As seen in the annual ‘Terrific Teens’ issue of West Hartford Magazine, 2014.

By Lisa Lelas

Owen Eagan. Photo by Todd Fairchild, ShutterbugCT.com

While the list of bright and competent students from West Hartford seems endless, we have selected a small handful of dedicated young men and women, all recent graduates from each of the five West Hartford High Schools, to represent this year’s ‘terrific teens’ to watch in our community.

Not only are they teens with dreams, but they are already acting on them. Each of them has the desire to make a difference. To create a positive change in the world. They are, without a doubt, great role models to represent our community.

Congratulations. We look forward to watching you blossom as you now go out into the world to inspire us all. Today we put the spotlight on Owen Eagan:

Northwest Catholic graduate Owen Eagan is now living in Washington, DC and attending Georgetown University. Although he has yet to officially declare his major, his emphasis is on history and English.

“I was lucky to have had really great teachers at my high school,” he notes on honing his love of learning. “My dad was an English major and my grandfather loved history. I think that’s where my interest in English and history first developed.”

Owen loves running. He was on varsity track all four years at Northwest, and played some lacrosse and football. “I love to keep in shape, working out, lifting weights, and spending time with friends and family.” Owen loves to read as well.

He is also a leader. Owen was class president all four years in high school and a frequent contributor to “The Writer,” a student creative writing magazine.

Community service is something Owen cherished during his high school years. “My sophomore service project was raising money for ‘Out to Pasture,’ a really cool charity for an animal hospice program in Tolland. In my senior year, I got involved in A.C.T.S. (A Chance To Serve), a religious-based in-school program with various community outreach service projects. We spent a few nights in a Bloomfield church with an event called ‘The Immersian,’ helped various charities, and I helped out at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Food Bank. Volunteering to me was really fun,” he says.

A member of the National Honor Society and AP student, Owen was also selected to attend the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership conference during his sophomore year and the American Legion Boys State conference during his junior year.

Owen took some time to ponder his choice for biggest role model. “I’m lucky. I have a lot of them. My grandfather, my dad, my uncles and cousins. Too many to name all of them. I have had a great life so far. Great people supporting me. My family and friends. Everyone in my life really helped make me, ‘me’!”

Owen’s best hangout place in West Hartford? The Buena Vista golf course. And the things he misses most while living in Washington DC are his dog, Sophie (a schnoodle) and his mom’s home-cooked meals. “Especially my mom’s chicken divan and her corn chowder!”

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday to see another teen spotlight! To view our full teen story please view West Hartford Magazine here.