Student-Athlete of the Week: Ryan Gray

Outside of the Cougar cheer squad, you probably won't find a student with more unabashed school spirit than Niwot junior Ryan Gray. Whether it's cheering on the home team at a state tournament, or spearheading a student council fundraiser, if it helps the NHS community, it's likely that Gray is involved.

But his Niwot spirit doesn't stay on the campus grounds. As student council vice-president, he is working to forge a stronger relationship between the school and the town's organizations, with hopes of making the world a better place along the way.

"I feel like my high school is almost seen as a nuisance to a lot of the community around Niwot, and I think we need to change that culture," he said. "Niwot High can help Niwot businesses, and Niwot businesses can help Niwot High School."

In December, he partnered with the Niwot Business Association to bring the school's annual Toys for Tots drive to area businesses, resulting in the "largest ever," he said. More recently, he worked with Deborah Read Fowler on a ski gear sale at the Apres Ski pop-up event, raising more than $2,000 for the Small Town, Big Heart fund for Marshall Fire relief.

"Ryan is both resourceful and responsive," Fowler said of Gray. "He was great to work with to put this event together. He has a bright future."

Back at school, Gray and the student council are preparing to launch a new app that aims to boost participation in school events. Called "Five-Star Students," participants earn points for checking in to games or activities, which can later be redeemed for Niwot gear such as sweatshirts or tee-shirts.

"For example, there was one for attending the swimming meet tonight," he said. "I'd like it to be a pretty big deal, and we're trying to implement that into the culture right now."

Gray certainly leads by example in that respect. He's a regular in the stands at Cougar athletic events, both at home and on the road. That included courtside at October's Class 4A state tennis tournament in Pueblo, where he cheered as teammates Luke Weber and LiChen Liao won individual state tennis titles, after his own disappointing loss at the regional qualifier the week before. For head tennis coach Aimee Keronen, that unselfish outlook makes Gray a "natural-born leader."

"His energy is always positive, even if he loses a match," she said of the third-year varsity doubles player. "He's the first one to go start cheering for everyone else and, and he supports everybody, and all sports. He's a super smart kid, too. He's just the whole package."

Gray's love of athletics and building community intersect as a partner on Niwot's new unified basketball team, which debuted in January. Created by Special Olympics, unified sports programs give special needs students a chance to train and compete with other school athletes, to foster "friendship and understanding." Gray confirms that there has been a lot of the former as he gets to know students outside his usual classes.

"I really like a community atmosphere, and you can't really have community without knowing everyone," he said. "So being able to meet all of these kids is just great. And honestly, it's fun. I haven't played basketball since sixth grade, and this is definitely a refresher. But just being out there with them, and helping everyone learn basketball and play high school sports is great. It's something that everyone should be able to participate in."

In the classroom, Gray is completing his first year in Niwot's demanding IB diploma programme, and mentioned psychology and Theory of Knowledge as two of his favorite classes. Outside of school, he is a volunteer shift leader at the Family Assistance Association in Boulder, a non-profit organization that provides aid to disadvantaged families. He also works as a server at Ask'Kara in Boulder.