LINN — Linn senior Elizabeth Sprenger earned recognition as the Osage County Anti-Drug Community Action Team (OC-ADCAT) Student of the Month for September because of her dedication to future pursuits.

“I believe young people should not drink or do drugs because it will ruin their future,” she said. “You will have a future that will not be ideal for a lot of people; you want to get that good future, go to college, and get that good job. They ought to do what they need to do to get what they want in life.”

Elizabeth grew up with outspoken parents, Bruce and Sharon Sprenger, who warned her of the dangers of drug and alcohol use. “They always said, ‘don’t do it. It will hurt you and make everybody around you not want to be there,” she said. “They told me I could potentially be involved in a serious crash if I were to drink and drive. The other thing is that if you get caught drinking underage,  you can have stuff taken away. I don’t want my future taken away from me.”

School classes, such as health, reinforced those lessons, and Sprenger went through the Junior Deputy program, which further explained the potential for disaster.

All of that combined to establish her as a staunch opponent to such behavior, and it helped her focus on what matters most: good grades and collegiate aspirations.

Linn HS math teacher Samantha Francis saw Sprenger develop through four years in class, and nominated her for the honor as a result. “Liz is a leader, even though sometimes she feels self-conscious, and she can stand out in a crowd,” said Francis. “She is very studious and knows how to make good choices, whether it’s in school or hanging out with friends. Liz is just a lovable kid all the way around.

“If I know I’m going to be gone, she makes sure the sub knows what they’re working on,” Francis continued. “She’s just very helpful.”

One of the cornerstones Sprenger holds dear is her faith. Sprenger has grown up in the Catholic Church. “She has very stellar values,” said Francis, adding she appreciates how Sprenger carries herself. “I’m not Catholic and I’m not from here, but I have just seen how she’s evolved from the scared freshman coming into a new school into a distinguished young lady who knows what she wants for herself, and knows how she wants to proceed. She’s very ambitious, and I think that, and her faith will take her very far.”

Sprenger recalls the activities held at St. George designed to strengthen her resolve. “We always did special activities, and had speakers come in,” she said. “They did really well showing us the dangers, and I remember because it was always fun. It was really cool.”

Sprenger added that what she experienced in Catholic school was not just about being told what not to do. Instead, those activities incorporated fun things that reinforced the idea that there were good alternatives to drug and alcohol use.

When she moved to Linn HS, Sprenger continued to maintain her faith and convictions. “I’ve found the people who are like me,” she said. “I still have my friends from St. George, and I have friends from here. We all kind of just try to help each other, and we don’t bash bout people’s beliefs and things like that.”

During her time at LHS, Sprenger said she has not experienced peer pressure of any kind. “I’ve never felt that from anybody,” she added. “I have a great group of friends who are very supportive, and I appreciate them very much.”

Sprenger continues to be active in several clubs. She was recently elected National Honor Society president, serves as Student Council treasurer, and has been part of the Athletic Club, Art Club, FFA, and TREND-SADD. “They all help me focus,” she said.

When she’s not helping in some way with one of the many organizations in which she’s involved, Sprenger focuses on her coursework and softball.

“If I don’t have a game, I like to stay home with my family,” said Sprenger. “We love playing card games, or I’ll go to my friend’s house; she’s the same as me. She won’t drink or do any of that. And I’ll go to her house. We’ll play some cards. I’ll get her whole family going. We’ll put on some music and just listen, or watch a movie.”

High School Principal Erin Sassmann believes Sprenger deserves to be the OC-ADCAT Student of the Month. “Liz is an exceptional student at Linn High School,” Sassmann said. “Her strong leadership skills, genuine care for her classmates, and school spirit are qualities that stand out in everything she does. Liz consistently serves as a positive role model for her peers, setting a standard of excellence both in and out of the classroom. She is truly a deserving recipient of this award.”

Academically, Sprenger is sitting on a 3.99 GPA and currently in the salutatorial position, with three students tied for first ahead of her.

She plans to attend college to study occupational therapy. “I haven’t quite decided where to go, but I want to stay in Missouri,” said Sprenger.

As an A+ student, Sprenger may be able to utilize state funding in some way, but she does not plan to pursue sports. “I really want to focus on my academics,” she said. “Softball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I would really just like to focus on academics.”

OC-ADCAT Executive Director Lorie Winslow will present a certificate to Sprenger, who will be eligible to apply for the annual Student of the Month Scholarship.

“I am so excited to showcase our seniors who have chosen to live a drug- and alcohol-free life,” said OC-ADCAT Education Committee Chairperson Charlotte Bellsmith. “I know this isn’t an easy thing to do. The pressure on our teens to drink while still underage is still pretty severe.”

For more information about OC-ADCAT, visit https://www.ocadcat.org.