Abby Wheeler is a senior at Superior High School and in the running for a $20,000 scholarship from Coca-Cola.

The scholarship is a three-part application process where she must pass each level to advance to the next. From a pool of 105,000 applicants, she is one of 1,336 selected based on academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated in school and community activities. The field will whittle down to 250 before the final 150 Coke scholars are selected in February. Wheeler is one of 13 semifinalists from the state of Montana. 

Her secondary education plans have her moving way out of Big Sky Country. 

“The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Sydney (Australia) are the two I’m researching now as my finalists,” she said. 

She’s looking at a double major. 

“PT and business and then minoring with a music performance degree in obo or piano. Or maybe both, we’ll see.” 

Wheeler explained the steps after those are accomplished. 

“With a PT degree, what happens is with an undergraduate degree you go into something like health science or kinesiology. I would probably end up doing kinesiology and business management. I would skip graduate school actually, because that is how a PT degree works. You go to four years as an undergrad student and then three years at PT school so I would go straight into PT school and get my doctorate.”  

San Diego is her favorite city, so that has a long-term target on it for "living the dream." 

Meanwhile, Gage Horn, who is a junior at Superior High School, will be attending the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia from Thanksgiving week until Dec. 3.

“To me, this opportunity means a lot, reassuring me that I am capable, in the right community and can only grow from here,” said Horn.

He is a member of the Mullan Trail Mustangs 4-H Club in Frenchtown and the president of the Missoula County 4-H Ambassador Team. Horn attended the Montana 4-H Congress at MSU in Bozeman which is a weeklong event that hosts workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities and competition for members over the age of 13. 

“This was my second year of attending and while I did not get elected for a position on the 4-H Ambassador Team, I competed in the Career Communications contest placing first in the state,” he smiles. “Nationals is only the beginning of a personal lifelong journey that will be enhanced by my 4-H experiences, as I am applying for state office again next summer and college for (probably) engineering the year after at Montana Tech (Butte) and MSU.” 

Engineering, “Because I want to make a difference in the world and solving problems is a good start. I like science and math and I’ve seen the programs at both schools and liked what I saw." 

He talked with an Environmental Engineer at length and felt that this was the direction he wanted to pursue. 

“I am extremely grateful for 4-H and all of the amazing people I’ve met and the experiences that I’ve had. I am glad to be part of something much more than a club-part of a community.”

 Being the ambassador that he is, Horn welcomes calls to answer questions about 4-H events, enrollment, or other opportunities that are offered. (406) 382-0789. 

    As a senior at Superior High School, Abby Wheeler is looking at further her education in Hawaii or Sydney, Australia. She is a semifinalist for the 2025 Coca-Cola Scholars Program for a $20,000.00 college scholarship. (Picture provided)
  

    Gage Horn is a junior at Superior High School and headed to the 4-H National Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. He is in his 7th year of 4-H and received 1st Place in the Career Communications contest during the weeklong Montana 4-H Congress held at Montana State University in Bozeman. (Picture provided)