Mountlake Terrace High School’s Students of the Month for October are: Paxtyn Merten and Gene Ah.

Student Name: Paxtyn Merten

Mother’s Name: Sandy Merten
Father’s Name: Steven Merten
GPA: 4.0
Clubs & Activities: I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Hawkeye student newspaper, which I have been a member of since my freshman year. I was the News Editor last year and Local News Editor the year before. I also am a chairman of my school’s Link Crew, which I have been a member of since junior year. Currently I am serving as one of the MTHS student advisers to the school board. I have been a member of Honor Society since sophomore year and last year served as the PR. During my sophomore and junior years, I was the secretary of the Parent Teacher Student Association and am still a member. I also participated in Technology Student Association freshman through junior years and served as treasurer during that time.
ASB: I have been an Interhigh ASB member since junior year. I also attended the 2015 Mt. Triumph Leadership Camp over the summer.
Athletics: I participated in recreational volleyball through the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club.
Honors: freshman year: Honors English 9, Honors World History, Honors Biology, Honors Algebra 2;
sophomore year: Honors English 10, AP European History, AP Chemistry, Honors Pre-calculus.
Junior year: AP Language and Composition, AP U.S. history, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Psychology.
Senior year: AP Literature and Composition, AP Government, AP Biology, AP Statistics
Awards: 2015 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Scholarship (one per state); 2015 AP Scholar with Honor; Alderwood Rotary September Student of the Month; 2015 National Scholastic Press Association Multimedia Story of the Year Finalist; ‘superior’ rating in 2015 Emerging Technologies write-off competition at WJEA Journalism Convention at Puyallup High School; ‘excellent’ rating in national news writing write-off competition at the 2013 fall JEA/NSPA Journalism Convention in Boston; ‘honorable mention’ rating in 2015 national Social Media Reporting competition at spring JEA/NSPA journalism convention in Denver; first place in Essays on Technology competition at 2013 and 2014 Technology Student Association (TSA) Regional Conferences. 2013 State Conference; Finished second in Essays on Technology competition at 2014 TSA State Conference; second place in 2014 Technological Problem Solving competition at 2014 TSA State Conference; second place in extemporaneous speech competition at 2014 TSA Regional Conference; second place, Children’s Stories competition at 2015 TSA Regional Conference.
Community Service: Participated in 2013 school grounds clean-up at Hilltop Elementary; Participated in 2014 school grounds clean-up at Mountlake Terrace High School (MTHS); Donated over $200 worth of items to giving tree at MTHS and Hilltop elementary in 2012; Tutored students in various subjects throughout high school; Helped organize 2015 MTHS Food Drive; Volunteered at Mother Daughter Glamour Day in 2014 and 2015 – PTSA-sponsored event giving every female student at MTHS the opportunity to pick out a free homecoming dress
Significant School Project: Organized 2014 Jam Session, a kickoff to the winter sports season featuring MTHS Alumni scrimmages, scrimmages among MTHS men’s and women’s basketball teams,door prizes, contests, music and more. Hosted by the Hawkeye; Organized 2015 Father Daughter Ball, dance aimed at elementary-aged children and their parents. It also featured games and contests. hosted by the Hawkeye.
Current Employment: I am the personal assistant to a local, self-employed appraiser.
Future Educational Goals: I hope to attend a four-year university directly after graduation.
Future Career Goals: I want to go into journalism as a career and focus on investigative reporting.
Anything else we should know? If you have the drive and passion to succeed, Mountlake Terrace High School provides the opportunity to do so.

Student Name: Gene An
Mother’s Name: Sue Espinosa
Father’s Name: Vince Espinosa
GPA: 3.99
Clubs & Activities: The majority of my high school career has been about ASB and serving the school. This includes being involved in my school’s link crew. My participation in athletics include Track and Field as well as Wrestling. Some extra clubs include Clean Up Crew, Honor Society, Breakdancing club and Hiking club
ASB: 2012-2013 – Class Representative; 2013-2014 – Class President; 2014-2015 – Executive Treasurer; 2015-2016 – Executive Vice-President
Athletics: Track and Field -2013-2014: Placed sixth at District Meet (State Qualifier); -2014-2015: participated at District meet (State Qualifier); Wrestling -2013-2014: Participated at Regional Tournament (State Qualifier)
Awards: 2015 – AP Scholar; 2014 – Most Improved Wrestler
Community Service: 2014 – Peer Mentoring; 2013 – Volunteered at old elementary school; 2011 & 2012 – Built two houses in Mexico
Significant School Project: Assemblies & Homecoming
Current Employment: Old Spaghetti Factory, Lynnwood
Future Educational Goals: My main future educational goal is to make it into one of my top three colleges.
Future Career Goals: I hope someday to work as part of a cyber security team under a major organization
Anything else we should know? I enjoy hiking, hit me up if you’d like to join me.