Kenmore resident Kurt Wagner is a man of reputations.
The Inglemoor High senior can be known as a scholar, jock, leader or funny man, depending on who you ask.
“Even though he’s only 17, he’s very wise in how he interacts with peers and adults,” said Inglemoor Associated Student Body (ASB) adviser Tina MacRae.
Wagner, who maintains a 3.9 grade-point average, acted as somewhat of a statesman during his time as Inglemoor’s ASB president.
When school policies were unpopular, such as the one that banned “freak dancing” during homecoming and prom events, it was he who reasoned with students and administration.
“He has a lot of wisdom for someone his age,” said Inglemoor Principal Vicki Sherwood. “It’s his ability to understand the adult perspective and work with it. He can assess the circumstances and make a recommendation that’s adult in perspective.”
Wagner and his fellow Vikings will graduate at 7 p.m. June 10 at the University of Washington.
Wagner also helped establish the Raising Student Voices and Participation (RSVP) group, whose mission is to make Inglemoor a better place by addressing its most pressing concerns.
The organization trained 150 student-facilitators to conduct three forums in which they surveyed their classroom peers and determined what needed to be fixed at the school.
One issue they tackled was the condition of Inglemoor’s parking lots, which needed fresh paint and pot-hole fillings.
Wagner admits that the six-month RSVP project was more than he bargained for.
“To be totally honest, if I knew how much work it would be, I might not have volunteered,” he said. “Now that it’s over, I’m really glad. It really impacted me and got me involved in the school.”
MacRae claims the RSVP project showed Wagner at his best.
“His follow-through is amazing,” she said. “You give him a task, and it’s done. You never have to check with him to make sure it’s up to standard.”
Wagner proved to be a go-to guy in athletics, as well, as he lettered in football and baseball.
On the gridiron, he was one of two seniors, the other being A.J. Morrow, who stepped in to play quarterback for injured starter Todd Campbell throughout most of the Vikings’ 2007 season.
Wagner helped his team reach the 4A state quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Lewis and Clark High.
“The thing he did that was really outstanding was sharing the position,” said Viking head football coach Frank Naish. “In the world of football, that’s not an easy thing to do. He did it with leadership and a great attitude.”
Wagner put his comical side on display while taping shows for “Good Morning Inglemoor,” a news production that features student videos.
“He has such a great sense of humor,” MacRae said. “He’s not afraid to make fun of himself in front of his peers.”
Wagner will attend Santa Clara University in California next fall, where he plans on majoring in communications to become a broadcast journalist.
