Putting his stamp on life: Frontier grad combines, arts, athletics, academics with hard work
Frontier grad combines, arts, athletics, academics with hard work
Photos provided Preston Stamp takes a customer’s order at McDonald’s in St. Marys for a football team fundraiser.
Preston Stamp is in the process of a long jump during a track meet at Belpre High School.
Preston Stamp performed during All Valley School of Dance’s Spring Recital in May.
Preston Stamp runs to the sideline during a recent football game.
Photos provided Preston Stamp takes a customer’s order at McDonald’s in St. Marys for a football team fundraiser.
Preston Stamp is in the process of a long jump during a track meet at Belpre High School.
Preston Stamp performed during All Valley School of Dance’s Spring Recital in May.
Preston Stamp runs to the sideline during a recent football game.
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MATAMORAS -- Frontier High Middle School graduate Preston Stamp is making all the right moves in both academics and athletics.
Stamp said he started with gymnastics at a young age then went to tap dancing. He is a longtime member of All Valley School of Dance in New Martinsville.
"I've been dancing longer than any other athletic endeavor. I mainly did tap dancing, but also dabbled in jazz, ballet, hip hop and lyrical," he said.
Dance taught Stamp the value of teamwork, work ethic, and complementing each piece of the puzzle.
"A dance team is like a machine," he said. "There's one part where and one part there. Each piece is a gear, and if one gear stops, the whole machine stops."
Stamp said he had struggles in his younger years of not always being front and center.
"I always thought it had to be me, me, me," he said, "But I realized if I work hard here, I will be rewarded there."
Stamp said his dance training has been beneficial in other athletic endeavors such as football.
"My coaches always liked my footwork. I know how to move my body and where to go," he said.
He played defensive and offensive lineman on the team and said while he may not be the biggest on the field, his footwork and agility helped him.
Stamp said one favorite memory of his senior year was the football team's win over Magnolia High School during Homecoming week in October.
"We were down 20-6 at the half and came back to win," he said. "We needed that confidence boost."
Stamp's love of athletics also feeds into his studies. He will attend Ohio University in the fall for Sports Management.
"I originally thought I would do Analytics, but I decided to do sports because I'm a competitive person. I'll be happy whether I work for a football, basketball, or hockey team."
He got a taste of full-time college life this year as a full-time student at Washington State College of Ohio through College Credit Plus.
"I got some general credits out of the way. I took biology in high school but decided to take it again in college. The professor portrayed it in a way that I understood the information," he said.
Stamp said he is looking forward to moving to Athens in August.
"I'm looking forward to getting out of the house and getting out of my comfort zone," he said. "I'll get to meet people from all walks of life."
Stamp was recognized during Frontier's Senior Awards May 19 for finishing in the top 10% of his class with a 3.9 GPA. He said he is proud of his academic performance.
"I was the best version of myself and I gave it my all," he said.
Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com