Class of 2019 is the last graduating class to be able to live out all of their high school memories prior to school becoming online, wearing masks and social distancing.
One of these students is Mattie Murphy. Mattie is a junior at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society.
During her time at Middle Creek, Mattie participated in the Capstone Program her sophomore and junior years. This two-year program consists of the classes English III Honors, AP Seminar, AP Lang, and AP Research. Sophomore year in AP Seminar, students learn how to use peer-reviewed research and then use their knowledge to write a research essay and give a ten-minute presentation. Junior year students build on what they learned in AP Seminar to conduct and write a full-length research paper the entire year in AP Research and then learn in-depth about word choice and rhetoric strategies in AP Lang to give them skills to use in their writing. These classes are taught by Mrs. Wagoner and Mr. Prelaske.
Speaking about the program, Mattie says, “The skills I learned from Mrs. Wagoner and Mr. Prelaske definitely prepared me for college. I have to constantly analyze and evaluate scientific articles and other research in all of my classes at Lehigh. I am very lucky I had Mrs. Wagoner and Mr. Prelaske to teach me how to do this properly.”
Mrs. Wagoner, Mattie’s AP Seminar and AP Lang teacher, explains, “Mattie was a renaissance student. Athletic, smart, personable. She excels in whatever she puts her mind to, in and outside of the classroom.”
Mattie is truly a special former student, as she plays division one collegiate soccer for Lehigh. Mattie has been playing soccer her entire life and was able to achieve one of her dreams of playing D1 soccer. Mattie says one of her favorite memories about Middle Creek is playing in the state championship her freshman year with the women’s soccer team.
After college, Mattie has plans to continue her education in medical school or pharmaceutical school. To prepare her for this, she has decided to intern at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in New York City this summer.
Mattie’s advice to all Middle Creek students is to work hard and make the most of your experience.
On behalf of the entire Middle Creek community, congratulations Mattie for all that you have accomplished thus far, and we can’t wait to see what you do next!