Tenth Street Times People of the Year Award Recipients

Northwest High School is home to hundreds of talented students and staff, and the Tenth Street Times People of the Year awards recognize the best the school has to offer. 

This December, Northwest students and staff nominated and elected three students and one staff member to represent the High School. Voters looked for kindness, leadership, service and high personal achievement; traits exemplified by all four award recipients. Whether in athletics, teaching, performing arts or making change in the community, these four Wolves embody these qualities in everything they do and have made a lasting impression on Northwest High School and their community. 

The 2024 Tenth Street Times People of the Year awards are awarded to the following: Romey Croatt, Athlete of the Year; Mr. Winter, Staff Member of the Year; Greta Paulsen, Performer of the Year; and Nolan Craig, Change Maker of the year. Congratulations Wolves, for your outstanding leadership and commitment to Northwest High School.

Romey Croatt

A key player for both basketball and soccer teams, sophomore Romey Croatt has proven herself not only as a gifted athlete but as a leader who embodies the values of hard work, dedication and sportsmanship. In only one semester at Northwest High School, Croatt established herself as an outstanding student-athlete worthy of representing Northwest athletics.

Croatt explained, “Sports have been very influential in my life… They [have taught me that] there is not success without hard work and failure and that having fun and relaxing will get you far in sports and life.”

Croatt started her journey as an athlete at four years old, when she joined her first Pre-K basketball and soccer teams. From there, she continued to grow and improve, eventually setting her up for her first season as a wolf. Croatt made a name for herself in her freshman year, helping both her basketball and soccer teams to the state tournament. In the spring of 2024, Croatt helped lead her soccer team to the State semifinals match, where the Wolves lost to Valley.

“[My favorite memory in sports] would be my entire freshman year in soccer,” Croatt reflected. “My freshman year was absolutely amazing. We had some of the best seniors you could have asked for and the state tournament was something I’ll never forget.”

Croatt has some even bigger goals as she moves forward. Looking to compete at the Division I level in either basketball or soccer, Croatt’s athletic career is far from over. While she is still competing for the Wolves however, Croatt aims to bring her basketball and soccer teams back to the state tournament for her next three years and hopefully come back with a title. 

Croatt’s leadership at Northwest does not end when she gets off the court and field. Involving herself in Student Council, Activities Council, Random Acts of Kindness Club and Best Buddies, Croatt is constantly seeking ways to make Northwest High School a better place.

Jay Winter

For Mr. Winter, teaching is about much more than just equations and formulas. His goal is to inspire students to embrace the challenges that come with learning– and challenges are plenty in his AP Calculus AB and BC classes.

“I want my students to know that the hard things are worth the struggle. What’s hard to one student may not necessarily be hard to another, but it’s still worth it if you push through and you learn because then you have a sense of accomplishment,” Winter attested.

Whether his students are grappling with derivatives or integrals, in Mr. Winter’s classroom perseverance is valued just as much as understanding. That moment when a student’s perseverance is rewarded with understanding is the most rewarding part of being a teacher to Mr. Winter. 

“My favorite thing about teaching is the moment when a student gets it, that’s that moment that makes you smile as a teacher. When you have that ‘aha, I get it now,’ moment with a student, it’s pretty amazing to see when it happens,” Winter reflected.

In his 11 years teaching in Waukee, Mr. Winter has developed a deep appreciation of his colleagues at Northwest High School.

“​​Name any staff member, custodian, lunch worker, teacher or anybody who supports our students in this building and they are all just as worthy of this award as anybody else,” Winter claimed. “We have a staff of wonderful caring people here at Northwest and it’s a reminder to just keep doing what you’re doing and keep doing it with love and care.”

Greta Paulsen

Great Paulsen’s love for performing was born in fifth grade, when she auditioned for a community theater play called, I Never Saw Another Butterfly. This passion has only continued to grow as Paulsen’s performing career has developed. Now, she can be found in the Northwest High School Fall Play, Spring Musical and many Thespian Troupe events, including Flip the Script, the Musical Theater Cabaret and the Staged Reading. One of Paulsen’s most notable roles was as Kady Heron in the Northwest Spring Musical, Mean Girls.

“I think [theater] can help put you in other people’s shoes and to learn more about how other people live. You have to become someone else when you’re doing a theater performance, so you can see from different perspectives,” Paulsen reflected.

Outside of theater arts, Paulsen continues to perform for the Northwest Choir Department. She has been a member of Northwest Singers and EOS Show Choir all three years of high school and has also been involved in the Keynote Jazz Choir and Noteworthy. Again, Paulsen got involved early, having joined the Iowa Youth Chorus in third grade, and she has yet to slow down since.

Paulsen plans to continue pursuing her passion for performing arts after she leaves high school. Her goal is to major in musical theater, move to a big city after college and pursue performing full-time.

“One of my biggest goals is to be part of a national tour or a touring theater company because I love traveling and I love performing, so to combine those would just be a huge dream come true. I want to perform until I die.”

Nolan Craig

At Northwest High School, senior Nolan Craig has proven that change-making starts with getting involved. Despite the commitment to leadership and service that he has now, Craig was not always involved in the school. In his sophomore year, Craig decided to step outside of his comfort zone and run for student council. From there, his involvement at Northwest snowballed until he became one of the most influential people in the student body.

“When I first came to Northwest, I was very reserved and quiet. The more I’ve involved myself, the more confident and outgoing I’ve become,” Craig attested. “Just choosing to be involved and stepping out of my comfort zone has shaped me into the person I am and want to continue to be so that I can keep making that difference in other people’s lives.”

As President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of the Environmental Club, Secretary for Student Council, and in various other roles, Craig has not just participated but led. As a leader, Craig believes the true reward lies in the impact he makes on others.

“Just someone saying that they appreciate what I do and that I’ve helped make a difference really leaves a big impact on me and makes me feel very grateful for the school and the students and staff,” stated Craig.

Craig’s hope is that he was able to leave a positive impact on Northwest and inspire students to take a risk and get involved in their community.

Craig urged, “Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Always treat people with a smile and be willing to meet new people and do things that you’re unsure about. Eventually, that willingness to take risks will pay off.”