Decorah Girl Competes to Become 'America's Favorite Student'

Every dollar helps Decorah News chase down the truth on Water Street, not just headlines. Give today. DECORAH — A Decorah Middle School student is competing for a $20,000 education prize and a trip as part of Bill Nye's "America's Favorite Student" contest. Campbell Tripp, a Decorah resident, is currently in second place in her group of about 50 contestants. The contest aims to highlight student learning and curiosity while celebrating education. Participants advance through multiple rounds by collecting daily votes from their communities. One vote per day may be cast for free, while additional votes may be purchased to support The Planetary Society, an educational nonprofit. To advance to the finals, Tripp must win her group. Voting continues through March 26. Tripp is involved in a variety of activities, including art, writing, orchestra, guitar, piano and acting in local productions with the New Minowa Players Theatre. According to her biography on the competition website, she enjoys being a student because of the opportunities to learn and explore, and she values school as both a creative outlet and a way to connect with others. Tripp hopes to attend art school and travel in the future. She said she also wants to make a positive impact on the world. Community members can vote once per day through March 26 at 9 p.m. CST by visiting the website. Make your inbox your go-to for local news! Sign up for the free newsletter and get timely updates, special features, and more.