Ferndale High School senior Cody Salhus is a busy guy. He’s played for the Golden Eagles baseball team all four years of high school, has been a member of National Honors Society and FHS leadership for three years, and just joined Future Farmers of America and the business-focused DECA club this year as well.

Salhus said he believes his work in school leadership, including planning and decorating for various events, has helped make FHS a livelier place to learn.

“I hope this has made FHS more fun for other students,” he said.

Building a strong community means a lot to Salhus. He said he’d love to set up local events explicitly designed to foster more relationships and create bonds.

“I want people to feel a sense of belonging and for them to be invested in our community,” Salhus said.

After graduation, Salhus plans to attend Purdue University at Indianapolis to earn a degree in mechanical engineering. In particular, he’s hoping to pursue a career in motorsports, designing and building race cars.

"I always wanted to be the one driving, but given how inaccessible that is, I've decided that designing the cars is a good substitute," he said.

Salhus said the most influential person in his life is his dad.

“He’s done a lot to try and make me a good man,” he said. “He is everything I strive to achieve and I really hope that one day I do.”