WCHS Student Earns AZ Spirit of IB Award

Madison Whynott, a senior International Baccalaureate (IB) student at Willow Canyon High School, was recognized and awarded the Arizona Spirit of IB Award by the Arizona International Baccalaureate Schools (AZIBS) at their quarterly meeting on September 18, 2026.

Madison was selected for the award from a pool of IB candidates from across the state.  She was nominated for the award by her teachers and then wrote an essay discussing how she embodied the spirit of IB with reference to three traits from the IB Learner Profile.

“I wrote about how I embody being caring, being a thinker, and being principled,” she said.  “I chose caring because I like to help people, and I also tutor people. 
I wrote about being a thinker because I have a full IB schedule, and I'm also in a bunch of clubs, so I always have to work with people and think about exactly what I'm doing.  I wrote about being principled because I'm very organized, I like everything to be done perfectly and on time.” 

Madison is involved in a plethora of activities on campus that would make anyone else tired just reading them.  She’s president of the IB club, vice president of the Sports Medicine Club, captain of the Badminton team, HOSA president for West-MEC, and a National Honor Society member.

“The Arizona Spirit of IB Award recognizes a student who truly embodies the IB values, and Madison exemplifies them every day,” said Peyton Shelby, IB Programme Coordinator at Willow Canyon.  “Balancing her full IB Diploma workload, sports medicine, West-MEC’s Physical Therapy program, and her role as IB Club President, Madison redefines what it means to be balanced and caring. She is always the first to offer a helping hand, guide a peer through a tough concept, wrap an athlete in need, and lift up those around her both in and out of the classroom.”

Madison was awarded a plaque and a $400 prize for her accomplishments, which is going toward college.  She wants to attend the University of Virginia to study kinesiology.   

“Kinesiology is the study of the human body, and I love learning about how it moves and how the body works,” she shared.  “I want to be a sports medicine physician. So it's a lot of school. 
I have to go through all of medical school and residency. So I feel like IB is also preparing me for that.”

IB courses are offered only at Willow Canyon High School and challenge academically talented students to reach high levels of achievement in a broad range of subjects.  IB schools have earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities.

“I decided to join IB because I wanted to challenge myself academically,” Madison said.  “I think it's really beneficial.  It’s a lot of work, but you also meet a lot of new friends and people that care about academics and working together to be successful.”