Catholics excel in public junior high school

BOUNTIFUL — Madison Mele and Amber Fisher are leaders and high achievers at Mueller Park Junior High School in Bountiful. They are in the eighth grade and also are members of Saint Olaf Parish.

They were confirmed May 25 by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City. Being confirmed meant being closer to God for Fisher. "We are more a part of the Church now," she said.

Saint Olaf confirmation instructor Paulette Hill said both girls are role models for the Saint Olaf community. "They have great knowledge of their faith and care for others," she said.

"Madison has a funny sense of humor and is such a good student," said Elizabeth Thompson, eighth grade CCD teacher. "Amber is quiet and also a good student."

Mele is the eighth-grade president, a cheerleader and serves in student government. As a member of student government, Mele is a voice for the students, helps plan assemblies and dances and participates in making the posters and decorations for the dances. She has a 4.0 grade point average and takes all honors classes.

Fisher holds a 3.9 grade point average and is on the Cheers team, a competitive gymnastic team. She runs track, specializing in the 400 meter and the 800 meter. She took first place in the 800 meter at a school meet this year. She also played on the girls’ basketball team.

Both girls’ favorite subject is math. Fisher would like to be a pediatrician, and Mele wants a career that involves dance.

"Madison is amazing," said Mele’s mother, Kirsten. "She does a lot of service in the community and is always willing to help. She likes to help with coffee and donuts after Mass and likes to help with the St. Olaf Council of Women service projects. She is very kind and I am very proud of the person she is growing into because it’s hard to be Catholic in a public school, but she has done so well. She has been really excited to be confirmed and has been working hard in CCD since the first grade. She was quite serious about being confirmed."

"Amber is very helpful at home," said her mother, Maria. "She is like a second mother to her younger sister Summer. She is very responsible and has a really good heart. She has always been a good student. I never have to ask if she has homework because she is prompt to do it. This summer she is going to take an online biology course and a math course to help her advance in school. She wanted to be challenged during the summer, and move on to geometry when school starts in the fall."