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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 17, 2005

All-Star Kid: Katherine Hoarn

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Katherine Hoarn is among the top runners in the state, maintains a 3.9 grade point average, and is president of Radford’s math club.

Hoarn family

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KATHERINE HOARN

Age: 17

School: Radford High

Grade: Senior

Who helps you? "My parents are always very supportive and my cross country coach has done a lot to push me on and motivate me."

What advice would you give to kids who want to follow your example? "Just don't be afraid to go out and try new things."

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When Radford High School senior Katherine Hoarn figures out what she's good at, she runs with it.

Take cross country, for instance. "I just have always been running," she said. "It's kind of an escape and I'm pretty good at it so I decided to go out for the school team."

Her performance on the team has earned her a place among the top cross country runners in the state.

Running is one of the reasons she was named one of two 2005 Wendy's High School Heisman Award winners in the state, but the award goes to students who demonstrate academic and civic prowess as well.

Academically, Hoarn has packed her schedule full of advanced placement courses and maintains a 3.9 grade-point average.

Her extracurricular activities also include scholarly pursuits, such as the math club. "I've always been pretty good at math and I heard about the math club and decided to join," she said. "I'm the president of it this year."

She is also vice president of the National Honor Society. "We do a lot of service projects," she said. Tomorrow, club members will serve as ushers at Kennedy Theatre. They also have visited children's hospitals and helped the Salvation Army package gifts for families.

Her schedule, which includes 10 to 15 hours of running a week and three or four hours of homework at night, gives her time to sleep "once in a while," but that's how she wants it. "I just like keeping myself busy," she said.

And she and her friends enjoy the same kinds of pursuits, making it easier to maintain a social life. "I have friends in pretty much all my activities," she said.

Katherine hopes to attend college in the Northeast, where she will major in architecture. She also plans to keep on running.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.