year includes President of National Honor Society, captain of the Forensics interpretive team, lead prosecutor for Mock Trial, and co-director of The Drowsy Chaperone. Her talents also extend to the classroom, where she’s a top student in the school’s rigorous IB program, and the stage, where she’s filled leading roles in many of the school’s theatre productions. Earlier this month, she was named Niwot Rotary Student of the Year, in recognition of her outstanding academic accomplishments and dedication to community service.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve had this very clear sense that what I do today is directly affecting what I do tomorrow,” Clark said, reflecting on her long list of achievements. “I remember thinking it in elementary school, in middle school and in high school when I was deciding extracurriculars and trying to set myself up for success. I’m very intrinsically motivated. I’ve always been able to look at something and say ‘I want that’ and then do it the best I can.”

It’s hard to overstate Clark’s impact on her peers and the school community during her years at Niwot, according to faculty advisors for Mock Trial and Forensics.

“McKynzie has not only been an incredible member of the NHS Mock Trial team, she's also been an exceptional leader, mentor and facilitator,” Counselor Aimee Brown wrote. “Kynzie is organized, communicative and an outstanding advocate for the team.”

Forensics coach William Pankonin agreed. “Niwot High School has been lucky to have Kynzie as a part of our school family,” he wrote.

Now, as she prepares for graduation, the uncommonly proficient Clark is looking ahead to her next big challenge: Yale University. Honoring a long family tradition of military service, Clark is heading to the Ivy League courtesy of an ROTC scholarship, which will pay for her education in exchange for post-graduation service as an Air Force officer. After earning an undergraduate degree, Clark hopes to attend law school and then serve as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the service before entering a career in diplomacy, intelligence or politics.

Clark has no plans to abandon her extracurricular pursuits while in New Haven.

“I’m planning to take full advantage of every single thing I can get my hands on,” she said. “I’ve already emailed the Mock Trial team, and I already have the details about tryouts. I am also looking forward to doing the Arnold Air Society, which is like National Honor Society but in Air Force ROTC.”

She also hopes to keep up with her creative pursuits, and has reached out to Yale Children’s Theatre.

“It’s a really great stress relief,” she said. “I’m a person who very much needs an artistic outlet.”

As Clark prepares for graduation and life after Niwot High, she had some final thoughts for her fellow Niwot overachievers.

“By consistently working really hard and putting myself into new situations and new activities, I have met so many mentors and amazing people that I have taken so much from,” she said.

But she also cautioned against the achieve-at-all-costs mentality which sometimes consumes high-school seniors.

“I wish there was more of a culture of trial-and-error and troubleshooting, rather than failure being the worst possible option,” she said. “I wish there was a more healthy culture that encourages falling down but brushing your knees off and running again.”