Kalen Stewart

Whitney High School

Tell us about yourself.
My father is a doctor in the Air Force—I moved a lot growing up and attended a total of three different high schools. I’ve grown up involved in athletics, and in high school I found volleyball to be my passion. I enjoy reading, drawing, eating, paying volleyball and chilling with friends.

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
I’m proud of being named as a valedictorian candidate for Whitney High School because I’ve always strived for good grades and worked very hard to get here. Also, because I have moved around a lot and gone through so many different school systems and curriculums, I’m proud of myself for the extra work I’ve had to put in to not only stay caught up with every new school, but also stay above average.

What are your school interests, involvements and hobbies?
I found volleyball my freshman year in Ohio and immediately fell in love. We moved that summer and my new school didn’t offer it, but I couldn’t let that stop me, so I joined a volleyball club team. We moved again to Rocklin, where I made varsity my junior year. I’ve been involved in a few clubs throughout high school, including German Club, Key Club, and National Honor Society.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I want to travel to Rome or Greece and see the sites of Ancient history and mythology—the Parthenon and Coliseum, for example.

Who is your role model?
I have many role models for different facets of my life, but the one who whose ideals pervade everything I do and who I truly try to emulate is Jesus Christ. Obviously he is the perfect role model, and the only perfect person to walk the Earth, so it’s a pretty good choice if I do say so myself). But, all joking aside, I try to live my life in a way that is pleasing to my Heavenly Father, and that will bring me to live with him again. I use Christ as my standard for everything I do and everything I strive to be. I am an extremely religious person and I don’t know where I would be without the gospel of Jesus Christ; it is what guides and defines my life to its very core.

Describe your career aspirations.
It truly depends on which college I attend. If I go to BYU I really want to pursue animation as a career choice (animation as in Disney/Pixar films), but if that doesn’t pan out my next two options would either be engineering, perhaps civil or architectural, or I have thought about majoring in criminal justice with an emphasis in foreign relations and attempting to join the FBI. All very different directions, but all equally a possibility.

What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend a four-year university to play NCAA collegiate volleyball. I haven’t yet decided which college I will attend—my two top choices are BYU and Princeton. I plan to attend my first year, go on a church mission for two years, and return to finish out my athletic eligibility as well as my degree.

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See more 2014 Student Spotlights here:

7th Annual Student Spotlight - Roseville
COMPILED BY MEGAN WISKUS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANTE FONTANA This month, in Style’s annual compilation of high-achieving high school seniors, we give you each school’s selections for local teens setting the pace—whether in academics, athletics, philanthropy, or all of the above. Read on and get inspired by the words and achievements of these 2014 super grads. Read more