Written By: Aubrey Packer, Staff Writer
For someone who originally considered themselves as shy, it was a surprising moment to hear her name announced as the best expert witness in Mock Trial last year. For Eva Prince, this would not have been possible without Poly High School. As a bear Eva has grown from a “quiet, shy person” to someone far more “outgoing”. She owes her success to the Poly culture and staff who have supported her throughout her last four years.
Eva Prince is an incredible example of what it means to be a bear. As both a high achieving athlete and student Eva has given so much to Poly High School. As a well rounded student, Eva has participated in numerous clubs and sports, her favorites being the swim team, water polo team, bear pals, and mock trial team. Eva met some of her “life-long friends” participating in these activities. Being a bear has given Eva a “community and sense of pride” as she made a home at Poly. The school gave Eva some of her fondest memories both on the pool deck and in the courtroom. She will never forget “the fun of a green and orange swim meet” and the joy she felt participating in “Bear Pals Fridays”. She had an incredible time winning the county Mock Trial competition, advancing all the way to the state championships. For Eva, Poly has given her forever friends and memories she will forever cherish.
As the year winds to an end Eva has big plans for the future. She will be attending the University of Missouri next fall where she “already has a roommate and friends” ready to greet her. She will be majoring in sports management with a minor in sociology. Although she is unsure what the future holds, she hopes to pursue a career in sports business. This summer she will be attending the Normandy Academy, an honor she received through multiple nominations. She is thrilled to be heading into this next chapter of her life and “experiencing something new”.
Eva’s success is in large part due to the staff at Poly who have always supported her in her endeavors. Her favorite teacher over her four years was Mr. Schiller. He not only “taught [her] chemistry for two years” but also supported her in the photography club and on the mock trial team. She is forever grateful for his constant encouragement and for always “listening to [her] problems”. She would also like to give an honorable mention to her swim coach, Coach Grishim who she will miss dearly. In her time at Poly Eva has learned so much from both the staff and her friends. She has grown in so many ways as she came out of her shell throughout high school. Poly gave her a place to become an out-going and confident person, and she will always be thankful for that.
Although Eva is excited to head to college, she will never forget the memories she made as a bear. She will miss her teachers and friends when she leaves for college, but the bonds she made here will last a lifetime. As she trades her Poly pride for Tiger stripes, she is unbelievably grateful for the experiences Poly has given her. Even as she enters this new chapter in her life, she will forever be a bear.