Marysville Pilchuck grad says tech can improve the world

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 14, 2017

MARYSVILLE — Loren Anderson recently graduated as one of four valedictorians at Marysville Pilchuck High School. He is off soon to Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Q: Did you have to have a 4.0 to make valedictorian? How did you do that?

A: Yes, a 4.0 for all four years. I just worked really hard. … I just studied hard while trying to maintain a good social life.

Q: Your siblings went to private school, but you went to public school for high school?

A: I have two other siblings, both older brothers. Both of them went to private school for both K-8 and high-school … I pretty much just wanted to make a name for myself. When I was in K-8, I was, not always but generally, so-and-so’s younger brother … I went to Marysville Pilchuck and did what I wanted and participated in activities that I wanted to. I just wanted to be set apart from my brothers and be my own person.

Q: Why are you planning to major in computer engineering?

A: I’ve always been fascinated with technology and how much it’s impacted the world and I wanted to be a part of making the world a better place, like with all the modern technology, and as time passes by, technology becomes more a part of our everyday lives, and I wanted to be a part of that growth.

Q: Have you spent time in Eastern Washington before?

A: Yeah, both of my brothers went to Gonzaga. I’ve really enjoyed their engineering program. It’s really good. My oldest brother majored in civil engineering.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?

A: Besides hanging out with friends and spending time with friends, music has been a big part of my life. I thoroughly enjoy it. I play drums, guitar, a little bit of piano and I also create some music and I was in a band, a jazz band.

Q: Did you study music through school?

A: I used to take private lessons on drums for a little while. Eventually I grew more independent and started branching out and teaching myself some more things and trying to expand what I know about drumming. As for guitar and piano, I am self-taught.

Q: How do the music part of your brain and the engineer part of your brain work together?

A: Engineering is looking at something and seeing how it works and how everything functions as a whole. For music, I take that same concept so whenever I have to learn something by ear, I think, ‘How do these things work together and does it produce the sound that I hear?’

Q: What kind of music do you like to write?

A: Right now I just enjoy writing arrangements of classic jazz songs for my jazz combo. My small little jazz band has an interesting, unique instrumentation … Most bands would have a full rhythm section … We just have drums, a bass and more wind instruments. I try to figure out how we can compensate.

Q: What were some of your favorite activities at MP?

A: The entire band program, so jazz band, marching band and concert band, but besides that, I enjoyed being part of our volunteer club and the National Honor Society.

Q: Do you have anything planned before you start classes?

A: Right now I’m just working and hopefully returning to help the marching band program a little before I head out to Spokane. I work at Haggen in Marysville.

Q: If you had a little brother, what would you tell him about high school?

A: I’d tell him to just go for it and enjoy high school while you can … High school really does fly by.

Reporter Eric Stevick contributed to this story.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.