Style Magazine - April 2021

get to know
Laine Weber
18
GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL
Kylie Cox
17
PONDEROSA HIGH SCHOOL
L
aine is a champion lacrosse player but that isn’t the only
thing she’s good at. “Not many people know about my high
GPA,” she says. “Most people look at athletes and assume we don’t
put a ton of effort into academics when that is not true.” After all, if
it weren’t for her sport and academic accomplishments, she might
not have gotten into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Laine's love of lacrosse began in the third grade when the
Granite Bay High School girls' lacrosse team conducted a clinic
during PE. "I rushed home with a flyer and told my mom that
I wanted to play lacrosse," she recalls. She's played nonstop
ever since and has even won the Sacramento Valley Lacrosse
Championship with her team.
Laine was 15 when she met the U.S. Coast Guard women’s
lacrosse head coach at a showcase. Her grandma encouraged
her interest in the career and Laine applied to their “Cadet for
a Day” program where she got to shadow a lacrosse player and
experience cadet life. From then on, Laine knew this was what
she wanted to do. “I’m often questioned about my decision to
pursue a military career, because it’s a very unconventional path
for someone from my background,” she says, owing much of her
confidence to her supportive parents.
Off-field, Laine likes to watch The Office and participate at her
church. And she’s counting down the days till she leaves for the
Academy. “I'm excited to receive an excellent education and give
back to the country and communities I love.”
FAVORITES
ESCAPE: Any place outside enjoying nature and my dogs.
GUILTY PLEASURE: In-N-Out Burger.
MEAL IN TOWN: Hazumi Sushi Bar.
LOCAL LANDMARK: 5% Beach at Folsom Lake.
MOVIE: Happy Gilmore.
MUSICIAN/BAND: J. Cole.
BOOK: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
SAYING: "You have to do what others will not to get ahead."
K
ylie loves all the regular teen stuff—reading, hanging out
with friends, watching movies…then there’s the other side to
her—the one that excels in sports and school. An active member
of the California Scholarship Federation, she’s president of the
Key Club, has won over 20 local beach volleyball tournaments
over the last year, and plays piano. Despite having a full plate,
Kylie has also volunteered at the Cameron Park Library and The
Bookhouse in Cameron Park, accumulating 200 community
service hours in four years—all while raking up a 4.47 GPA. With
such outstanding achievements, it’s no wonder that this
valedictorian was recently named “Student Service Leader of the
Month” by the Kiwanis Club of Placerville.
Kylie’s keen on becoming a neurologist to treat people
with brain disorders and research cures for neurodegenerative
diseases. “I’ve been following the news every day during the
pandemic, and it’s been eye-opening to see how the medical
world is reacting to COVID-19,” she says. The pandemic also
taught her to step out of her comfort zone. “I was a very ‘safe’
person, [sticking] to what I knew would be successful in the end.
However, I’ve lost so many opportunities due to quarantine and
realized that I can’t take things for granted anymore; I should take
risks and make the most of every opportunity,” she says.
Looks like opportunity’s come knocking, for Kylie’s been
offered a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama and
has also been accepted to Notre Dame. “I know that if I put in the
effort, I will be rewarded later by my success.”
FAVORITES
ESCAPE: Running while listening to music.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
MEAL IN TOWN: Nekter Juice Bar’s acai bowls.
LOCAL LANDMARK: Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort.
MOVIE: The Princess Bride.
MUSICIAN: Tame Impala.
BOOK: Circe by Madeline Miller.
SAYING: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”—Albert Einstein.
Laine's photo by Kelly McMenamin Photography. Kylie's photo by Anna Slojkowski.
20 stylemg.com | APRIL 2021 | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags