Student of the Month: McCauley leads by example

CENTER POINT - Faith, family and friends.

That's the personal motto of Mitchell McCauley, 16, a sophomore at Center Point-Urbana High School, who is the Gazette/KCRG-TV9 student of the month for March.

McCauley is a straight-A student who plays football, basketball and baseball, and likes to go fishing and kayaking.

'I like the challenges athletes face. There's things you can't learn in school that you learn in athletics,” McCauley said. 'You can learn more about teamwork in sports.”

McCauley also is an active member of his school's chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

'We host dodgeball tournaments and meet every so often, for fellowship,” McCauley said. 'We just have a good time, talk about God and our faith.”

McCauley is a regular attendee at his church, Center Point United Methodist, and participates in its youth group.

'My faith guides me everywhere I go, at school and athletics,” McCauley said. 'And I take my faith really seriously.”

Family also is important. McCauley's mom is a nurse at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital, and his dad is a counselor at Linn-Mar High School. His older brother is a freshman at Iowa State, and his younger sister is in fifth grade.

About two years ago, his mom was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. She had a liver transplant at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and now is in remission, McCauley said.

McCauley is a member of the youth advisory board of Gems of Hope, which makes inspirational cards for cancer patients, plans special events such as sand volleyball and bowling tournaments, and raises money for scholarships.

'I was in that position as a family member dealing with cancer,” McCauley said. 'It's a struggle so I want to help out with others.”

McCauley was nominated for the student of the month honor by his Spanish teacher, Mindy Meyne.

'He is humble, he's not the kind of kid who goes out and seeks attention so I thought I would bring it to him,” she said.

'He is one of those students that brings out the best in everybody that's around him,” Meyne added. 'He volunteers, he's a natural leader, he works hard and he has a smile on his face when he's doing all of those things, and that just makes it a really comfortable, positive learning environment for everybody.”

Meyne said McCauley leads by example and isn't bossy.

'He's just one of those kids you can always count on to be a good role model and do the right thing,” she said.

McCauley said he's not sure yet what he wants to do in the future, but his favorite subjects are math and language arts.

'I look at high school as preparing for the long run, preparing for college and the real world,” McCauley said. 'So take it seriously. You never know what you're going to pull out of your back pocket.”

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