2024 Students of Distinction
Gavin Henrickson balances academics, entrepreneurship, community service
Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.
Gavin Henrickson
School: Peninsula High School
Category: Academic Achievement
It’s not easy to be both a top student and a business owner. Peninsula High School Senior Gavin Henrickson, however, manages to be both and an active volunteer in his community.
Recently, Gavin’s high school even recognized these efforts with a community service varsity letter, which it awarded him for his work in cleaning, repairing, and donating used bicycles to local organizations.
Meanwhile, in his business, Gavin sells sustainably made soap products, arguing against the conventional wisdom that says environmentally conscious products must cost more.
“Sustainable products don’t have to be more expensive,” he says, and he tries to use the knowledge he has gained while achieving a 4.0 GPA to realize this principle. So far, he has met with success.
Gavin Henrickson
Hurdling struggles and giving back to community
Though he has already achieved a lot, academic success has not always come easily to Gavin. He recalls struggling with studying when he was younger, and he credits his willingness to work through difficulty with helping him overcome his early challenges. Recognizing how much the support of others has helped him, Gavin tries to give back to his community as much as possible. In addition to his bicycle donation project, Gavin has volunteered for Gig Harbor’s SAVE Thrift Store, which helps raise scholarship money for Peninsula High students.
Charting a course for the future
In college, Gavin will study business entrepreneurship, and he hopes to grow his business even as he pursues his degree. Even as his business grows, he wants to remain committed to the principles of sustainability, using his products as a positive force for change in his world.
Gavin Henrickson
Category: Academic Achievement
GPA: 4.0; class ranking 1/351
Parents: Katie and Drew Henrickson
Achievements/Activities: Owns an Eco-Friendly brand since 2022; 13 AP/Honors/College Courses; Student of the Quarter; Scholar Athlete; AP Scholar with Distinction, Stroll Canterwood, Young Achiever of the Year; Gig Harbor Local Living, Student Spotlight; ASB Senator in my Junior Year and ASB Treasurer in my Senior Year; Team Captain of the Cross Country Team in my Senior Year; Two-time Cross-Country Varsity Letter and one time Golf Varsity Letter
Favorite Teacher: “Mrs. Kara Beloate because she is the teacher that challenged and taught me the most.” English has always been the most difficult class for Gavin, but he notes that, “Mrs. Beloate challenged me to pursue perfection in my writing and to never stop revising.”
Best thing about high school: “The best thing about Peninsula High School is the abundance of many different opportunities suited for all types of students. We have countless clubs and sports oriented towards different interests as well as many specialized or advanced classes that allow students to create a schedule that best puts them on the right track for their desired future, no matter what that is.”