It was Senior Night at Columbia High School in Burbank, WA and the Coyote crowd was on their feet with excitement. The Varsity girls’ basketball team was at war with their rivals, the Riverview Panthers. Haley Martineau, a Columbia senior, had just dropped her 9th three pointer of the game giving her a total of 30 points for the night. With a surprised look on her face, she shrugged her shoulders to her coach and teammates. It was clear that Haley was in the zone but had no idea why. However, even though Haley was having the game of her life, basketball isn’t the only thing on her mind. With spring in the air and the end of her senior year fast approaching, the anxiety of graduating from high school and her looming future is ever present.
Although she has been a GEAR UP student since the 6th grade and has heard all about what she needs to do to be ready and prepared for college, the actual process of college admissions can be a daunting task. But, in regular Haley Martineau fashion, she took this challenge head on and has been a champion throughout the process.
At the beginning of January, the GEAR UP staff at Columbia High School issued a challenge to the senior class to promote college preparedness. The challenge was a way to tap into the students’ competitive nature and give an incentive to those that needed a bit of motivation towards the college admissions process. Out of all the seniors, the GEAR UP staff will pick the 20 students with the most points overall and take them on an in state, educational trip of their choosing. Students can accrue points by doing various college preparedness activities. As an example, if a student fills out and submits a college application, they receive 50 points. Additionally, if they were to fill out the FAFSA they would receive another 50 points. Students can also receive points for things like campus visits, scholarship applications, entry exams, writing exits, speaking with an admissions counselor, and receiving acceptance letters, to name a few.
Haley is currently third place in the competition having points in every category available. She has been accepted to Walla Walla Community College and has plans to attend there in the fall. After that she would like to transfer to Central Washington University after she completes her Associates degree. Haley also plans on joining the rodeo team at WWCC and continuing in her passion for horses and barrel racing. Her major of choice is Recreational Therapy and she wants to work specifically in the area of Equestrian Therapy. Her dream job would be to help people while interacting with horses.
During her high school career, Haley maintained A’s and B’s in all subjects and was involved in multiple extra-curricular activities. She played both basketball and volleyball all four years and has been involved in 4-H most of her life. Additionally, she has held class offices every year and is currently part of the ASB. She has also taken part of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Honor Society. Haley’s passion for horses has led her to teach horse riding lessons for children in her community, barrel race for local rodeos, and ride for the Wrangler Girls flag team. All of this has given her the ability to be a very well rounded and responsible individual, ready for whatever the world has to throw at her.
Student Spotlight: Haley Martineau
Rick Copeland March 11, 2013
