Excellence in the classroom has become the norm for Iola High School’s Tyler Shelby.
But Shelby, one of 83 IHS seniors who will graduate from high school Sunday, isn’t in for the recognition, even though he’s already earned an armload of awards for his academic prowess.
“I just want to do the best I can at whatever I do,” Shelby said. “Right now, it’s school.”
Shelby, son of Iolans David and Kathy Shelby, has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average through high school — all A’s.
It’s a standard of excellence he started in middle school, then maintained as he entered the halls at Iola High.
“It was hard work, but I never really struggled,” said Shelby, whose closest brush with a B came in an earth science class. He found himself at the mid-point of the semester with a B average.
Rather than fret, Shelby buckled down over the next nine weeks, raising the grade to an A to keep his grade card spotless.
Even more impressive, Shelby has loaded his schedule with so-called “punishing classes,” such as organic chemistry, physics and advanced math.
Part of his success is attributable to responsibility, he admits.
“Of course my parents encouraged me and are proud of me,” he said.
Shelby made it a point to complete assignments or study for upcoming tests on his own, without prompting from his parents.
“It wasn’t like it was a sacrifice,” he said. “I’m not out to beat anybody else.”
HIGH SCHOOL is just the first step in a career Shelby hopes leads him into a research field.
He plans to enroll at Pittsburg State University in the fall to study bio-chemistry. He also plans to enroll in honors college courses.
