Senior Spotlight: Kaegan Held
Launch the media gallery 1 playerJanuary 14, 2001 was an amazing day for Kip and Kamin Held as they welcomed their only daughter, Kaegan Cierra Held, into their family in Columbus, Nebraska.
The only girl of three children, Kaegan has two brothers, Kolton, age 21 and Kanyon, age 14. Kaegan’s grandparents are Dennis and Linda Hillen of Creston, and Lorraine Held of Leigh. The Held family also wouldn’t be complete without their dogs, Cedar and Ridge, and their horses.
To get to know this senior a little bit better, Kaegan says the three best words to describe her are “hard-working, determined, and fun.”
Kaegan has many favorite things. Her favorite subject in school is either biology or math. Her favorite movie is The Proposal, her favorite TV show is either Friends or The Bachelor, her favorite song is “Lifeline” by We Three, her favorite food is a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, her favorite restaurant is Olive Garden, and her favorite sports team is the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Outside of school, you can find Kaegan riding her horses or playing and spending time with her dogs.
When asked who she admires most in the world, Kaegan would say Hailey Kinsel, a professional barrel racer, because she just won the National Finals Rodeo.
Throughout school, Kaegan has been involved in dance at Step’s at Tiffany’s for 15 years; Lost Creek 4-H for 12 years; Twin Rivers Taekwondo for 8 years; volleyball, basketball, track, FFA, band, quiz bowl, one-act, St. John’s Luther League, journalism, travel club, class officer for four years; yearbook, speech, and Leigh Youth Advisory Council for three years; Blue Banner 4-H, and FBLA for two years; and Patriot dance for one year.
Kaegan has received honors in many activities. Not only will Kaegan be named the Valedictorian of the 2019 Leigh graduating class, but she also has named “Student of the Month” all four years of high school, earned Academic All-State from the Lincoln Journal Star in volleyball, basketball, and track, was named a state finalist for Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, broke numerous volleyball and basketball records, and was named East Husker Conference All-Conference 1st team in volleyball. Kaegan has also been honored as the Columbus Telegram’s “Super Senior”, earned one-act performance awards at districts and conference, placed at state speech, and is a multi-year track and FFA state qualifier.
Out of all these accomplishments, Kaegan says the accomplishments she is most proud of are making it to state in volleyball her junior year and in track her freshman and junior year.
After high school, Kaegan plans to attend Briar Cliff University. She will major in Biology, then move on to vet school after her undergrad to earn her DVM. She will also play basketball at Briar Cliff.
In 10-15 years, Kaegan hopes to open her own vet clinic in good old Leigh.
Someday, if she wins the lottery, she says she would open up a dog pet shop and take care of dogs all day long. She would also go on lots of vacations to beaches and ski resorts.
Kaegan says her advice to underclassmen is “Dogs live in the moment. They don’t regret the past, and they don’t worry about the future. Be a dog. #ilovedogsforlife #beadogorpuppytoo.
Congratulations Kaegan on all your achievements and best of luck in the future!