The Fort Dodge Senior High School senior has built his schedule around a love for the arts, but during the process, he has also built friendships and relationships that have given him the opportunity to create special bonds.

“Being a part of marching band has been an amazing experience that I’m glad I have been a part of throughout my time at FDSH,” Lennon said. “To me, marching band is not about the instruments or the music, it’s about the people. In marching band you have the opportunities to make friends and connections and be a part of something bigger than yourself, and you can look back and say, ‘This is where I belong.'”

Lennon, who is the brass captain for the All-American FDSH Marching Band, has grown into his leadership role.

“The first time I had received my role of brass captain for marching band, I was terrified,” Lennon said. “But the longer I had the role, the more I realized I was doing the same thing as everyone else, but with some extra things to do here and there.”

During marching band Lennon plays the marching euphonium. During concert and jazz band season he plays the concert euphonium, bari saxophone and the trombone.

Also packed into his schedule is a capella choir, large group speech, musical and being a manager for the girls volleyball team.

Lennon was also just named an alternate for All-State choir.

“My favorite thing about choir is the connection,” Lennon said. “When you sing in a choir with everyone on the same page and everyone striving to reach the same goal, it is really special.

“My favorite thing about singing is the emotion, as a singer you are able to display so much emotion in your music that it can bring a whole new meaning to the piece.”

Lennon is also an officer for FDSH’s Performers Club.

“Being in Performers Club has allowed me to make more friends and meet new people,” Lennon said. “As an officer I like meeting the groups of younger people who are nervous about what they want to do because I was in their place too, and I want to show them that if I can make it this far in performing, they can too.

“When I perform I go into my own little bubble and I just go for it.”

As his final year of being a Dodger winds down, Lennon is going to miss a lot from his school days.

“Being a part in the musicals was the biggest eye opener for me because I had not joined choir until my freshman year so it was something completely new to me,” Lennon said. “But when you first start doing it you’re like “how is this going to work?”

“But closer to the performance date you see everything locked into place and you see all the bits and pieces merging together into this great big performance you can’t help but look back with pride.”

Lennon just plans on moving forward and continuing his friendships with everyone around him.

“The thing I look forward to the most during my senior year is to continue strengthening relationships and building up those around me, and of course my last musical,” Lennon said. “The reason why I am in so many activities is because of the people, I love meeting new people and building stronger connections.”

Lennon’s time as a Dodger has been helped by the people who have surrounded him.

“Some of my biggest influences have been my parents,” Lennon said. “Also Mr. (Matt) Drees, Mr. (Al) Paulson and Mrs. (Lindey) Krug.

“They are all people who pushed me to keep going and made me the person I am.”

Lennon plans on enlisting into the active duty Air Force after graduation.

Vacation destination: Bahamas.

People I would like to have dinner with: Tom Holland and Zendaya.

It would surprise people that: have a pet chinchilla.

My everyday role model: Mr. Drees.

I can’t go a day without: watching Tik Tok.

Where do I see myself in 10 years?

working on planes in the Air Force.

What are you listening to right now?

“Believe” by Josh Groban.

A show you binge watch: “Supernatural.”

Dream piece: Jekyll and Hyde

Favorites…

Musical: Jekyll and Hyde.

Performer that inspires me: Josh Groban.

Performance: Eminem’s Lose Yourself sung by Matt Drees.

Song: “This is the Moment” by Jekyll and Hyde.

Book: Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

Instrument: Euphonium.

Class: Band or choir.

Movie: “The Book of Life.”

Music genre: Musical theater.

Phone App.: TikTok.