For Kylee Siegmund, high school was never about staying in one lane.
Over the last four years at Pahrump Valley High School, she found herself balancing creativity and science, leadership and service, performance and academics — building a high school experience that reflected both who she is and who she hopes to become.
Whether she was helping direct a theater production, supporting students through Hope Squad, earning one of the district’s most prestigious recognitions, or completing the final steps toward becoming an Eagle Scout, Siegmund built a reputation for stepping forward wherever she felt she could make a difference.
As she prepares to graduate and begin the next chapter at Utah State University, Siegmund leaves behind a legacy centered on leadership, inclusion and helping others.
Among her favorite memories from high school, theater stands above the rest.
“Theater is where I started to branch out a lot more,” Siegmund said.
One experience in particular became a defining moment.
During the production of Spamalot, Siegmund served as assistant director — a role that gave her opportunities far beyond what she expected.
According to Siegmund, theater director Dr. Duvall trusted her with much of the creative direction while managing many of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities herself.
“As assistant director, Duvall kind of let me take over the directing portion of it,” Siegmund explained. “So I got to put together that show and see it come together.”
Watching the production evolve from ideas into a finished performance became one of her proudest accomplishments and helped reinforce her confidence as both a creator and a leader.
That experience was also part of what led Siegmund to receive one of the school district’s highest honors this year — the Superintendent’s Choice Award.
Initially, Siegmund admitted she didn’t fully understand the significance of the recognition.
“They kind of just gave it to me and said, ‘Oh, here, you also earned this,’” she said with a laugh.
It wasn’t until later that she learned only one student across the entire school is selected.
Once she understood the scope of the award, the recognition became even more meaningful.
“Once I found out that it was one person, I was just kind of floored,” Siegmund said. “I didn’t expect to get that award. I didn’t really even know that award was a thing.”
She added that realizing she had been selected from among her graduating class made the honor even more impactful.
“It’s amazing to me, knowing everybody in my grade and thinking that I was one that stood out to get this award. It’s just insane to me.”
Additional details provided by Superintendent Dr. Joseph Gent and submitted by PVHS Principal Desiree Veloz helped explain why Siegmund stood out.
“Simply put, Kylee is a good human,” Veloz shared. “She has values and ideals and models them under all conditions, whether that is under pressure in a drama production, doing her best academically, or interacting with her peers on campus. Kylee is genuine, caring and showed pride to be a Trojan.”
Veloz also noted that teacher feedback was gathered during the selection process and that Dr. Duvall strongly advocated for Siegmund.
In her nomination comments, Duvall highlighted not only Siegmund’s academic success but also her extensive contributions to the theater program.
According to Duvall, Siegmund maintained exceptional grades while also being nominated for Best Actress by the Smith Center, choreographing the entire school musical, earning Director’s Choice recognition for Thespians, placing in the top 15% for a two-person scene competition and serving as Marketing Secretary for Thespian Troupe 4576 — efforts that even resulted in recognition from the Smith Center.
Duvall also praised Siegmund’s character and leadership, noting her role in helping create Theatre Game Night and the “That’s a Wrap!” fundraisers to support scholarship opportunities for student participation in theater.
For Siegmund, one of the most meaningful parts of receiving that recognition was realizing the impact she had made simply by being herself.
Theater became a major influence during high school, but Siegmund says one person had an even larger impact.
Teacher-wise, she credits Dr. Duvall.
“She helped me branch out even more because of how welcoming she is to everybody,” Siegmund said. “She treated me as an adult, as a friend, versus as a student she had power over. And so I really appreciate her for that.”
Outside of school, Siegmund also credits her boyfriend, Luigi DeAngelis, as someone who helped shape her during her teenage years.
The two became close friends during freshman and sophomore year before eventually beginning a relationship.
“He’s helped me realize the kind of person I want to be, the kind of person I am and how I can improve,” she said.
Leadership also became a major theme throughout Siegmund’s high school years.
She was part of the founding group of Hope Squad at PVHS during her sophomore year and later served as president during her junior year.
Hope Squad focuses on mental health awareness and helping connect students with support resources.
Siegmund quickly found herself drawn to the organization’s mission.
“I love helping people,” she said. “It’s one of my biggest qualities.”
When she became president, she focused on creating unity within the group.
“I became president in a way of making sure that these students were led and that all of us were a group rather than having our separate cliques.”
She described Hope Squad not as a club but as a family.
“That’s the biggest thing I loved about Hope Squad,” she said. “We were a team.”
Although she stepped away from the program her senior year due to theater commitments, she said the experience remains an important part of who she is.
Another organization that played a major role in shaping Siegmund was Scouting America.
She joined in February 2019 and was among the first five girls in the district to participate after membership expanded.
Less than a month before graduation, she completed her Board of Review and received approval toward earning Eagle Scout status, pending final national confirmation.
She proudly walked at graduation wearing her Eagle cords.
“I think that’s a very big deal to me because I’ve been practically a Boy Scout since I was little because of my brother, and it’s definitely shaped who I am.”
For Siegmund, scouting offered experiences that centered on leadership, outdoor skills and lifelong lessons.
“It taught me a lot more life lessons as a person and things I could take with me for the rest of my life.”
Her graduation regalia reflected many of the experiences she invested in throughout high school, including her Eagle cords, Hope Squad cords, Thespian Honor Society cord, honor stole and Superintendent Award recognition.
While her interests may seem spread across very different worlds, Siegmund sees them as parts of the same bigger picture.
This fall, she will attend Utah State University to pursue veterinary science — a highly competitive program she says accepted only a limited number of students.
She plans to complete her bachelor’s degree before continuing into veterinary school with the goal of earning her doctorate.
Her dream specialty?
Exotic animals.
Siegmund hopes her future could include traveling internationally to work with large animals while also maintaining a clinic in the United States.
She laughed while sharing an alternative dream path as well.
“Disney World,” she said. “Animal Kingdom.”
When she talks about exotic animals, she means lions, elephants, giraffes and other large species she hopes to help care for someday.
Her passion for veterinary medicine developed naturally.
Her mother serves as manager of the Nye County Animal Shelter, giving Siegmund early exposure to animal care and reinforcing a love she hopes to turn into a career.
At the same time, she doesn’t plan to leave creativity behind.
If she had a side career, she said she would likely pursue art — especially pottery, something she has already taught for two summers.
Looking back, Siegmund’s high school journey was never defined by one title or one activity.
It was built through leadership opportunities, artistic expression, service to others and a willingness to try something new.
And as she leaves PVHS for her next adventure, she does so carrying the same values that helped earn recognition from teachers, administrators and peers alike — showing that success can look different for everyone, but character leaves the longest-lasting impression.
