Around the schools

Forest City

Since she was in fourth grade, Catherine Cook, a senior cross country runner, has been riding horses. She loves being around animals so much that she hopes to pursue a career working with them.

“I just like being around animals in general, and horses are my favorite animal,” said Cook, who also has a cat and a dog at home. Her horse is named Sarge.

Cook, who also twirls baton with Lynette’s Twirlettes, plans to attendWilsonCollegeinChambersburg. She wants to major in equine facilitated therapeutics – in which students learn how to train and utilize horses in therapy with humans – with a minor in equine reproduction.

Montrose

Senior basketball player Brooke Malloy rolled up her sleeves to help a good cause.

Malloy, along with others from the high school, donated blood at a drive organized by the Red Cross on Election Day.

At first, Malloy was very nervous, but overcame that to become a first-time donor.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Malloy said. “I felt good after doing it. Even if your body doesn’t physically feel good, you feel good for having done it.”

Mountain View

In addition to helping set up blood drives and participating in Envirothon, Angel Kester, a senior captain on the volleyball team, also is very active in the youth group atSouthNew MilfordBaptistChurch.

In the summer, Kester volunteers with Arrowhead Bible Camp in Brackney, where she has been working with developmentally disabled campers since she was 14 years old.

“I wanted to work at a camp, and I found this great opportunity,” she said.

When she started, Kester volunteered on the service staff, and has since moved her way up to serving as a counselor and a staff supervisor.

“I love to see them,” Kester said. “They always bring me a smile.”

Kester plans to study biology in college.