Applying to college wasn’t something valedictorian Crista Hill
worried about.
Applying to college wasn’t something valedictorian Crista Hill worried about.
The 18-year-old graduated with a 4.82 grade-point average from San Benito High School and decided years ago that Brigham Young University was the college for her.
“My brothers are going there, my parents went there. Everyone I’ve talked to liked it,” Hill said.
She will take her time choosing a major.
“I haven’t decided. I’m just going to take GEs (general education classes) and decide while I’m there what I’m going to do,” Hill said.
Hill’s interests vary. She enjoyed all of her science classes and electives at SBHS. She took electives in physical education, art and computers.
Hill said she thought the science classes were interesting.
“We get to see in real life the things we’re learning about.”
When the valedictorian and salutatorian were announced this year, Hill wasn’t surprised. She always had a No. 1 as her ranking on her transcript – something students use when scheduling their classes every year at SBHS.
“It was either me or Caleb (Gesek) – we pretty much knew. We’ve always been really close. We were even tied for a while,” Hill said. “I tried to do my best. It’s kinda overwhelming at times.”
In the end, Hill said she would have preferred that she and Gesek tied for valedictorian since they are such good friends.
To get such a high GPA, Hill “took all the A (Advanced), H (Honors) and AP (Advanced Placement) classes I could take,” she said.
She earned A’s in almost all her classes during the four years. Hill also played tennis for three years. She was on the diving team for two years and participated in clubs, including the California Scholarship Federation and Interact.
Although academics and education were encouraged in Hill’s family of 10, she said her parents never pushed her too hard. She always knew it was important to go to college.
Hill has received a scholarship from BYU that pays for four years of tuition at the school. Tuition is about $3,000 a year.
When she moves to Provo, Utah in September, Hill said she will miss the beach, but will be closer to mountains and snow.
And, while she is moving away from five brothers and sisters and her parents, she will be joining her two older brothers at BYU.
“It’s a good school, good environment,” she said.
