Thunderbird High School senior Kayla Madsen on track to keep serving

Thunderbird High School senior Kayla Madsen’s career goals are clear. She has already been accepted to Arizona State University and wants to be a labor and delivery nurse.

Madsen is aware of how much one person can make a difference to other people — and to nature. That is why she is a finalist for the Arizona Sports Character Counts scholarship, presented by Parker & Sons.

Madsen holds leadership positions in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), a future health professionals organization, at her church and through the Thunderbird High School Outdoors Club, where she has been vice president.

“My whole life I’ve grown up doing outdoor activities, from hiking … to boating and backcountry camping,” she said. “What’s very important to me is we take care of the outdoors so that others can enjoy it.”

With the club, Madsen organizes trail cleanups and educates others on outdoor safety tips and environmental education.

“I get to help plan how we are going to help people become more informed about the outdoors and how we’re going to take care of it,” she said. “Being outdoors is my happy place and I look forward to making it an even happier place for everyone else.”

Madsen spends volunteer time doing reading projects with youth and at Saint Mary’s Food Bank. She has been a Salvation Army Bell ringer for a decade.

A National Honor Society member, Madsen is also president of her youth group in church, where she plans activities, like a dinner for the elderly.

“We plan and serve meals and spend time visiting and learning and connecting with an older generation,” she said.

She is likewise a leader in HOSA and has been charged with organizing fundraisers and cancer awareness walks.

When she’s not serving others or volunteering, Madsen is playing on the school’s badminton and track teams.

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