MARYSVILLE Im actually pretty happy, said Marysville-Pilchuck High Schools Kelly Allyson Brasfield, 17.
Having been tabbed as the female student of the month for February, Kelly figures she has joined an elite group of 18 seniors named as a student of the month. She noted thats out of a projected class of about 622 students.
If you think about it, thats pretty exciting, Kelly said.
Its an honor, said Kellys male counterpart for February, Curtis Klep, also 17.
Both Kelly and Curtis have been involved in any number of activities around the high school and the community. For Kelly, that involvement has led to spending plenty of time at the high school swimming pool, even though shes not a member of the school swim team.
Its kind of like running track, Kelly said of swimming as a sport, comparing swimming laps in a pool to doing laps on a running track. Shes simply not interested.
I love swimming, just not competitively, Kelly said.
She does however teach swimming and work as a lifeguard at the high school pool. She said lifeguarding can be a bit on the boring side.
Youre just standing around, she said.
Teaching swimming is whole different experience in her opinion. She works with children from ages three months to 13 years.
I love working with kids, she said.
Kelly wants to go into physical therapy and possibly work with young children. Then again, there is the thought of becoming the first female trainer for a professional sports team.
Im going to be working hard toward that goal, Kelly said.
While she doesnt play herself, Kelly adds she is a highly enthusiastic hockey fan. She even admits she likes the fights that often break out during games.
Im a pretty aggressive person myself, Kelly said.
For Curtis, football is his major preoccupation. In fact, if youre familiar with The Globe sports pages, you already may recognize Curtis name. An offensive guard, he was captain of this years Marysville-Pilchuck squad. But Curtis has taken his zeal for the game off the field as well.
Curtis is the founder of both the high schools Football Club and the independent Marysville Football Club, a non-profit group for which he serves as president. The clubs came about directly as a result of the appointment of new head coach Brandon Carson.
Curtis saw that appointment as a unique opportunity.
It was a time to start fresh and new and to bring the players together, Curtis said.
The result included a car wash and other fundraisers. Team members spent a day helping run an 88th Street clean-up. Their efforts didnt go unnoticed. The Marysville Rotary donated $1,000 that ultimately went for new equipment for the high school squad. Perhaps more importantly, Curtis likes to think his efforts helped inspire the team to their best record in several years.
Away from swimming and hockey, Kelly is the appointed historian and parliamentarian for the high schools Associated Student Body.
Its a huge chance to meet people, she said. Its just fun to plan activities and stuff.
Kelly is also the business manager for the Marysville-Pilchuck yearbook. Shes played softball for the school and for city leagues for many years.
When hes not involved with football team in one way or another, Curtis announces other sporting events at the high school and online. He even sat behind the mic for local cable-TV operator Comcast. The thought of becoming a professional broadcaster has crossed his mind.
Its a pathway Im thinking about heading in, he said, though he also talked about becoming a high school football coach.
Curtis also is involved with the Smokey Point Community Church, where he and his mother taught Sunday school to 4- and 5-year-olds the last two summers.
The daughter of Randy and Karen Brasfield of Marysville, Kelly is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a 3.6 GPA. She plans to attend Eastern Washington University next year.
Like Kelly, Curtis belongs to the National Honor Society and has a 3.9 GPA. He plans to attend Washington State University. He wont be playing football, but will be majoring in education. Curtis is the son of Gerry and Debbie Klep of Marysville.