Writer / Jamie Hergott
Photography Provided
It doesn’t take a long conversation with Westfield High School graduate Alex Coulombe to see that he has a passion for others, an openness to new experiences, and a zest for life that’s contagious.
Coulombe graduated this past spring from Westfield High School and plans to attend Miami University in Ohio this fall to study biology on a premedical course. His hobbies include a wide range of activities, but all revolve around being active and helping others.
His own story is full to the brim with activities and leadership roles, with no signs of stopping. The activity he’s been involved with the longest is soccer. He began playing at 3 years old, and his skill for the sport developed throughout years of playing club soccer. He continued to play for the Indiana Fire Juniors as well as the varsity team at Westfield High School. He even had the opportunity to play for the Olympic Development Program for a time.
His senior soccer season was a highlight, as he was co-captain and was joined by many friends he had played with since the age of 12. They had great chemistry on the field and won the sectional championship against Caramel. It was the first time Westfield made it out of sectionals since the early 2000s.
While sports are a big part of his life, they aren’t the biggest. Much of his free time is spent volunteering. He’s been on the board for Care Like Cate since 2019. Coulombe’s former classmate Sara Weglarz started the club in memory of her 5-year-old sister Cate, who passed away from an unexpected illness.
“Cate was an amazing 5-year-old who had no idea of bad things in the world,” Coulombe said. “She was always spreading love and kindness, so with this club we can do the same. We can spread kindness in our community.”
The club had 120 students its first year and continues to grow, serving homeless shelters, running food and toy drives, writing cards for veterans, and organizing many other activities to lift others’ spirits.
“The main thing I take away from the club is the energy,” Coulombe says. “They’re all happy to be serving together. Watching it happen as a leader is a great feeling.”
Coulombe found himself in another position of leadership after being asked to participate in the Riley Dance Marathon, a student-run organization that supports Riley Hospital for Children. Coulombe enjoyed his very first Dance Marathon, and he became involved in leadership his sophomore year, serving as an executive committee member and eventually vice president of school relations. He feels his role has helped him grow as a leader, as his main job is boosting morale and delegating so others can be involved. During his senior year the organization raised $92,000, which was 90% of past totals, while many other local schools struggled to raise 20% during a year affected by COVID.
People of all ages can learn from Coulombe’s philosophy for a full and meaningful life.
“If you learn early it doesn’t matter what other people think,” says Coulombe, who was a speaker at his high school commencement. “If you can truly be yourself and embrace the goofiness of life, that is a great way to live and grow.”
