Bryan Miller attributes his classroom acumen to a few essential ingredients — hard work, attention to detail, and perhaps most importantly, staying involved outside class.
“It just seemed like the more I was involved with extracurricular activities, the better I would do in the classroom,” said Miller, one of 83 Iola High School graduating seniors, and one of eight to maintain a perfect 4.0 grade-point average through his high school career.
Miller has maintained all A’s while running for the cross country and track teams, competing with the IHS forensics squad, serving as a Student Council officer and being an active member of I-Club, Crime Stoppers and the National Honor Society. He also was cast in the fall play “The Outsiders,” was nominated for homecoming king and participated in the American Legion Boys State program last summer.
Couple that with enrolling in dual-credit courses at Allen Community College and an assortment of advanced math and science classes, and you have a jam-packed schedule.
Miller, son of Iolans Jay and Karen Miller, wouldn’t want it any other way.
“For one thing, it’s been more fun getting involved with everything,” he said. “And staying that active puts you in a mindset where you know you have to get things done. It’s been nice to stay busy.”
That his activites cut such a wide swath — academically, athletically and artistically — was no accident.
“You get to meet a lot of different people that way,” he said.
Miller is particularly proud of his forensics competitions. He qualified for state his last three years.
Forensics, to the unitiated, is described as competitive speaking and acting.
“The trick for me was to prepare for forensics like it was an athletic event,” he said. “It takes just as much preparation.”
AT THE HUB was Miller’s school work. Since his first day at Iola Middle School in the fall of 2005, Miller has earned only A’s on his report card.
“I didn’t really think about it going in, but once I started doing it, I knew I wanted to keep on getting all A’s,” Miller said. “My parents supported me, but it wasn’t like they would be disgusted if I didn’t get good grades. I just always did.”
He stresses involvement to anyone willing to listen.
“As a freshman, I wasn’t involved with as much as I am now, because I was so new to everything.”
