In honor of the 2019 Farmington High School graduation, we’re highlighting a few of this year’s outstanding graduating class. Today’s Senior Spotlight is: Terra Lindquist! In April Terra was chosen as a Stillman Global Scholar. This unique service leadership opportunity is only open to students at Stillman Leadership Schools, where learners are committed to completing at least one local and one global service project each year, and of those students only a few are chosen for this life-changing experience. As a Stillman Global Scholar, Terra will receive leadership training, mentorship, and a special trip to Kenya.

    In the Maasai Mara, Narok County of Kenya, Terra and nine other students will be fully immersed in Kenyan culture. They will interact closely with local communities, learning their language, their stories, and their dances. They will eat Kenyan cuisine and practice skills like beading. Beyond that, one of the main purposes of the trip is to volunteer in villages doing jobs like laying bricks, digging wells, and laying crops. Terra and the other Global Scholars will be mentored by experienced volunteers and help plan some of their specific tasks based on the needs of the villages and the skills of the volunteers.

    When asked how she felt about being chosen as a Stillman Global Scholar, Terra responded: “I am utterly ecstatic to have been chosen to be a Stillman Global Scholar. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been elected to be a representative of their foundation. I applied for this opportunity not at all expecting that I’d ever hear back from a Stillman Representative, let alone to receive an acceptance letter! When I received the email stating I’d been offered these opportunities, I was completely over the moon excited.”

    Terra has always been interested in serving others, so much so that it was her childhood dream to become a Peace Corps volunteer. “I don’t just want to raise money for a cause and go on with life, I want to see results and solutions to genuine problems that people face everyday,” Terra said.

    Reaguarding her trip to Kenya, Terra’s two main goals are to finish the projects she starts and to bring joy to the people she meets. “If we decide to dig a well then I want us to finish what we started and to be able to see the smiles on everyone’s beautiful faces. I know that sounds super cheesy but I mean that!”

    Elizabeth Beckman, a Farmington High School teacher who has worked closely with Terra, expressed excitement for her student,  “I am ECSTATIC. She has worked so hard for this group.… Her passion for making a difference is contagious.”

    Congratulations to Terra and best of luck from our Tiger community!