Lowell Whiteman School

Britt is from Estes Park, Colorado. Britt loves to play baseball as pitcher or in the outfield. She also loves to rock climb, mountain bike and snowboard.

If you want a good story, ask Britt about her trip to Ireland where she toured across the country by mountain bike with a Whiteman School group. Ask her about the adventure, of it all — the rain, the 40 mile days when she led her group of girls to the destination ahead of some whiney boys. “Some of us weren’t the best map readers when it came to distances. But we sure learned!” And survived. Britt is especially proud of the accomplishment and glory gained on that trip.

Britt has also been to England and Scotland and in 2001, journeyed to Nepal where she trekked from Jomsom to Pokara with another LWS group. “The whole trip was great; the scenery, the different cultures, the leaders and the group were all great. I learned a lot about another way of life in a country that isn’t very developed.”

“It made me think about how unbelievably privileged we are. They are richer in a sense that they don’t get into materialistic things because they just don’t matter at all. We met these two kids when we were in Katmandu and they were just two kids on the street who had nothing at all and were selling things. He said money just doesn’t matter at all.”

Britt wants to be a paramedic because “I think the biggest thing I really enjoy is helping people when I’m not going to get anything back. I’m comfortable helping in situations where people are scared and most vulnerable. I like knowing what to do. Even when I was little I was bouncing between being a firefighter and police officer, but then I was in the hospital and I decided I didn’t want to do anything but help people.”

About LWS - I think it’s made me even more independent, being on foreign trip or even camping trips, the leaders give you a map and tell you to read it and figure out where we’re going. You have to develop skills. Even with studying, I don’t have parents holding my hands, the teachers hand it to you and you basically have to do it. They teach you how to handle things on your own. I think I’ve grown to be more confident because it’s such a small atmosphere, you have to talk in class, no matter what, you talk to teachers as teachers and as friends, which makes it easier. I find teachers here more approachable.”

Britt has won a Student Council Award as well as a School Award for “Most Improved Student.”

She says, “It probably wouldn’t have meant as much in a larger school. The one from Student Counsel was from the student body - it was nice to be recognized by both of them. Being at Whiteman, pushes me to be the best I can, makes me use everything I can to do well in a class and in public school, the classes were pretty easy for me.

Britt’s sister Hawley attended Whiteman for four years and sister, Janis, will most likely attend in 2006. It’s nice to have a continuing tradition of McLaughins at the Whiteman School. Britt had to smile at that comment.