Some of Trista Welty’s happy places offer her contrasting views of the world.
 
One is the solitude of a softball pitching circle, where the Clearwater senior has excelled as a strikeout artist and two-time All-Class 4A performer.
 
Another is among peers, participating in the give and take but often listening to try to expand her horizons.
 
“My parents kind of instilled that in me,” said Welty, the daughter of Mike and Heather Welty and the Capitol Federal® True Blue® Student of the Week. “I feel like ever since I was young, I really just love hearing other peoples’ perspectives on things.”
 
Welty is putting those communication skills to work in leadership positions within the hallways of Clearwater High School and beyond. A 4.0 student who plans to study biomedical engineering and play softball at NCAA Division II Missouri S&T, Welty is Clearwater’s student council president and a second-year member of KSHSAA’s Student Advisory Team.
 
The latter role afforded Welty an opportunity in July to attend the National Student Leadership Summit, a weeklong program offered by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Welty and three fellow members of the state-wide advisory team – Lansing’s Jadyn Bollin, Blue Valley Northwest’s Nova Rule and Junction City’s Jamarcus Tyson – traveled to Indianapolis with KSHSAA assistant executive director Jeremy Holaday for the summit.
 

Known to its attendees as NSLS, the summit is designed to give students tools to create a positive culture within their respective groups and hone communication skills.
 
“For me, it kind of jump-started my drive to become a more effective leader,” Welty said. “It definitely put in perspective for me that I have an opportunity to affect the culture of my school, affect the culture of my sports teams and affect the culture of my city. That was the biggest thing – getting the tools to make a positive culture.”
 
Those who witness Welty as a student and athlete say she already had them.
 
“Trista is an awesome teammate,” Clearwater softball coach Tyler Hampton said. “She is always positive and encouraging with all her teammates. She always builds them up in an effort to help them believe in themselves and help them do the best they can.”
 
In turn, Welty’s work ethic has led to success that motivates others to try to emulate. She recorded her 300^th career strikeout last spring in a 4A quarterfinal victory over Wamego, helping the Indians to a fourth-place state finish. Welty finished the season with a 17-3 record, 1.04 ERA and a single-season, school-record 171 strikeouts.
 
“In volleyball as a hitter, nothing is in your control,” Welty said. “As a pitcher, you have complete control of everything and your outcome. I also really love that your work shows very, very quickly. If you’re putting in the work and the time, it shows.”
 
Welty said her softball success was aided by walking into a good situation her freshman year. The Indians were coming off a state tournament appearance, and have advanced in each of Welty’s first three seasons.
 
“I think we just have a really good culture of everyone showing up every day and giving their 100%,” Welty said. “Before my freshman year, that culture was there. I’ve just been a product of it and now it’s my responsibility to keep it going.”
 
Welty applies similar principles off the field. The summer summit in Indianapolis provided experiences she tries to replicate as a stuco leader at Clearwater.
 
“There were kids from across the country, and it just gave you the opportunity to sit and talk and hear their perspectives,” Welty said. “I try to do the same thing in my school, and see what kids are thinking and what their stances are on certain things. It gives me a broader point of view.”
 
That has also applied to Welty’s time on the KSHSAA Student Advisory Team. The 12-member group, which includes a boy and girl from each of KSHSAA’s six classifications, meets periodically to weigh in on the organization’s proposals and provide feedback to staff and the executive board.
 
“It’s really interesting to me,” Welty said. “A lot of times when we sit in on meetings we see a rule change and I immediately think of my opinion of it. Then I start listening to other students, and somebody from a 1A school has a different opinion or somebody from a 6A school with 1,000 more students has a different opinion.
 
“It’s given me the ability to look at the bigger picture.”
 
Welty has participated in the advisory team’s planning of KSHSAA’s inaugural student summit, a half-day event at the organization’s Topeka headquarters on Nov. 13 that will draw students from across the state to learn more about and discuss KSHSAA issues. While she’ll miss the event due to a pre-planned senior trip, Welty said the student-led format parallels what she tries to accomplish as a team member.
 
“The Student Advisory Team has really given me the ability to take back to my school what KSHSAA is,” Welty said. “If we’re talking about a rule change, I can go back and talk to people about what that really affect and how it would affect them. I really enjoy that part of it.”
 
Welty recently completed her final volleyball season, and is in the middle of Clearwater’s scholars bowl season. She has also been involved in the school’s freshman orientation program.
 
As stuco president, Welty sees one primary objective.
 
“I think the most important thing is making sure everyone feels heard in the decisions we make, whether it’s student section themes or planning events or whatever,” Welty said. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to make sure everyone from every group in our school gets heard.”
 
While Welty is listening, others are noticing.
 
“Trista’s work ethic and desire to be involved and serve others is inspiring,” Hampton said. “Clearwater High School is lucky to have a person like Trista Welty. She is a leader, high achiever and inspiration to others.”