Tradition of service: Future First Citizen Blake Traeger leads by example

By Kristine Thomas

Whether it is being a “lunch buddy” to a middle school student, volunteering with the Virtue First Foundation or playing a team sport, senior Blake Traeger strives to make a difference in his community.

Respected by his peers and adults in the Mount Angel community for his leadership roles at Kennedy High School, his church and volunteer organizations, Blake was chosen as a 2013 Future First Citizen by the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce. He shares with honor with fellow senior Emily Schmidt.

A humble young man, Blake said he feels fortunate for what he has and the people in his life. And because life is good, he feels it is his responsibility to do what he can to help others.

“I want to be known as someone who sticks up for the right thing even if it’s against the crowd and especially if it is helping others out,” Blake said.

The son of Greg and Sandy (Fessler) Traeger, Blake plans to attend Oregon State University in the fall with the goal of working as an agronomist and coaching football in Mount Angel. His brothers are Brett, a freshman, and Brady, a fifth-grader. Blake has a 3.72 grade point average.

His mom was Mount Angel’s first Future First Citizen in 1985. His father received the “Service to Youth” Award in 2008. His grandparents Bob and Jean Fessler were First Citizens in 2004.

He credits his parents, grandparents Joe and Kathy Traeger and Bob and Jean Fessler, coaches and teachers for teaching him the important lessons of giving back to his community, always giving his best effort and treating people the way he would like to be treated. His high school activities include being a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams and National Honor Society. He is known as being shy but being the kind of leader who leads by example.

“One of my best memories is when we won the state championship in baseball in 2012,” Blake said. “It was really cool that the whole town was lining the streets to greet us and we were escorted by the fire trucks and police cars. We won that championship for the town and our community.

Blake’s community service includes volunteering with the Virtue First Foundation, Huts to Homes, Little League, football and baseball camps, Oktoberfest and St. Mary Church.

Kennedy football coach Randy Traeger said his nephew Blake “is one of the most kind, gentle, and considerate people you will ever meet.  He is a man of few words and many loving actions.”  To understand Blake’s character, Randy Traeger shared a story of an  eighth-grade school dance.

There was a physically handicapped girl at the dance that no one was dancing with, Randy Traeger said. “Blake stepped out and asked her to dance. The message that Blake’s action sent to the other ‘cool’ guys was more powerful than anything he could have every told them about empathy and love.”

In the four years as his teacher, coach and advisor at Kennedy, Ryan Westenskow said Blake radiates good will and makes everyone around him happier. “I couldn’t offer higher praise about a person.”