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The classy term is for people who try to embrace knowledge and develop their own abilities and talents as fully as possible.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Carter certainly does that. He combines academics with athletics playing for the Musketeers along with a having a diverse range of other activities.

"I am very serious about both, but my academics always come first," Carter said. "I enjoy sports way more than homework, but I’ve always put my grades and school first."

It shows.

Consider Carter is the class valedictorian. Red Bud High's 2024 Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete has big plans for his future.

He is headed to West Point for his college education. He would like to major in American politics and branch either infantry or intelligence.

Carter has set big goals for himself. He would like to either be president of the United States or director of the CIA.

"I’ve always had lofty goals. I don’t think I would get anywhere without them," Carter said. "The appeal to me is being the best at whatever I am trying to do, and you don’t get much better than being president."

His drive for West Point and his ambitions are “all internalâ€‌ and that’s what makes him tick.

“I can’t really describe it much better than that,â€‌ Carter said. “I’ve always wanted to be my best and make an impact with life.â€‌

Red Bud teacher Brian Boeving believes there’s nothing unusual with Carter’s aspirations.

"Those may seem like lofty goals, but I think that is exactly what we hope our students shoot for when they head out into the real world,â€‌ said Boeving, who also is Red Bud's softball coach. “Ty will go very far in life because once he sets his mind on something he goes all in on it. I think either of those positions would be something he could achieve in life.

“His determination and never-give-up mindset is something that sets him apart. I have no doubt if Ty wants to achieve something he will.â€‌

Musketeers wrestling coach Rob Pipher, who also is the superintendent for the Prairie du Rocher School District, agreed with Boeving.

"Wow, I hadn't heard of these goals. But after coaching him for three years, I know one thingآ â€” if he sets his mind to it, I would never bet against him,â€‌ Pipher said. “No goal is too lofty when you work smart and hard. He has all the talent and drive to achieve anything he sets his mind to.

“He would be a leader I could get behind. I can't wait to visit the White House.â€‌

Carter is a national merit commended scholar, an Illinois state scholar and a member of the superintendent's honor roll.

Count Boeving among those fascinated by Carter's achievements.

"Being ranked No. 1 in the class is extremely impressive. This senior class is loaded with highly impressive students who work hard and put their studies at the top of their priority list," said Boeving, who had Carter in two classes. "Being ranked first in a group like that shows how dedicated he is to his schoolwork and his future."

Boeving taught Carter for one semester of Eastern World Geography in his freshman year and one semester of Western World Geography in his senior year.

"Ty is a great student, someone you can count on to complete his work in a timely and professional manner as well as someone who always has good insight and input into the class," Boeving said. "Having Ty in a class as a senior while a lot of the other students are underclassmen has been great because he has been a great leader and someone you can count on to help others when they need it. He is a trustworthy and responsible leader and someone you know will do the right thing."

Those two geography courses have been his favorite classes, Carter said.

“I think it stems from being an avid reader when I was younger, and reading about things and wondering where they are," Carter said. "I still love to know where things are and what the world outside of southern Illinois is like."

Carter also is involved in other endeavors.

He is his class president. He the president of the Future Business Leaders of America. He is the Future Farmers Association’s historian. He's an Academic Challenge team member.

"I participate in other activities because I have diverse interests and I love competing," Carter said. "I’ve enjoyed being an FFA officer and FBLA president because I like leading. I like to be busy."

Growing up on a family farm plays a big part in Carter's life.

He is a member of 4-H. Carter shows cattle locally every year. He was the FBLA state champion in the agribusiness competition in 2023.

"I’ve shown a steer every year I’ve been in high school and also sold it, which helped me buy my first truck," Carter said. "I’ve also gone to state a couple times in woodworking.

"We have a small livestock farm, and it has helped me learn about how to care for something and work hard. Having to solve problems and fix things on the farm builds confidence and life skills that I have benefitted from."

In the fall, Carter plays football. In the winter, he moves onto the mat for wrestling, which is his favorite sport. In the spring, he gets down behind the plate to catch for the baseball team.

With only 24 hours in a day, Carter manages to make it all work.

"I try to just take things one at a time. There’s only a certain number of hours in the day and at the end of the day you can only do so much," Carter said. "I start with what I have to do and then work from there and that’s been going well so far."

Carter played on the offensive and defensive lines in football. He was a two-year captain. This past season, Carter was the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division defensive player of the year. He was named the Muskteers' best defensive lineman and a team co-MVP.

"The highlight of my football career was winning conference against Chester and beating them again in the playoffs," Carter said. "In both of those games I felt like I was a force on the defensive line and really helped us win."

He enjoyed his best season wrestling, coming in fifth place at 175 pounds at the Class 1A state tournament. That made him the first Red Bud wrestler to place at state.

"I know he was very disappointed at the time, and I understand that. It's tough when you get so close and you know you are as good as the wrestlers who finished ahead of you," Pipher said. "But I am so proud of the way he wrestled and the way he prepared to wrestle. He had one goal, and he did not stop fighting for it until the last whistle blew.

"He was fun to coach because he would do anything necessary to win. I will never forget the night before his last weigh-in at state when he was overweight. The hotel didn't have a workout room, so he bundled up and headed outside in the cold to run. I sat in the warm van to watch. I didn't even have to mention it to him. He knew it was his job to get it done."

Carter has no complaints.

"I sacrificed a lot but loved what I got in return," Carter said.

Carter was a two-year team captain. He was the 2024 Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association's scholastic wrestler of the year. He passed 100 wins in his three-year career.

"My favorite sport is wrestling. I’ve lived it for the last two years and I love the grind that is wrestling," Carter said. "I love that success is fully on your own shoulders and that it is usually just up to how hard you want to work."

Carter would like to continue in the sport. He hopes to walk on and wrestle for Army at West Point.

He has been a two-year starter in baseball. This spring, Red Bud won the conference title.

"The highlight of my baseball career was being a part of the first team to ever win a baseball conference championship for Red Bud this year," Carter said. "I have caught almost every game this year and also have had a great year at the plate to help the team. My best moment this year was a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh against Carlyle to keep our championship hopes alive.

"At the end of the day though, we have a saying: 'we play for the name on the back' because the back of our jerseys say Red Bud. It’s all about the team."

Carter credits his father, Josh, with his development. He has followed the example his dad set for him.

"He is very supportive of everything I want to do and hasn’t ever pushed me to do something I don’t want to, which has 100 percent benefitted me in the long run," Carter said. "He is a great example to look up to on how to carry myself and I usually just try to copy what I think he might do.

"He got me into football, wrestling, and baseball and has put in more hours than I can count driving me to games and practices and working with me outside of practice. I couldn’t ask for a better dad."

Another thing Carter enjoys is reading. His favorite book is "The Count of Monte Cristo" that was written by Alexandre Dumas.

The novel is an adventure story centrally concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy and forgiveness.

It's not the expected answer a typical teen might give to the question of his favorite book.

"I read for entertainment and my love for â€کThe Count of Monte Cristo’ is definitely because it is very entertaining and fun to read,â€‌ Carter said. “It is very well written. The lesson I take away from that book is that if you are motivated you can overcome anything.â€‌

Spoken like a true Renaissance man.