Frontier senior a teammate, reader and volunteer
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall bumps the volleyball during a recent match.
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall smiles for the camera prior to a homecoming dance.
(Photo Provided) During her senior pictures, Ella Mendenhall displayed her love of reading by displaying a book.
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall steps up to bat at a recent game.
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall bumps the volleyball during a recent match.
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall smiles for the camera prior to a homecoming dance.
(Photo Provided) During her senior pictures, Ella Mendenhall displayed her love of reading by displaying a book.
(Photo Provided) Ella Mendenhall steps up to bat at a recent game.
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NEWPORT -- Frontier High School senior Ella Mendenhall is getting a taste of the college life at Washington State Community College.
Having completed her credits to graduate, Mendenhall is taking engineering courses through College Credit Plus. This semester, she is taking a Fundamentals of Engineering course, along with Biology and its accompanying lab.
"I love the freedom of it all," she said of taking college level courses during high school. "I have more opportunities here than at Frontier High School."
Mendenhall said she had taken some nursing classes but changed her mind on her major after visiting a university.
"This past summer, I visited Duquesne University (in Pittsburgh). They have a biomedical engineering program there. I talked to an advisor there and realized that I would like biomedical engineering better than nursing," she said.
While she liked Duquesne's program, she said the distance from home might be too far. She is considering attending Ohio University.
"They don't have biomedical engineering there, but I think I would study chemical or mechanical engineering. Then I would get my master's in biomedical engineering from there," she said.
Outside of the classroom, Mendenhall is involved in sports. She's a member of the volleyball, basketball and softball teams.
"I like to play sports because it connects me with my friends. I'm not at Frontier as much, so I don't get to see them that often," she said.
Mendenhall said she has played softball since she was a toddler. One memory stands out to her.
"I've never been a good hitter in softball. But one day when I was 9 or so, I played for my uncle's team and made a really good hit. Someone caught the ball. Everyone was excited for me, but I was bummed because they'd caught it," she said.
When she is not on the court or the forms, she's leading the cheers as the Frontier Cougar mascot.
"I love being the Cougar. I learned all the cheers with the cheerleading team. I get to talk to he little kids and that's really fun," she said.
Mendenhsll's volleyball coach Donna Murphy has been a positive influence in her life.
"I can talk to her about anything and she will help me out with anything," she said.
Mendenhall said she also likes to give back, whether it's working the concession stand for Newport Junior Athletic Association, volunteering at Newport Food Pantry, handing out cleaning supplies through Kay's Closet or coordinating Teacher Appreciation Week through Student Council.
"I like to help people and it's a great way to give back to my community," she said.