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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Devin Karst
By JoEllen Collins for The Weekly Sun
Track-and-field athlete and musician Devin Karst is a junior at Wood River High School, where he maintains a 3.7 GPA and is a member of National Honor Society.
“Right now, I think I am managing well a full load of junior-year academic subjects,” Karst said. “I really like the math and science classes I’ve had so far and can envision using them in the future in something related to science.”
Karst looks forward to many of the AP classes available to him as a senior.
“In the future, I may pursue a career in some field of psychology, and the classes will help,” he said.
Currently, Karst divides his time between his studies, music, track and field, and volunteer work.
“From the sixth until the 10th grades, I was in Concert Band, and now I enjoy playing the saxophone, guitar, drums, and piano—my favorite instrument—in a jazz band that meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m.,” Karst said. “We have participated in the annual Jazz Festival at Idaho State University. I also practice Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. in a percussion group consisting of snares, basses, cymbals and quads, called Drumline. Sometimes we play at sporting events.”
Karst said that playing musical instruments fills up much of his time, but he also sings bass for WRHS’s all-male group, the B-Tones.
“I am excited at the prospect of going to the Heritage Festival in Anaheim [Calif.],” he said. “I am also involved in sports, mainly track and field, where I do the discus and shot put. We have a good team, and we have more throwers than usual this season. I’m just glad to be able to be at these meets and develop my skills.”
When Karst can sneak it into his busy schedule, he volunteers at Souper Supper, The Hunger Coalition, and the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.
“Maybe having two dogs and two cats is one of the reasons I love animals,” he said. “Last November, when the Hailey fire and police chiefs gave me one of two honors in the ‘Do the Right Thing’ award, it reinforced my activities in the community.”
Karst’s main focus at the moment is his participation in the Idaho Drug-Free Youth Organization, something he’s participated in since sixth grade.
“Our main focus is reaching young people in high school,” he said. “Now I serve on the organization’s Youth Advisory Board for all the chapters in the state as a representative from Blaine County. I plan on attending the Idaho Youth Summit Conference in Coeur d’Alene in June.”
Karst is from a large family with nearby supportive cousins and other relatives. He credits his older cousin Sebass as his prime mentor and guide.
“I am pretty lucky to be where I am and with good people,” he said. “That makes me confident about the future.”
Each week, JoEllen Collins will be profiling a local high-school student. If you know someone you'd like to see featured, e-mail joellencollins1@gmail.com.