WiIl Ratkovec is January Youth Rotarian
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSHS Senior, Will Ratkovec was named the January 2025 Seward Rotary Club’s Youth Rotarian at the noon luncheon meeting on January 15th at the Jones Bank Auditorium. He was introduced to the club and the son of Jason and Tina Ratkovec of Seward.
Will is a scholar first with a GPA of 4.333. He is always on the Honor Roll and a leader in the SHS National Honor Society at Seward High. He has enjoyed a number of dual credit and AP classes at SHS, including AP Human Geography, Ap Environmental Science, AP US History, AP Biology, and Southeast CC Public Speaking-to name a few of the classes. He is also involved in the Jays Mentoring Program and serves as a leader in the SHS Ambassadors program-hosting guests and new students with tours and as a table host at events. He won the NSAA Academic All State Award as a member of the SHS Cross Country team, and the Microsoft Word Certificate in Business.
Will loves sports and is a three -year member of the SHS Cross Country Team and lettered in the sport as a varsity member all three years. He was a member of the SHS Track Team for two years and ran the 800 relay, the one mile, two mile and solo 800 m as well. He lettered as a result of his 800-relay team.
He is a loyal member of the SHS Men’s Golf team as well and letterman. He also enjoys working on the STRIV media program with the sporting events at SHS- in the areas of both announcing events as the commentator and as a camera operator.
Will is a longtime and loyal member of the Seward High Select Choir and competed with the choir at the District Contests-winning Superior Ratings.
Will has enjoyed many hours as a volunteer in the SHS Concessions Stand throughout his high school career-serving for a variety of projects and clubs who needed help with volunteers for concessions. He also gathered a host of volunteer hours as a Seward Middle School Camp Counselor.
He is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and involved in the local Godteens Program and involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) of Seward High. He has spent many hours in volunteer service to his church in a variety of menus.
Will is a member of Skills USA and works with a variety of programs in the scope of the Skills USA offerings-competing with the program on the state level the last three years. This last year he finished second at state in the CSI competition with his team.
‘He also has volunteered extensively with the Elementary After School Clubs as an Assistant to the program leadership.
He has been employed with the Seward Dowding Memorial Pool since May of 2022 as a lifeguard at the pool and gives private swimming lessons. He is CPR Certified and Lifeguard Certified.
He has hundreds of volunteer hours in the area of service through his church, and the Junior Jays Mentoring program, as well as with the SMS program as an Outdoor Ed Camp Counselor and the STRIV programing, the Little Kids Track program, the SHS Concessions stand and the Elementary After School Club meetings and programs.
He plans to attend Wayne State College and major in Exercise Science after high school-working for a degree in Pre-Physical Therapy, with a final goal to become part of a career in pediatric physical therapy. He has spent many hours shadowing physical therapist and enjoyed the experience.
Will was presented with a Rotary Club Banner for his graduation table, and a bag of mementos and information on Seward and Seward Rotary Club. He will be given a book scholarship and recognized again at the SHS Honors Night in the Spring and is a finalist for the Youth Rotarian of the Year scholarship.
The Seward Rotary Club selects one SHS Student a month to be the Seward Youth Rotarian and applications are available at the SHS Counselors office.