When Princess Kylee Thurman thinks of the 1980s, she thinks of big hair and jazzercise videos, and, of course, neon colors – which happen to be her favorite shade of color.
Thurman, 17, a senior at Lebanon High School, is the daughter of Travis and Karla Thurman. She has one brother, Tanner.
She is spirit coordinator of the Associated Student Body, member of the National Honors Society and a junior Rotarian. She’s played on the tennis and basketball teams during all four years of her high school education.
Thurman is a shift supervisor at Papa Murphy’s, and is involved in the cadet teaching program through the high school. She is also involved in the attendance program at Pioneer Elementary to help increase student attendance, and participates in ENTEK’s program providing coats for elementary students.
After graduation, Thurman plans to attend Linn-Benton Community College before transferring to Western Oregon University to earn her degree in early childhood education.
“My passion is definitely teaching,” she said. “I have been in four cadet teaching classes and about every other day we go to the elementary school, and every day I get more and more excited to be getting closer to my dream of becoming a second grade teacher.”
It’s a dream, she said, she’s had since she was in second grade, herself, because her own second grade teacher was “amazing.” Thurman wants to pass on that same experience to other children.
In her spare time, she enjoys doing arts and crafts, serving her community in various ways, hanging out with friends and playing with her cat, Murphy. During the summer, Thurman always looks forward to spending a long day out in the sun with her family and friends, and sitting in a boat to watch the sun set.
While looking up at the sky is a great way to witness inspiring sunsets, Thurman said it’s her mom she looks up to in life. Her mom has been the strongest rock in her life since her dad passed away a few years ago, she said.
“It’s so inspiring how amazing she is and how strong she is,” she said. “Whenever I need her there, she is. Even if it’s a talk about boys or having funny crazy memories, we talk about it. She is definitely my most important person, and I will always look up to her.”