CHARACTER COUNTS

Westwood High School’s Kate Anderson juggles leadership in the pool and Unified Sports

Oct 8, 2024, 5:00 AM | Updated: 10:40 am

Kate Anderson of Westwood High School...

Kate Anderson from Westwood High School (Courtesy Kate Anderson)

(Courtesy Kate Anderson)

Westwood High School’s Kate Anderson might be surprised she’s a senior now. But in her busy schedule of activities and athletics, it’s clear that falling into new passions and leading comes naturally.

Anderson is one of 10 finalists for the Arizona Sports Character Counts Scholarship, presented by Parker & Sons, and it’s her leadership that has made her a candidate to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Take her role in Unified Sports as an example. Anderson joined Westwood’s Unified Club because she had an open block in her schedule to fill.

“I joined the class last year not really knowing what I was getting myself into,” she said of Unified Sports, which pairs students with disabilities with partners to help them compete in different sports. That included badminton, basketball and track.

She ultimately became the Unified Club president and is a secretary for the Special Olympics Arizona Youth Activation Committee.

“Last year for badminton, me and my partner qualified … I never thought I’d be a state qualifier for anything,” Anderson said. “I never thought I’d be playing with really tall basketball players on the team — I never thought I’d be playing that. Or track. I never thought I’d be running.

“It’s amazing to see everybody from different places around Westwood, different groups and stuff, to all come together and become best friends instantly.”

Anderson is also co-captain of the swim and dive team she’s been a part of her entire high school career. She’s taken the lessons passed down from her own captains and applied them this season.

“I love looking around at everyone around me and seeing the way we all work together, just the togetherness of our team, the unified aspect,” she said. “I’ve always looked up to the captains and how they’ve created a fun, uplifting environment.

“I’m just trying to create that fun environment for all my other teammates who are underclassmen.”

Swiming isn’t her only sport. Anderson, who has worked three years as a lifeguard for the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, has also played tennis throughout her high school career.

She’s also deeply involved in her church and has served as a Stake Youth Committee member and contributed as Young Women’s counselor.

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