Laine Spindler’s school portrait. (Photo provided)

BEVERLY – Fort Frye High School senior Laine Spindler has always been a high achiever, from taking her first algebra classes in elementary school to being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

“This means I am able to compete for scholarships,” she said.

However, she said where she plans to go, Brown University in Providence, R.I., does not have any school-sponsored scholarship for merit scholars.

“For me that means I will be able to compete for other scholarships,” she said.

Being named as a finalist, she said, is a great honor.

Laine Spindler took part in a two-month summer session at Stanford University in California. With her during orientation were, from left, her father, Matt Spindler; mother, Carly Spindler, Laine Spindler and Phinn Spindler. (Photo provided)

“I’m excited for the opportunities it opens up with scholarships and all,” she said. “The ones I’ll apply for will probably be through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.”

Spindler is the daughter of Matt and Carly Spindler.

While she is a student at Fort Frye, Spindler takes all her classes through College Credit Plus from Marietta College and an art independent study at the high school.

“I’ve also taken college classes through Stanford University during the summer of 2023,” she said. “I stayed on campus and attended classes at Stanford for two months.”

Spindler said it is possible the credits she has earned will not transfer as actual credit.

At a Marietta College indoor track meet, Laine Spindler relaxed with teammates, Natalie Rauch, Camryn Huck, Cadence Waller, Kaden Dowler and Phinn Spindler. (Photo provided)

“But they (Brown University) will accept them as prerequisites,” she said. “I’ll be able to skip some of the introductory classes.”

As a high school student, Spindler said her best classes were the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes.

“Math has always been my strong suit,” she said. “As early as second grade, I started taking fourth grade classes.

“I was taking high school level classes in the fifth and sixth grade; Algebra I in the fifth grade.”

Spindler said she took advanced placement calculus as a freshman at Fort Frye. As a senior she took Calculus II last semester and is taking Calculus III for the spring semester.

Laine Spindler was one of the senior members of the Fort Frye High School Varsity Basketball Cheer Team with Jackie Tornes, read; and from left, Regan Bradford, Elaina Lang and Spindler. (Photo provided)

Outside the classroom Spindler runs cross country and track.

“I’ve run cross country and track all through high school,” she said. “I’ve dedicated a lot of time to distance running throughout high school, it’s a very important sport for me.”

In the track program she runs two distances.

“I focus on the 32 and I’m also on the 4 by 800 meter relay team,” she said.

As part of the scholarship selection process she was required to submit documentation of school and community involvement and leadership roles.

Laine Spindler’s senior portrait at Fort Frye High School. (Photo provided)

“I’m in several organizations at the school for that,” she said, “We have Students Solving Problems, Cadets for a Cause, Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society is also active in the community. I’m in all of those organizations.”

Spindler has also been a member of the student council through her high school years.

“I was class president for three years and for the past three years I’ve been on the varsity basketball cheer team.”

Spindler said she is considering a career in medicine and recently completed an internship at Marietta Memorial Hospital.

“I was at Marietta Memorial all day for five days,” she said. “I went to observe in different areas of the hospital just to get an idea of what the different departments do and what kind of work I might like going into in the future.”

Fort Frye High School cheerleaders at a home basketball game were, from left, Edie Baker, Avery Dyar, Elaina Lang, Jackie Tornes, Regan Bradford and Laine Spindler. (Photo provided)

Spindler said her plan is to go to medical school to be a pediatric emergency physician.

Spindler worked as a lifeguard at the Jackson Park Pool in Vienna last year and plans to work there for the Summer of 2025 before heading to Rhode Island.

Laine Spindler was a member of the Fort Frye cross country team that took first place at the Cross Country Regional Meet. Team members were, back row left to right: Lydia Huck, Camryn Huck, Cadence Waller, Ava Huck, Sophia Huck and front, left to right: Emma Richards, Natalie Rauch, Laine Spindler. (Photo provided)

The Fort Frye Cross Country Team at Statehouse for recognition, from left: Jason Lipot, Sophia Huck, Ava Huck, Emma Richards, Maggie Fulton, Cadence Waller, Camryn Huck, Laine Spindler, Natalie Rauch, Lydia Huck, Scott Burnham. (Photo provided)

Laine Spindler was part of the Fort Frye Homecoming Court. Other members were, back from left Clayton Miller, Coen Fouss, Treven Nicholson, Braxton Ross, Dakota Snodgrass and front from left, Julia Silvus, Jackie Tornes, Emmie Duskey, Rebecka Boyd and Spindler. (Photo provided)

Laine Spindler on the student council trip to Cedar Point with Cadence Waller, Camryn Huck, Natalie Rauch, Paige Morgenstern, Kianna O’Brien and Spindler. (Photo provided)