Lisa Fraley is confident, determined and focused.
And a little bit of a perfectionist as well.
Fraley will finish high school as Brownsville Area's salutatorian, ranking second in a class of 150 with a 3.97 grade point average.
But according to Fraley, she could have done even better.
"The only regret I have is not taking school a little more seriously in the beginning," Fraley said. "I didn't think I would get to where I am now."
That's Fraley the perfectionist talking. Way back when, during her first year of high school, Fraley received a 'B' of all things in Algebra II.
Maybe she isn't perfect, but Fraley fashioned superb academic and athletic careers while at Brownsville, and because of her accomplishments, will be recognized as one of the area's top student/athletes.
Fraley, the daughter of Robin and Karen Fraley of Brownsville, was selected as the top female student/athlete at Brownsville Area High School and will receive a $500 scholarship through the Fayette County Student/Athlete Scholarship Program.
The program, sponsored by Davis and Davis Attorneys at Law in conjunction with the Herald-Standard, will provide $7,000 in scholarship money to 14 of Fayette County's best and brightest student/athletes.
A banquet will culminate the program on Sunday, June 3, at the Historic Summit Inn.
At that time, each of the 14 honorees will receive $500 toward a college education. HSTV will videotape the program.
Advertisement
The granddaughter of Dorothy Fraley, of California, and Leonard and Francis Kromer, of Penn-Craft, Fraley will continue her academic career at Indiana University of Pa., where she will double major in marketing and fashion merchandising.
Fraley got a taste of what her future may hold when she was chosen as Chairperson of the Prom Fashion Show, the biggest fundraiser for Brownsville's senior class.
"It was a very good experience," Fraley said. "This was a really big project and it required people to really put time and effort into it. It really showed me how much work you have to do to be successful, and it made me realize that I couldn't do it myself. I needed to rely on other people to help out."
Fraley picked IUP over West Virginia University because of several factors. The smaller, more personal confines of IUP appealed to her, as did the high academic standard the school requires of its students.
Indiana was also one of the few schools that offered a four-year program in fashion merchandising.
"I've always liked fashion merchandising and I realized I could do something on the business end of it after college," Fraley said. "There's a vast array of directions you can take it. I'd prefer to stay on the business end and work in a corporate office."
Fraley worked hard to achieve her success in high school, both in the classroom and on the playing field. She was a member of Student Council, Senior Cabinet, the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, Treasurer of Interact, a member of the Ski Club and played a prominent roll in helping her class raise over $2,000 with the Prom Fashion Show.
The past two years, Fraley worked at McDonald's, and this summer she will waitress at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa.
Fraley was also a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Republic, where she helped with vacation bible school and youth group.
Sometimes, just finding the time to study proved a challenge.
"Time management was very important," Fraley said. "When I wasn't at work or at practice, I had a meet. I usually wouldn't get home until 10 p.m., so it was a busy day."
But Fraley learned early in high school to make the most of her time, which is why she usually didn't have to stay up late studying.
"I never stayed up past 10:30 p.m.," Fraley said. "I tried to get everything done as soon as I possibly could in school. I knew if I had to stay up late, I wouldn't be able to pay attention in class.
"It was just a matter of finding ways to get my homework done and finding time to study in between everything I was doing."
As a freshman, Fraley was a member of the volleyball and softball teams. She decided to try two new sports - track and field and cross country - as a sophomore, and participated in both her final three years of high school.
Fraley took up jumping late in her high school career, and although she missed qualifying for the WPIAL finals, her effort didn't go unnoticed.
"Last year was one of the first years she started jumping and she worked out on her own during the offseason and came back very excited for her senior year," said Falcons cross country and track and field coach Brian Nicholson. "She was our senior captain and a strong motivator for the team. I think if she would have started jumping earlier in her career, she probably would have made it to the WPIALs.
"She's a very intelligent young lady. She'll excel at anything she puts her mind to."Labels: financial aid, scholarship, student loans, study abroad |
