Gunnar Aune named to WIAA state panel

Colfax High School student Gunnar Aune is among nine juniors-to-be around Washington to be selected for the LEAP (Leadership through Education Activities and Personal Development) Committee, by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. The list was announced Monday.

The LEAP Committee, now in its 12th year, is comprised of nine juniors and eight seniors representing the six WIAA classifications and the nine WIAA districts.

Committee members serve as the voice of more than 225,000 athletics and activities student participants around the state. The juniors will serve a two-year term, joining eight seniors who completed their first term during the 2017-18 school year.

All applicants completed an extensive application process. In addition to an online application, students were required to submit letters of recommendation, a short essay on why athletics and activities are important, and a video personal statement about their school and why they should be chosen.

The son of Leonard and Stacy Aune of LaCrosse, Aune competed on Colfax football, basketball and track teams as a sophomore.

The Committee will meet five times throughout the school year to go through leadership exercises, have peer discussions, work on group projects and provide feedback to the WIAA on various initiatives.

The group will also work State Championship events and sit in on WIAA Executive Board subcommittees.

“The WIAA is honored to have another exceptional group of committee members,” said WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese. “The WIAA LEAP committee is an important part of the Association to gather input and feedback from student leaders.”

Aune joins the committee with new members from the Holy Names Academy, West Valley (Yakima) High School, Foster High School, Issaquah High School, Olympia High School, Grandview High School, Ephrata High School and Skyview High School.