The halftime show must go on, and on Augusta High School football Fridays the past two seasons, that's meant a quick transition for senior Madeline Natvig.
 
Natvig actually has been a co-drum major for the Orioles marching band each of the last three years. But since her junior year, she pulled double duty on game nights as an AHS cheerleader.
 
"I don't have time to change into my band uniform," Natvig said. "It's just put on the white gloves, climb on the stand and let's go."
 
Natvig's involvement in numerous school activities offers only a slightly less frenetic pace. As a talented musician, artist and leader in a number of organizations, she is a familiar face around the halls of AHS.

 
Natvig is the Capitol Federal True Blue® Student of the Week.
 
"Madeline is just a really diligent young lady, and not just in her music, but in all of her academics," said longtime Augusta band teacher Todd Hollis, who first taught Natvig when she learned to play the flute in fifth grade. "She really has a great attitude.
 
"As my drum major, she's just such a positive person. She makes other students feel important and feel welcome. She's been a tremendous leader for our program."
 
The daughter of Todd and Carrie Natvig, whose musical interests helped bring them together as students at Mankato State University, Madeline has flourished as a member of Augusta's concert and jazz bands. A flute, clarinet and alto saxophone player, Natvig is a three-time recipient of the program's outstanding musician award.
 
Her talents have allowed her to play alongside other skilled high school musicians from across the state. She has auditioned and been selected for the South Central Kansas Music Educators Association's concert band each year since she was a freshman, earning first chair among 24 clarinetists in the Class 4-1A honor band this year.
 
Natvig has twice been selected to play in the SCKMEA's jazz band, and was the lead alto saxophone at performances in November. On Saturday, she is scheduled to travel to Salina for auditions in the KMEA's All-State ensemble, a spot she earned last year on clarinet.
 
"The all-state band and SEKMEA jazz and concert bands are a bunch of people who really care about music and come together even for a day," Natvig said. "It's just something I look forward to every year. It's such an enjoyable time."
 
Another band experience helped Natvig mold her philosophy to her time at AHS. During the summer of her junior year, she attended the Kansas State Bands Leadership and Auxiliary Camp in Manhattan. The camp draws drum majors, section leaders, percussionists, color guard and dance members from across the state to learn not only skills in their respective areas, but to hone leadership abilities, positive attitudes and work ethic.
 
"I found through the stuff I was learning that I really wanted to bring home as much of that as I could and make sure people around me felt as comfortable as possible in whatever they were doing," Natvig said.
 
She has applied those skills at AHS in myriad ways. In addition to serving on the school's student council and as art club president, Natvig is a member of Augusta principal Rick Rivera's student advisory council, which meets to discuss wide-ranging school issues like prom planning and organization to the hallway music played during class intermissions.
 
Natvig is also in her second year with Augusta's Friends of Freshmen, a mentoring program that includes monthly meetings with first-year AHS students to share tips to enhance their school experience.
 
She played tennis as a freshman and sophomore, and has competed in discus and javelin on the Oriole track team.
 
"She is one of the more popular kids at Augusta High School," Hollis said. "She does it in such a way – and not every kid can – where she doesn't come off as arrogant or looking down on others. I've seen her helping students that are struggling in a class. She takes initiative in that way."
 
In addition to music, art is another of Natvig's passions. She has taken art classes since middle school, and will finish her last semester with an independent study in art. With a dream of someday owning and operating her own gallery, Natvig said she is leaning toward attending Wichita State to study art education and perform in music ensembles.
 
Until then, she is savoring her final few months of high school.
 
"It's been such an enjoyable time," Natvig said. "I think I've lived up to my ability to just stay in the moment, and that would be my advice to anyone at my school. I would say take a step back, just breathe and realize what we're living through and be in the moment."