Admitting that she may spend “as many as 30 hours a week studying and completing homework outside of school,” it’s no mystery why Kimberly Gledhill has over a 4.0 GPA. 

When not studying, she can be found at Chick-fil-A dressed in the iconic cow suit. Even though she really enjoys her job, she also takes pride in coaching a youth girls’ softball team and helping inner city youth. 

Of coaching and volunteering, she says: “I may teach a girl to pitch a softball or help a third grader with his spelling, but those kids teach me far more than I could ever teach them, and for that I am so grateful.” 

Gledhill credits the support of mentors she’s had throughout the years for her success and advises the under-20 community to “find somebody older than you who you care about and trust, and start talking to them. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help.” 

Gledhill is also the president of the Speech and Debate Club at Vista Del Lago High School and mentors a group of middle school students. After she graduates, this over-achiever aspires to get an advanced college degree and go into social work as a child advocate. —Rachel Meeker

FAVORITES

Escape: The beach 

Guilty Pleasure: Any and all baked goods

Meal in town: Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, particularly their Train Wreck Roll

Local Landmark: Sutter Street/the river

Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Musician/band: The Fray

Saying: “For what it’s worth: It’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be...I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”—Eric Roth

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 2015 super grads.