Someone You Should Know
September 2026
Maddie Becker
Maddie is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. Her family moved to Mount Horeb four years ago, and she has made the most of every one of them. She is president of Student Council this year after serving as vice president as a junior, and she is on the officer team of the National Honor Society. She is also active in Club Interact, Outdoors Club, SkillsUSA, and Debate Club. As a junior she was a student representative to the school board and served on its Education Committee, and she is waiting to hear this year's assignment. This past summer the Mount Horeb Rotary Club sponsored her to attend the World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University. Three years on the track team, captain as a junior, and planning to run again this spring. Four years on the Viking girls swim team, where she is a captain now. In band she has been drum major two years running and has represented the school at State Solo & Ensemble three years in a row.
Outside of school, Maddie volunteers through Club Interact and shows up for the Optimist Club all year long: Storybook Theatre, the Super Bowl Silent Auction, the Kid's Zone at the Norsk July 3rd Celebration. Always happy to help wherever she's needed. She dances with Forte Studios and is starting her fifth season with the X-Tension dance company, where she is dance captain this year. The company gives back through the season with acts of kindness around the community and performances at local nursing homes. Next year Maddie plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in neurobiology and psychology with an emphasis on research. She was honored at the September meeting of the Optimist Club with her family.
Maddie Becker is Someone You Should Know.
Alyssa Garrity
Alyssa is a senior at Mount Horeb High School, and the clubs she has chosen say a lot about her. Letters of Love, which sends heartfelt handwritten letters to children battling serious illnesses. Club Interact, the student-led service club that packs meals for Feed My Starving Children and sends notes to kids staying at the Ronald McDonald House. And Spanish Club, for the culture, the music, the food, and the art.
Outside of school, Alyssa has danced at Forte Studios since she was three years old. Ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, and jazz, plus two years competing at Dance Masters of Wisconsin. In tenth grade she started teaching, first as an assistant student teacher and now as a student teacher for the younger dancers. Each year the Forte dancers give back too, making care bags for the homeless and painting rocks around the community to spread a little kindness. Through Blackhawk Church in Middleton, Alyssa has served Madison and the surrounding communities with Madison Missions, and she is an assistant teacher for toddlers in the church's B-Kids program. This winter she'll be volunteering with Neighbors Helping Neighbors. After graduation Alyssa is headed to college. She hasn't settled on which one yet, but she already knows she wants to be involved there too: Students for Sustainability, Wish-Makers, Women in Business, sorority life, a competitive dance group. She was honored at the September meeting of the Optimist Club with her family.
Alyssa Garrity is Someone You Should Know.
Each month, the Optimist Club of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin honors high school students for outstanding community service. Recipients are recognized at the club's monthly meeting with their families present, receive a certificate and $50, and are eligible for an Optimist Club scholarship awarded at the Senior Awards event in May.