On the court or in class, Shebeneck achieved at a high level
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
If there’s one thing people notice about Kaysie Shebeneck, it’s the high level of achievement she’s demonstrated in a variety of endeavors.
Put her on a volleyball court, and her ability to set the ball for teammates to spike made her two-time Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year.
Just as easily, she could register throws of 30-plus feet in the shot put competition, earning a Southern Lakes Conference crown as a senior.
And stick her in the middle of a community service project, and there she’ll be, as hard at work as any other student.
But at the heart of all of that, is the sweet, warm smile that blossoms as soon as Shebeneck sees anyone to greet.
“I just can’t stop myself,” said Shebeneck. “It’s one of those things.
“If you smile at somebody, you automatically make their day. People don’t do it enough.”
Shebeneck’s attitude in everything she did – and the excellence she achieved while displaying that attitude – has earned her the Standard Press Outstanding Senior Award for Burlington High School. Shebeneck was chosen for the award by the newspapers staff from a field of four nominees forwarded by the high school.
The daughter of Paul and Jane Shebeneck of Racine, she also posted a 4.0-plus cumulative grade point average after open enrolling at BHS as a freshman.
Shebeneck was considering a number of different schools entering high school, including her “home” school of Racine Horlick, and Racine St. Catherine’s.
She ended up at BHS, where she found a perfect match with her goals and ambitions.
“Burlington’s definitely the place to do that,” Shebeneck said. “All the teachers put in so much effort. They want you to succeed. It seems the whole staff gets along, and they’re trying to make an impact in everyone’s lives.”
After her freshman year, Shebeneck joined the DRIVEN program at BHS – a select group of student leaders whose job it is to not only help freshmen acclimate to high school, but get involved in the community.
She stayed involved with the Make-A-Wish foundation through her mother – who is employed there – and by her junior year, was a member of National Honor Society.
By then, she and her BHS volleyball teammates were also state champions – the first team state volleyball title in school history. The Demons repeated in 2012, behind the efforts of Shebeneck and two other seniors – Morganne Longoria and Ciara Capezio.
All three are headed to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball on full scholarships – Longoria to Valparaiso, Capezio to Iowa State and Shebeneck to Texas A&M.
Shebeneck gave a verbal commitment to A&M as a sophomore, knowing that it was just the place for her and letting the school know the week before the end of her sophomore year.
She plans on majoring in Spanish – where she was the department award winner as a senior at BHS – and communications. While she’d like to be an interpreter, she wouldn’t mind following in the footsteps of NBC Nightly News broadcaster Brian Williams.
“I’d love to meet Brian Williams,” Shebeneck said. “I’d like to be in his position. It’d be my dream job.”
But first comes college. As much as she will be in attendance for the women’s volleyball team, she also knows it will likely mark the end of her volleyball career – and knows there will be a focus on academics.
“School is very important to me, and it’ll be a big focus. I’m not going to have volleyball forever,” she said. “But I’m really going to enjoy the team. Great coaches, great team. I just can’t wait.”
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