Oregon High School Senior Profiles, Oregon, Wisconsin

OHS senior Brooke Vander Wegen credits her mother, Sue Vander Wegen with starting her musical career. “ My mom wanted me to be in something musical in school, so I tried orchestra in the 4th grade and band in the 5th thru 7th grade, but they just didn’t hit me that hard,” explains Vander Wegen. “Then I tried choir in the 8th grade and found I loved singing different types of music and challenging myself.”

Vander Wegen continues to use music as a way of challenging and understanding herself and the world around her. As an example, she cites singing songs in different languages as not only challenging her vocal skills, but also broadening her view of the world. As another example, she notes that the singing of spirituals has given her insight into a different period of our history, by the use of double meanings in the songs.

Vander Wegen appreciates the passion that music can evoke in people. “I love watching my friends perform in the musicals at OHS. You can see they put their heart and soul into it. In everything I do, I try to put my best foot forward but to do that I know I have to have passion for it, so I can appreciate their passion; they want to be there.”

Emery and Tokio Hotel are two bands that have influenced Vander Wegen with their music and passion. Vander Wegen states, “I can relate to their music. Their lyrics are about things that have happened in their lives, so it gets more personal. They have so much feeling in their music I have learned I can do the same thing. I can get my frustrations out when I sing, so it makes me more at ease.”

Vander Wegen’s participation in choir has helped her overcome her shy nature and sharpen her social skills. She notes that choir attracts a wide range of people. This, coupled with the need to work together to sing songs well, and everyone’s similar passion for music has made it easy for her to make new friends. Vander Wegen is involved in Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and has earned an Assistant Childcare teaching certificate. She is currently involved in a coop program at Oregon Day Care Inc. to become certified as a lead childcare teacher.

Vander Wegen plans on attending Concordia University in the fall majoring in Early Education.

Class of 2009
Brooke Vander Wegen
OHS senior Brooke Vander Wegen credits her mother, Sue Vander Wegen with starting her musical career. “ My mom wanted me to be in something musical in school, so I tried orchestra in the 4th grade and band in the 5th thru 7th grade, but they just didn’t hit me that hard,” explains Vander Wegen. “Then I tried choir in the 8th grade and found I loved singing different types of music and challenging myself.” Vander Wegen continues to use music as a way of challenging and understanding herself and the world around her. As an example, she cites singing songs in different languages as not only challenging her vocal skills, but also broadening her view of the world. As another example, she notes that the singing of spirituals has given her insight into a different period of our history, by the use of double meanings in the songs. Vander Wegen appreciates the passion that music can evoke in people. “I love watching my friends perform in the musicals at OHS. You can see they put their heart and soul into it. In everything I do, I try to put my best foot forward but to do that I know I have to have passion for it, so I can appreciate their passion; they want to be there.” Emery and Tokio Hotel are two bands that have influenced Vander Wegen with their music and passion. Vander Wegen states, “I can relate to their music. Their lyrics are about things that have happened in their lives, so it gets more personal. They have so much feeling in their music I have learned I can do the same thing. I can get my frustrations out when I sing, so it makes me more at ease.” Vander Wegen’s participation in choir has helped her overcome her shy nature and sharpen her social skills. She notes that choir attracts a wide range of people. This, coupled with the need to work together to sing songs well, and everyone’s similar passion for music has made it easy for her to make new friends. Vander Wegen is involved in Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and has earned an Assistant Childcare teaching certificate. She is currently involved in a coop program at Oregon Day Care Inc. to become certified as a lead childcare teacher. Vander Wegen plans on attending Concordia University in the fall majoring in Early Education.	Nina Axelsson Jake Behling Ariana Bonsett-Veal Nicole Cunningham Monica Dahl Toni Hale Molly Hayman Alli Holznecht Breanna Huston Kaleb Karstetter Tayler O'Donnell Jeff Oemichen Alyssa Ottum Cerina Partridge Zach Prior Rachel Smith Statia Swenson Brooke Vander Wegen

Submitted by Peggy Hayman Oregon Choral Boosters