Cole Moses is a spirited Whitefish High School senior who seeks to lead through service and selflessness.  

Whitefish High School counselor Ally Jones said the student athlete's kindness, compassion and “strong moral compass” set him apart from his peers in her letter nominating the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award honoree.  

“Cole has a genuine way of connecting with others ...,” Jones wrote. “He greets staff and students with sincerity, listens intently, and treats everyone with respect, which is a rare quality that speaks volumes about his character.”  

The award recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. The award is sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake.  

Moses practices leadership through mentorship. He views mentors as guides who share wisdom and perspectives on life.  

“I was always appreciative for those people in my life, and I try my best to be one as well to others,” Moses said.  

AT SCHOOL, Moses served as a student mentor for students with disabilities as part of the high school’s Extended Resource Student Service Program class, continuing those relationships over summer break.  

“I spent a lot of time with students in theater arts. ... just being a friend and peer to them, helping them along the way, whether it’s life skills or knowledge skills in the classroom,” he said.  

As part of the Winslow Nichols Leadership award, honorees choose a school club or activity to receive a $250 donation. Moses plans to donate the money to the Student Mentor Special Services program.  

He also hopes to be a positive role model to younger students through programs such as Muldown Mornings and Bulldog Brothers. He said Muldown Mornings involves going over to the elementary school and interacting with the students.  

“Twenty to 30 minutes before school, we’d just give high fives and welcome the younger kids when they’re going to school. Then, we walk around and talk with them about their day,” he said.  

For the Bulldog Brothers, a program organized by Whitefish High School head football coach Brett Bollweg, Moses said seniors and juniors are paired with sophomores and freshmen to help forge connections between varsity and junior varsity players and serve as mentors.  

“It’s a way for like the freshman and sophomores to interact with an older classmate and kind of get the lay of the land when they’re coming into school, whether it’s life advice or tips or directions,” Moses said.   

“It’s just a way to take a younger guy under your wing and show them around and be hospitable. But I think it drives some fellowship across the team as well,” he said.  

Moses credits Bollweg with playing a part in shaping his leadership style and the weekly leadership class the coach holds after summer football workouts, where participants read books and hold discussions. One of those books that made a lasting impression on Moses was “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader,” by John Maxwell, a book he still returns to for guidance.  

“His most quoted phrase in the book, I believe, is, a leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way,” Moses said. “Nobody wants to follow a leader who doesn’t practice what they preach.”    

And that’s what Moses aspires to do as a leader, with the Bible serving as his moral compass.  

In his leadership roles, Moses is the student council senior class secretary and serves as co-president and treasurer of the Whitefish High School’s Cancer Support Association. Being a part of the Cancer Support Association and engaging the community in its efforts holds significant meaning for him, having a family member who survived breast and skin cancer.  

“It was something that affected our family a lot, and I know how it affects so many other people’s lives as well — takes you, takes people’s lives and plans by storm,” Moses said, noting that the number of people affected by cancer in the Flathead Valley is startling.   

“So [we’re] just doing our part in the high school to help those people and serve them in any way possible,” he said.  

LAST SUMMER, Moses brought community members together through the popular sport of pickleball, organizing a tournament fundraiser.  

“I thought it would be cool to throw a pickleball tournament. I think Whitefish was yearning for something like that with the amount of people who were playing pickleball,” which the tennis player said is a great sport.  

“The reason why I think pickleball is so popular is because of its, like, inclusivity for age ranges and demographics. Whoever you are, you can play pickleball — and you can be good at it,” he said.   

“You can go out there and get whooped by somebody triple your age, and I think that’s what makes it fun is the equality in the sport," he said with a laugh. “It just brings a community together."  

To get the tournament off the ground, he made a cold pitch to National Parks Realty, where he was interning. His pitch was met with enthusiasm, and the company became a sponsor.  

“The marketing team there really helped me learn so much about marketing itself, in the whole process, while guiding me through how to actually run an event,” Moses said.  

The pickleball tournament was a success, raising around $1,600, which was donated to the Wings Regional Cancer Support nonprofit. He hopes the summer pickleball tournament will be an annual event and is currently in the process of reaching out to people to take on the reins.  

In addition to football and tennis, Moses has competed in hockey and track. He’s also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Student Athlete Leadership Team.

MOSES IS also someone who takes initiative when he sees a need. As the varsity football captain, he spearheaded a community spirit project, hoping to drum up excitement for the 2025 football season  

“As a team, we were very excited about the season for football this year, and we had something special, like we knew we were going to be pretty solid, and we were putting really a lot of work into it, more than other years," Moses said. “We wanted the community to be just as excited for our first game and I guess bring the energy that we feel might have lacked in the town as a whole.”    

For the community spirit project, he got help from a coach to design yard signs that read, “This house backs the dogs,” and another that read, “One town, one pound.” He then connected with the sponsor, Whitefish Executive Services, through a teammate, and 100 signs were made.  

At Whitefish, Moses has seized the opportunities of attending a smaller high school by trying a variety of classes, sports, clubs and activities. He said each offers a learning experience in what he enjoys doing and where he excels.  

“I did a lot of jumping around, but I feel that’s what high school is for. It’s not about mastering one subject,” Moses said.    

This year, a friend convinced the 4.0 student to try choir. Moses said he only needed half a credit, but said he enjoyed it so much he decided to continue for the rest of the school year.  

“I would have never thought I would have done choir. I would say I’m not musically talented or musically inclined, but it’s changed my view on a lot of things,” he said, namely how a combination of academics, arts, sports and faith can shape a well-rounded person.  

“That’s kind of why I try to preach that life is just special and ... gives you so many opportunities to participate in so many different things. Why would I be in one niche when I can try a bunch of things and fail at them — learn the ones I enjoy, and then, further down the road, when things have actual, more, stakes in them, choose the things that I enjoy,” he said.  

IN HIS academic aspirations, Moses plans to hone his leadership skills by attending a military academy after graduation, majoring in economics. Moses received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in March and said he is planning a trip to Colorado to get an idea of what campus life is like. He is also waiting to hear back from another military academy.  

“For the last couple of years, I’ve been very motivated on becoming an officer in the military eventually,” Moses said.  

Wherever his post-secondary plans ultimately take him, Moses will approach it with discipline and drive, according to Jones’ nomination letter. In the letter, she noted that was the National Honor Society member’s approach to the Advanced Placement and dual credit classes he’s taken, the latter through Flathead Valley Community College’s Running Start Program.  

“Cole exemplifies what it means to be a student of character. He is driven, kind, and selfless. I enthusiastically recommend him for any opportunity, and I am confident he will continue to uplift those around him and make a lasting impact wherever he goes,” Jones said. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 406-758-4431 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.   

Learn More

Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria: 

Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties. 

Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher. 

Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence. 

Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school. 

Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others. 

Forms are available at logan.org/tomorrowsleaders.