JANESVILLE, Wis. — Giving back to the community and being a leader is what Janesville Parker High School’s Addison Riley-Lein is all about.
Over the past four years in high school, she’s found a way to be a leader in sports and in the classroom.
The classroom is a place where Riley-Lein thrives. She’s earned academic honors each year throughout her high school career. She said her mom is someone who has inspired her throughout high school.
“My mom motivates me the most,” said Riley-Lein. “She always tells me ‘you’re going to do great things.’ That has always inspired me so much through high school.”
In her senior year, she’s racked up quite a few accolades. She’s the president of the school’s DECA team and has qualified for both state and international competitions.
She also speaks at the district’s school board meetings and keeps the community informed on everything going on at Janesville Parker High School.
Her DECA coach John Zimmerman said she’s made an impact during her time as a student.
“She’s left her footprint on our school in many different ways,” Zimmerman said.
Riley-Lein said she has a passion for giving back and serving her community. She’s managed to find a way to continuously volunteer throughout her high school career.
She volunteers at a local abuse recovery center and at the local hospital system. She also volunteers in many other ways through DECA.
She said all of the extra volunteering and giving back is a part of who she is as a person.
“I think what I get out of it is a lot more than what I am giving in the end,” Riley-Lein said.
On top of all her volunteering and academics, she also excels as an athlete. She’s been captain of the varsity volleyball team the past two seasons and has grown as an athlete.
She’s also participated in track during her time at Janesville Parker.
“Seeing the growth that has happened just makes me really proud and happy to know that I took the opportunities available to me, and it worked out in my favor,” she said.
Her coaches said they have seen her grow over the years and believe she’s been an incredible asset to the team.
“It has been a joy to just work with her,” varsity head volleyball coach Samantha Corrigan said. “She is probably the most positive, team-focused, team-centered kid you could ever imagine.”
Her long time coach Bruce Erickson, who coached her throughout junior high and beyond, echoed those thoughts and said he knows she will accomplish great things moving forward.
“Just to see what she has been able to put herself through and know that wherever she goes and whatever she does, she is going to have success in whatever she chooses,” Erickson said.
Riley-Lein will graduate this spring and has earned a full-ride scholarship to Carthage College and has plans to go into exercise science.
Athletic Director Clayton Krueger said he knows the school will miss her and all the positivity she’s brought the past four years once she graduates.
“She’s a leader in whatever group she is a part of and she just makes a difference,” Kreger said. “What I like about Addie is she is always willing to make others around her better.”