Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, April 27, 2023. Reprinted with permission and gratitude.
By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy
The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has chosen Garrison Hubka as a recipient of one of its spring Kiwanis Academic Excellence Awards. He is the son of Jim and Sally Hubka.
The Kingsland senior is active in cross country, basketball, track, Key Club and National Honor Society (NHS). “Cross country and track are definitely my favorites. I used to play football, and I was in HOSA and Knowledge Bowl. My favorite class is Personal Finance because I can learn some real things.”
Outside of school, he’s employed at a local bank. “I work at Home Federal. I enjoy the atmosphere and personable interactions. I don’t do a whole lot outside of school, sports and clubs. In my spare time, I run, watch movies, take naps and play video games…my only frequent hobby is running. My favorite books are ‘The Maze Runner’ series because it is just like the movies, but better, and my favorite movie is ‘The Maze Runner’ because it is very unique and exciting. I listen to whatever is on the radio that I like – usually 106.9 or 105.3. My biggest pet peeve is if someone is picking their nose.”
He added that he most enjoys pasta. “I could live on variations of pasta, but I hate hot dogs. If I could travel to any country in the world, I would go someplace safe with a beach, like the Caribbean. And I have never spent time in California, so I would probably go there, too.”
The 18-year-old most admires Steve Prefontain, his father, and Martin Luther King, Jr. “They either have motivated me, helped me, or changed the world for the better.” If he could do one thing to change the world, he’d choose to “fix climate change or stop war so that humans will have a place to live in the future.” He has plans for his post-post-secondary life, sharing, “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a scientist, but I want to coach after I graduate college.”
The Kiwanis will honor Garrison and his parents during one of the club’s upcoming noon meetings held on Wednesdays at the Spring Valley Community Center. The club welcomes visitors who would like to learn more about becoming members of the Kiwanis organization.
Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325
