Student-athlete and Altus High School sophomore Avery Wilks is not only a valued member of the varsity softball team, she also loves being part of the FFA chapter as well. As a softball player, Wilks said being a student-athlete at AHS means you are focused on academics first. “Altus High is a great place to be a student-athlete because it pushes you to the best of your ability not only on the field but in the classroom. Our teachers are happy to help when we’re out of school for games,” said Wilks.

Wilks grew up playing summer ball, but when she moved to Altus, Wilks started playing travel ball. “For as long as I can remember softball has been something I’ve enjoyed. I played soccer and basketball as a little girl but as I got older, I grew more and more interested in softball,” said Wilks. “I think what I’ve enjoyed most being on the Altus High School softball team is the memories we make. Whether its cracking jokes
at practice when its darn near 110 degrees or singing on the bus rides to and from games.”

As a member of the FFA chapter, Wilks is involved in several activities including shooting sports. “I shoot in FFA, I’m on the Animal Science Quiz bowl team, and a few other activities for my chapter. I enjoy the FFA community as a whole, I have made so many friends from different chapters. I joined an ag class my seventh grade year because I grew up raising cattle with my dad. From there it just kind of kicked off.

My first ag teacher, Mr. Stafford, started signing me up for competitions at the beginning of the year and I just fell in love with it,” said Wilks. Also a member of National Honor Society and FCA, Wilks said her
favorite subject in school is math and her favorite teacher is her ag teacher Mrs. Seehafer. “She treats my like her kid most of the time,” said Wilks. Wilks would like to attend college after high school and obtain her BSN and work as a pediatric nurse.

Photo by IFH Smug Mug Photography