Launch at LPS: Northwest senior Sophia charts course as future education leader

April 30, 2025

Northwest High School senior Sophia has used her warm personality to create a winning academic and social environment everywhere she goes.
 
The future early childhood teacher has blossomed in her three years as a member of the Falcon community. She has met friends in a variety of activities, moved forward on an accelerated academic schedule and set a solid foundation for her post-graduation days. She said all of that has been possible because of Northwest’s friendly campus environment.

 
“Everyone is very open to making new relationships, and that’s very much stuck out over the years here at school,” Sophia said. “Everybody is really willing to join new groups and not stay within the same cliques all the time, so I’ve built a really good community around myself. I’ve always felt that comfort here of knowing I’ll always be able to make new friends and meet new people.”
 
Sophia’s dedication to lifting up people has been appreciated by dozens of friends and teachers. One of those on that list of admirers is Margaret Pass, who works with many students as a school counselor. Pass said Sophia has helped her classmates with kind words and inspiring actions.
 
“It’s really encouraging for all of the students,” Pass said. “They see that Sophia is open to making new relationships and is fun and friendly, and that really sets the tone for other students to be able to do that too. We are a smaller high school community, and so that kind of commitment to the community from Sophia and being a role model like that really goes a long way with all of our students and faculty.”

 
Northwest Principal Cedric Cooper said he has also noticed Sophia’s impact on fellow Falcons. He felt her willingness to work with everyone had made a positive difference.
 
“Sophia stands out as a senior who is a dedicated part of our community,” Cooper said. “She has goals for her future and partners with adults at school to give her best efforts. She always has a smile on her face and is willing to help and support others.”
 
Pass said Sophia’s work ethic has been a primary reason for her record of success at Northwest. She loaded her academic plate each of the past two years in order to set herself up for future opportunities. She also attended classes at The Career Academy last year and was a member of the Educators Rising organization.
 
“She is every teacher’s dream student,” Pass said. “She’s open and there’s only been positive feedback for Sophia in whatever she’s doing. She’s a leader here at school, and she worked really hard during her sophomore and junior years so that she was ahead and had openings to add things that she wanted to concentrate on. She’s really set her path and has come up with a good plan to move forward.”

 
Sophia began charting her course into the early childhood education field in earnest last year. She enrolled in the early childhood education pathway at TCA and worked with infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a practicum setting. She also joined TCA’s chapter of Educators Rising, which helps students learn more about the teaching profession.
 
“I went to TCA because I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do, and I got into early childhood, so I was like, ‘I’ll give this a real shot and see what happens,’ and I ended up falling in love with it,” Sophia said. “At the end of the day it was something that just felt right when I joined my practicum class. After working with the students, it really felt like what I wanted to do.”

 
One of the year’s highlights was a trip to the Educators Rising National Conference in July 2024. Sophia and four classmates traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in competitive events and listen to experienced professionals. She took part in the Children’s Literature K-3 contest at nationals and spoke with future teachers from across the country.
 
Sophia said she has been impressed with the college and career readiness programs she has found at Northwest and The Career Academy. She said Lincoln Public Schools staff members have encouraged and motivated her throughout her time in the school district.
 
“I have yet to have a teacher who made me feel like, ‘Wow, I can’t go any further than this,’’ Sophia said. “It’s always been, ‘Right now I know you think you can’t, but we’re going to get you to the point where you think you can move forward, and everything is going to fall into place and work out.’ It’s very nice to have that feeling of support. You build that relationship with them here.”

 
Sophia plans to enroll at Southeast Community College or the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall. Pass said she is eager to see how the next steps of Sophia’s educational career unfold.
 
“Anything she wants to do, she’ll be able to do,” Pass said. “I can see her advancing in the field of education to administration or whatever she wants to do going forward. She would be excellent in a leadership role.”

Pass said Sophia’s warm personality will allow her to be a standout role model for many classes of future Falcons.
 
“We’re just really proud to have a student like Sophia going out into the world and representing us here at Lincoln Northwest,” Pass said.

Congratulations, Sophia!

We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!
 

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Check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad.
 
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