Merilee Paga

Power tools revving, wood chips flying - it's just another day in woodshop at Burrell High School. Skillfully completing another project, a student steps back and removes the safety goggles to examine her handiwork. That's right - her. Merilee Paga is the only female in the woodshop class. Although she is sometimes teased, Merilee doesn't mind all that much. "It's a lot of fun!" At first some of the power tools seemed a bit ominous, but now she is a pro with such creations under her belt as a birdhouse and cutting board. Her next project is a bubble gum machine. Her mom thought she should take something like cooking, but this has worked out well.

Always one to jump into life, Merilee enjoys a variety of other activities and her diligence throughout her school career has brought much success. She has attained the ranks of Who's Who Among American High School Students, Rotary Student of the Month, class secretary, member of the National Honor Society, and a member of this year's Homecoming Court. She has also been a cheerleader since age seven, and the payoff for all her years of work is that she is the captain of this year's varsity squad.

With two years experience on the yearbook staff, this year Merilee accepted the opportunity to work on the cheerleader/football spread for the yearbook. She got to take the photos, edit them, and write the copy for the pages. "I really like it. It is like a business within the class."

Merilee's influence on her peers and teachers is unmistakable. "She's smart and good and kind to everyone and everything you'd hope a young kid would be," stated Merilee Paga's Spanish teacher Michele Corey.

During the summer her energy is focused on being the nanny to three children. She has done this for the past three summers. Besides making meals and getting them to their appointments, she has a lot of fun taking them to the pool, movies, or shopping. She recently got a job at Club Fitness where she shows people the club, greets them, cleans the spinning bike, and sells memberships.

After graduation, Merilee hopes to attend either the University of Florida in Gainesville or the University of Central Florida for medicine. Although she is undecided at the moment as to what field of medicine she will pursue, she is sure that it will center on the well-being of children. She has always liked the sciences and loves being around children. Her choices for college are based on her parents' upcoming move to Florida. "We don't like snow and don't ever want to be cold again." Another factor is that her brother who is in the Navy is based there.

Although Merilee credits everything she's accomplished to the support of her parents, Shirley and Dan, they feel that they can't take all the credit. "Merilee made it easy," stated Shirley, "she is just such a great kid."