School: Tonganoxie High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parent: Kathi Bontrager, Tonganoxie

Jake Bontrager’s Tonganoxie High School transcript – splashed with all A’s- provides proof that he can handle any subject.

But there’s one subject, mathematics, that he likes the best because the answers work out in black and white.

“I like the way the numbers fit together just right. There’s always a definite solution in math,” he said.

Bontrager loves to read and has even collected comic books, but he plans to study math at Kansas State University in the fall.

For his career, he’s trying to decide between becoming a math teacher or pursuing government work, but Bontrager says he has plenty of time to decide.

He’s also flourished in the 583-student high school in activities such as student council, band, forensics and debate.

And Bontrager appreciates the smaller classes and attention from his teachers.

“There’s a lot of the ability for one-on-one time and connection. It’s less of a chore,” he said.

And he calls his mother, Kathi Bontrager, his “guide to success” because of her sacrifices and support.

Whether it’s his schoolwork, school activities or encouragement from his mother, Bontrager says he has a foundation for success in college.

“It’s something that I knew that I could take into the real world,” he said.

Honors, activities: Educational Excellence (10-11); Kansas Honors Program (12); National Honor Society (10-12); VFW Voice of Democracy contest, third place (11); league and regional levels with a trombone quartet, superior “1” rating (9); 4A 4-speaker debate (11), regional runner-up (11), regional champion (12), third place state (12), AP Calculus exam score of 5 (11); Putnam Scholarship (12); marching/concert band (9-12), trombone section leader (11-12), uniform manager (10-12); forensics (9-12); debate (9-12); Student Council (9-12), secretary (11), president (12); class vice president (10-11); FBLA (10); TEAM mentoring (12)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: High school math teacher or a career in government

Major: Mathematics