Eric Ardis, 17, of Dixon, is the October Student of the Month at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling. He is the son of Carol and Colby Ardis of Dixon; his siblings are Jacob Ardis, 15, Caleb Ardis, 13, Julia Ardis, 10, Alicia Ardis, 8, Maria Ardis, 6, and Jessica Ardis, 1.

Favorite class: Calculus and physics. I like having a problem that’s kind of complicated. I like working through problems and getting that feeling of success when you solve them.

Top teacher: Ann Propheter and Lisa Cook. I like how they’re always ready to answer questions from students who need help.

Extracurriculars: National Honors Society, Key Club, Math Club, Scholastic Bowl, tennis, the Illinois Envirothon.

After graduation: I want to study electrical engineering. I probably will attend Northern Illinois University.

Paycheck: I work at the Dixon Dairy Queen. It’s a good high school job. It’s good to get job experience and it helps me save money for college. I also tutor, and I’m an umpire for the Al Morrison Baseball League.

Favorite musical group: Maroon 5.

Favorite actor: Ben Stiller.

Favorite movie: “Lord of the Rings.”

Hobbies: Snow skiing. I also used to make model airplanes and I flew them.

Favorite game or outdoor activity: Tennis.

Favorite food: My mom’s homemade meals, especially beef stroganoff.

Other favorites: Weekends.

Biggest fear: My family dying.

What makes your blood boil? People who aren’t willing to be conversational about a topic because they think they know everything about it.

What kind of music makes your skin crawl? Country.

Dream job: Pilot.

Read this: “Brave New World,” by Aldous Huxley. I liked the contrast between what an “ideal” society would be and what it means to be human.

Trading places: I’d trade places with the president. I’d want to see what it would be like to run the country for a day.

Trading spaces: I’d like to go to Australia because they speak English and it would be cool to see the different kinds of animals and cliffs and the forest.

Haunts: My friends’ houses, the Emma Hubbs tennis courts in Dixon.

Survival guide: Getting homework done, developing a positive relationship with teachers.

Useless knowledge: Geometric proofs.

In the dictionary next to: Energetic. I’m always asking questions and trying to help out.

Personal trivia: If snow skiing was a [high school] sport, it’d probably be my favorite sport.

Shout out: I’d like to say thanks to my teachers from St. Mary School in Dixon. They got me on the right track for high school.