Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, January 8, 2009

Super kid / Jillian Stampher, 17: Murphy High senior does volunteer work, considers a journalism career

By Kaitlin Manry
Herald Writer

 Unexpected joy: Last year, Jillian began volunteering with Children's Country Home, a group home in Woodinville for medically fragile kids, because she needed to log community service hours for school. She enjoyed the experience so much, she continued volunteering over the summer and into this year. Hanging out with the kids at the home makes her thankful for all she has. "It's fun to see how happy the kids are in spite of all the things going against them."

Relay captain: She helped organize a Relay for Life team last year to walk and raise money for cancer research in honor of Terry Ennis, a longtime football coach at Archbishop Murphy and other schools who died of cancer in 2007.

Packed schedule: At Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School in Everett, she serves on the Link crew helping freshman adjust, sings in campus ministry and in three choirs, acts in plays, edits the student newspaper, runs track and manages the wrestling team.

Feeling "Footloose": She's dancing and playing Eleanor, the coach's wife, in the school production of "Footloose." "It's so much fun. The musical gets so many random people together. I love dancing; so it's a blast."

Making news: Jillian is co-editor of Murphy's Law, the school paper. She's spent months working on a redesign of the paper. So far this school year, they've published one edition of Murphy's Law. The second edition was ready to go in December, but was shelved when school was canceled because of snow.

Into journalism: "I love it. I've always loved writing. I'm considering journalism as a career."

Washing cars: She works at a car wash near her school. She washes cars and sometimes mans the till. Earns lots of tip money on cold, rainy days. "We have to layer up so much because it's so cold."

Managing wrestlers: She began managing the wrestling team as a freshman because her older brother, Peter, was on the team; so she went to all the matches anyway. She enjoyed getting to know the team and has stayed on as manager. She tapes ankles, keeps score and gets the team organized.

Long jump: She started running track while at St. Thomas More school in Lynnwood. "In middle school we had one sport and it was track. My friends and I got involved in that because we wanted to get involved in something." She competes in the 100 meter dash and long jump for Archbishop Murphy.

On Catholic education: "I like the community a lot. I think I would like a big school because I like meeting people, but at the same time, it's so nice having a community that will always back you up."

Brotherly love: Jillian has two brothers, Peter, 19, and Jeffrey, 13. She's looking forward to driving her little brother to school next year. "My older brother and I really bonded when we started going to school together. I assume Jeffrey and I will too."

Big reader: She loves Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series of books about teen vampires, and "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. However, Ernest Hemingway is her favorite author. "He's got such a unique style of writing and it's always so different. It's never just straightforward."



Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.



Know a super kid? Contact us at 425-339-3036 or e-mail schoolfyi@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA