This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Madi Dixon from Northwest High School in Michigan. Nominator Marnie Hade wrote:
As one of the founding members of our Renaissance Exchange Council three years ago at Northwest High School, Madi saw a vision for a more engaging school community. Madi leads student committees, works with our school’s administration, and cheers on her peers with confidence, wisdom and compassion. Her peers and the adults in our building are routinely inspired by her enthusiasm and investment in making our school community a better place. She is, hands down, one of the strongest student leaders I have had the pleasure to work with in the last almost 30 years. Her positive outlook, interest in making a difference and building a legacy are admirable. It is apparent that her peers and our staff members recognize, respect and appreciate her school involvement. In addition to her dedication to our Renaissance program, Madi is active in a variety of extracurricular activities at Northwest. She is an active and strong leader within our Link Crew program that partners upperclassmen as mentors for freshmen. Her level of dedication and commitment make her an essential member of our student body. She truly loves, supports, and enjoys her school. She has been an active member of the Class of 2025 participating in everything from Student Council (as a four year member she also earned the role of Class President in both her junior and senior years) to National Honor Society (for three years). Madi is also a four-year member and three year captain of our Conference Champion Varsity Softball team and was a member of our Volleyball program for two years as well. Softball has been her passion for a large portion of her life. She dedicated years to travel teams in addition to her traditional high school seasons. She is a state honored powerlifter who has helped build our young program by encouraging others both inside and outside of the gym. In the “free time” that Madi has, she has held a part time job in customer service and as a Shift Lead at Spad’s Twisters.
What are you involved with at your school?
Link Crew, National Honor Society, Student Council (Class President), Renaissance Exchange Council (Rally Committee Head), Varsity Softball (3x team Captain), Varsity Powerlifting
What is something you appreciate about your school’s culture?
I appreciate that everyone at my school, staff and students included, are so open to trying new ways on how to improve our schools culture. These past four years since we have started Renaissance, we have incorporated different things into our school year, like monthly rallies and staff appreciation events, and everyone is very excited and eager to get involved and help improve the culture at our school to make it a better place to be!
What’s a favorite Renaissance moment for you?
My favorite Renaissance moment was when our rally committee planned a Staff vs. Student basketball game before spring break and had the Mountie-Gras championship (rock, paper, scissors challenge) during half time. We also had a neon theme for that day and everyone had glow sticks so when we announced the teams, we put on the spotlight in the gym and the whole gym was glowing. We also boosted the attendance numbers for that day and the whole gym was so loud and had a lot of energy! I also enjoyed going to the Renaissance Conference at Northville High School in April and hearing Keith Hawkins speak. I loved his message about being “better than good”. His message really stuck with me the last months of high school and I based my speech at graduation around his message of being “better than good”.
How has Renaissance affected you personally?
Renaissance has turned me into a better leader and has taught me how to use my voice in ways that can positively impact others. The opportunities I have gotten from being apart of Renaissance at my school, like leading pep rallies and going to conferences, had helped me grow into the leader I am today and allows me to share my ideas and use my voice to make my school a more positive place to be.
What’s something you are “All In” for inside and outside of school?
Inside of school, I am “All In” for getting involved and making the school a better place to be. At my time at Northwest, my goal was to improve the culture of our building and make it a more positive environment to be in. Outside of school, I am “All In” for helping in the community and giving back. For me, the Northwest community has always been there to support me. So it is important that I give back to them because they have given so much to me.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to be more hopeful?
I would say get involved in as many things as you can. Using your voice is the most important way to see the change you want to see. Also having confidence in yourself and others around you.
Madi will receive a water bottle and a decal in recognition of her achievement.