slam dunk >> brandon mckissic
St. Louis University High School senior guard Brandon McKissic, pictured above, is more than ready to take his court talents to the University of Missouri-Kansas City this fall. And local sports watchers say he looks to be as clutch in college basketball as he has been in high school. The Jr. Billikens made it to the playoffs this season, and McKissic, 18, says he definitely felt ready for the challenge.

To pave the way, he’s been stacking up milestones whenever he steps onto the floor. He’s only the 10th student in SLUH’s history to top the 1,000-point career mark, and he ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list, among other accomplishments. He also helped propel the team to its first conference championship in 22 years. McKissic captains the squad, and says he takes that role seriously. “I like leading my team into battle,” he says. “I try to keep up the tempo and keep control of the game. I think they see me as a leader, and I respond to that.”

McKissic may be one of the most decorated players in the school’s recent history, but that’s not all that drives him. He also believes strongly in volunteering to make sure future basketball stars get a solid start on the court, donating his time to practice with younger students from local schools. “Sometimes when I work out with kids, I see myself in them,” he explains. “I get what they’re doing, because I’m always still learning myself.” He says he hopes to study business or education, and is interested in becoming a teacher and coach.

academically speaking >> maria hyrc
Words are power for Clayton High School senior Maria Hyrc. She’s a veteran of the school’s speech and debate program, and has earned serious recognition for her skills with the English language.

Hyrc is president of the school’s 80-student debate team, but her involvement goes much deeper than that. The child of Polish immigrants, she captains and peer-coaches three competitions for the program. She was only the fourth student in the school’s history to earn a Degree of Premier Distinction through the National Forensic League’s Speech & Debate Honor Society. She’s also the first CHS student to receive that recognition as a junior. “Being able to express your ideas in a thoughtful, deliberate way is so important,” she says. “It’s not about earning points or trophies. It’s knowing how to talk about issues constructively and articulate them in a mature way.”

Hyrc, 18, has won a number of debate championships, and she qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association’s national tournament as a junior. She also believes in furthering the cause of speaking excellence by volunteering and mentoring younger CHS debaters. “I love teaching the value of literature, and I’m passionate about education,” she says. “I’ve been given opportunities that maybe others haven’t, so being able to share that is wonderful.” Her presentation topics have included constitutionally protected speech, current events, economics, politics and other subjects.

She plans to attend Washington University, and hopes to double major in political science and economics. Law school is a possibility, she says, and so is running for public office.

talk to … molly jozwiakowski
Kirkwood High School senior Molly Jozwiakowski, 18, has been flying high as a gymnast since she was a little girl, and has no plans to quit. Following considerable success at state and national competitions, she’s accepted a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Southern Utah in Cedar City, where she hopes to take pre-med courses. Jozwiakowski says the floor exercise is her top event, and she keeps all her skills fresh by spending about 20 hours a week at St. Louis Gym Centre in Webster Groves

Why did you choose Southern Utah?
Recruiters saw me at a competition and contacted my coaches when I was a sophomore, asking if I wanted to come for an unofficial visit. My parents and I went, and we loved the campus and the mountains in the area. And the gymnastics team ranked well—they were really close-knit and the coaches were encouraging, so we thought it would be a good fit. I went back for a oneweek gymnastics camp and made an official visit last fall.

What are some of your top gymnastics achievements?
I have been to state finals every year I’ve competed, and I qualified for 2016 nationals in Texas and 2015 in Iowa. Our state Region 4 team won both years. We go to about eight meets per season all over the country.

What does the sport mean to you?
It’s been an important part of my life since I was 3. It really helps me deal with everything. Whether I’m having a rough day or a hard time in school, I know I can use that energy and put it out there through the gym. It’s a stress reliever, and it’s taught me how to be dedicated and work hard for what I want.