School: Free State High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Donald Phipps, Baldwin, and Nancy Phipps, Lawrence

Wes Phipps knew he wanted to be a lawyer when his ninth-grade class had a mock trial.

As head prosecutor, he reveled in standing in front of the class and explaining his position.

“I just realized that I really loved public speaking. I fell in love with the activity,” said Phipps, a Free State High School senior.

He’s been a member of Free State’s four-speaker debate state championship team his junior year, and the activity has taught him how to review mass amounts of information and come up with an argument.

He plans to enroll at a liberal arts college in the fall to study political science to prepare for law school.

His dream job would be working as legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I think protecting civil liberties is really important,” he said.

His debate experience has given Phipps a thirst for learning about policy.

“I like hearing what other people have to say about issues and expressing my views to them and comparing the ways we view the world,” Phipps said.

And his public-speaking skills have gained a higher comfort level. He once performed a “speed-read” of his entire debate speech in front of the entire school at a spirit assembly.

“One of the most special things about going to Free State, it really helped me become a lot more confident with myself,” Phipps said.

Honors, activities: Principal’s Award Educational Excellence (9); Principal’s Mark of Excellence Award (10-11); Dartmouth Book Award (11); National Honor Society (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Masonic Lodge essay contest, second place (12); Kansas University Summerfield Scholar (12); debate (10-12); Kansas Sunflower novice state debate tournament, first place (10); Kansas 4-Speaker Class 6A state debate tournament, first place (11); Kansas 4-Speaker Class 6A state debate tournament, third place (12); tennis (9-12), lettered (9-11); band (9-12), Lawrence All-City Freshmen Honor Band, John Phillip Sousa Kansas Junior Honors Band (9), 2 rating regional solo and ensemble festival (10), 1 rating regional solo and ensemble festival (11), 2 rating state solo and ensemble festival (11); Free State Young Democrats (11-12), secretary (12), Model United Nations honorable mention (11-12); Badminton Club (11-12)

College: Kansas University, Carleton College, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College or Washington University-St. Louis.

Career plans: Legal counsel

Major: Political science, later law school