HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES SMILES, SPIRIT AMONG STUDENTS

Kristen Tallent has made it her mission to encourage smiles.

"I guess I've always been taught to help people," she said. "And I like to see people smile."

Tallent is a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School. She volunteers with Renaissance, a program designed to encourage school spirit. She is president of the senior class.

She belongs to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Senate, Beta Club, Latin Club, Team Spirit, Chamber Choir and yearbook staff. She is on the honor roll and competes in track and field.

Why. Well, Tallent says that's what good students should do.

"I'll do anything to help someone out a little bit," she said.

Julia Jorgensen, who sponsors the Renaissance program, is a huge Kristen fan.

"In a community of 1,000 people, many want the applause and spotlight, but far too often, students and staff fall short of doing the actual work," Jorgensen said. "I have never asked anything of Kristen that she didn't complete perfectly."

"More often than not, she volunteers to take on a task before I realize the need is prevalent," Jorgensen said, adding: "She displays excellent leadership skills and is a quiet, soft-spoken, quick-smiling leader by example."

She is the daughter of Dan and Rose Tallent. Dan Tallent is superintendent of Cape Girardeau school district.

"I see him as an example for me," Kristen Tallent said. "I admire him a lot for all the things he does for the school, and I try to model myself after him."

Jorgensen said Kristen is a role model for students at Central High. "Students recognize the volunteer spirit can be `cool' when they see a popular student leader working for the community, and school spirit is enhanced by her creative energy."