Daily Archives: June 13, 2009

Nicolia Mehrling played four years with the Coyotes Lacrosse Club

Nicolia Mehrling earned the highest grade point average of all the students at Terra Nova High School, earning her the distinction of valedictorian for the Class of 2009. Eddy Shaposhnikov and Jesse McKeen-Scott are co-salutatorians.

With Shaposhnikov, Mehrling founded the Junior Statesmen of America program at Terra Nova. She was also a member of Interact and California Scholarship Federation. She was the editor of the Terra Nova Times, the student newspaper. She played water polo for two years and lacrosse for four years.

“I changed a lot in high school,” Mehrling said. “Terra Nova had a huge effect.” She said she became more secure, more comfortable with herself, more outgoing and more proud of herself and her accomplishments.

Mehrling will attend UC-Davis but first she is going to spend a year volunteering in Italy, Greece and Ireland either farming or doing community development work. Her major is undecided, but she has some strong leanings toward chemistry, psychology or philosophy. Her favorite class at Terra Nova was chemistry taught by Ross Ellison.

“I was never interested in science until then,” she said.

Her senior year was the hardest, she said, trying to stay focused and motivated. She would advise students following her road to success to follow their hearts.

“Do what you want. Being valedictorian was never a goal. I just took classes I wanted to. Enjoy your high school experience. It’s more important than getting good grades,” she siad.

http://www.pacificatribune.com/ci_12555517?source=most_viewed