Former Hauser standout making her mark in medicine

Throughout her school years as an exceptional student/athlete at Hauser Jr./Sr. High School, Dr. Audrey (Wilkerson) Baute was never one to “toot her own horn.”

That much has not changed for Baute.

As a former teacher of Baute’s at Hauser, I vividly remember her as a very accomplished student/athlete that went about her business in a very determined, yet quiet and humble, manner. As an adult, those very same traits have paid large dividends for her. Dr. Baute, a 2007 Hauser graduate, received her bachelor of science degree in biology from Eastern Kentucky University in 2011.

After graduating, Baute worked for two years in biology labs at EKU. From that point, she attended medical school in Iowa at Des Moines University where she graduated with her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. She is in her second year of residency in internal medicine.

Dr. Baute and her husband, Justin, who also a Hauser graduate, reside in Grimes, Iowa – a small city of approximately 13,000 and a suburb of Des Moines. Justin teaches high school chemistry/physics and is the varsity basketball coach at Boone High School.

Due to Baute’s humble and “business like” personality, many of her biggest accomplishments were shared by her father, Mike Wilkerson. Mike spent 33 of his 34 years as a professional educator at Cross Cliff Elementary – the last 14 of which he served as the school’s principal. The proud father didn’t mind sharing some of his daughter’s many successes.

“As an undergrad at EKU, Audrey got all kinds of acknowledgement for her accomplishments as a biology student,” said Wilkerson. “She also was number one in her group when she graduated from med school.”

He went on to add that the same year his daughter graduated at the top of her group in med school is the same year his son-in-law, Justin, received teacher-of-the-year honors at Boone High School. 

Wow!

As a softball/basketball player at Hauser, Dr. Baute pitched for four consecutive sectional champion softball teams and earned All-Conference honors all four years during her outstanding career as a pitcher for the Jets.

“I have lots of good memories playing basketball and softball at Hauser,” stated Baute.

Dr. Baute was quick to share her opinion regarding the advantages that going to a small school and living in a small community provided for her.

“In a small town, such as Hope, there is a real sense of community that you don’t have in larger towns,” she said. “You feel a lot of support from community members, even the people you don’t know personally.”

Her father, Mike, echoed his daughter’s comments regarding Hope and the Hauser community.

“It’s easy to get good feelings and feel supported in a community like Hope and a school like Hauser,” Mike commented. “It certainly provided a place that was good for Audrey and a place for Audrey to be good for others.”

When asked about what advice she might provide to current Hauser students, Dr. Baute provided a concise response.

“Work hard. Be kind. Figure out what interests you and makes you happy then go for it,” Baute offered. Her accomplishments leave no doubt that is advice worth following."