Olivia blossoms into standout leader at Standing Bear

March 16, 2026

Olivia has made a legacy-leaving mark at Standing Bear High School in everything from archery to acting to music arpeggios.
 
The Standing Bear senior has blossomed into a standout leader during her three years at Lincoln’s newest high school. She plays flute and piccolo in the concert band, is a member of the show choir’s Leadership Council, sings in the chamber choir and has acted in several school plays. She has also been the marching band’s drum major, qualified for two national archery tournaments, performed in several honor choirs and encouraged fellow Grizzlies with her uplifting personality.
 
The National Honor Society student said her time at Standing Bear has been full of personal growth. She credited teachers, classmates and friends for giving her the confidence to shine in her academics and activities.
 
“The environment here is really, really positive,” Olivia said. “I think that we have some of the best teachers in the district, because they’ve made me feel supported throughout my time here. The community is really great as well. There are just a lot of support systems here that I like.”

 
Standing Bear teachers Aedan Strauss and Hunter Boe said they have been impressed with Olivia’s pursuit of excellence. Strauss teaches English classes and directs theater productions at school, and Boe leads vocal music classes and directs concert and show choir groups.
 
“Describing Olivia as hardworking would be an understatement,” Strauss said. “In my time spent with her in both the classroom and theater, I have been amazed at how invested she is in every facet of her education and activity schedule. She does not back down from doing anything, and I have never seen a student be so involved in so many things and yet still be so successful.”
 
“She brings great initiative, tenacity and high energy to every group or team with which she is involved,” Boe said. “I am particularly proud of her willingness to try new things. Olivia has become a really well-rounded musician and student because of that courage and vulnerability. While she has done band and archery for many years, she joined theater, show choir and chamber choir at different stages of her journey, excelling in everything she does.”
 
Brian Vuu said Olivia began making an impact the very first day she stepped on campus. Vuu, the school’s instrumental music director, relied on Olivia and other sophomores to guide the marching band when Standing Bear opened in 2023. There were no juniors or seniors to fill leadership roles that year, which gave Olivia an opportunity to share her mentorship talents with others.
 
“It’s been really fun to have Olivia as part of the group,” Vuu said. “She’s been very generous with showing all of that knowledge and being kind and gracious with students who don’t know what to do. It’s been amazing to see her help start our traditions of what Standing Bear music is going to become for the future.”

 
Olivia scored her first musical memories when she sang in the Moore Middle School choir, and her love of performing arts has continued at Standing Bear. She has filled her schedule with classes, lessons and public performances in band, choir and theater arenas.
 
“Everybody in performing arts works really well together,” Olivia said. “I’m able to have a lot of opportunities and work with a lot of different people. I love it.”
 
Boe said Olivia’s work ethic has given her an edge in all of her interests. She has devoted many hours to memorizing marching band and play production materials, rehearsing choir songs and learning new flute and piccolo melodies. She is also a member of the Nebraska Business Focus Program and has earned Nebraska School Activities Association Academic All-State Award recognition.
 
“Regardless of formal role or not, she is a clear model for her peers in many ways,” Boe said. “She is consistently engaged, always working hard, spends an incredible amount of time in preparation, asks questions and looks for feedback.”

 
Boe said Olivia’s humble and inquisitive nature is also a source of inspiration. While she often provides instruction to other Grizzlies, she also asks teachers and classmates for advice when needed.
 
“I know that they give me the resources that I need to improve, and I know that I have the support that I need when I’m struggling,” Olivia said. “I’m never nervous to ask for help.”
 
Olivia is planning to study music education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and become a vocal music instructor. Vuu and Strauss said her A-plus resume at Standing Bear will serve her well when she enters the professional teaching world.

 
“Olivia has had to do so much with becoming a leader and taking all of those plates and balancing them at the same time,” Vuu said. “It almost emulates being an adult who has to take care of all of those different elements. Being able to do that at the age she is, it just makes me feel even more strongly about her going into the career of music education.”
 
“I cannot wait to hopefully work alongside her someday in the field, and potentially even in the same district,” Strauss said. “Her passion for teaching others and pushing them to be their best selves is exactly what we need in music education.”
 
Discover how performing arts classes and activities have benefited many Standing Bear students like Olivia.
 
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