Gracie Laverdiere Submitted photograph
SCARBOROUGH — Maine Connections Academy has chosen Gracie Laverdiere, a ninth-grade scholar from Pittston, as its December STAR scholar of the month.
The STAR Pupil recognition is awarded to a Maine Connections Academy scholar who represents the varsity’s values and spirit.
Laverdiere is not any stranger to touring. She ceaselessly spends days at a time on the highway pursuing her ardour of barrel racing, which is a rodeo occasion that includes a horse and its rider racing round barrels in a cloverleaf sample for the quickest potential time, in keeping with a information launch from the varsity.
“With my racing schedule, I’m very busy — we’re gone nearly each weekend,” she mentioned.
The principle season begins in April and ends within the fall, however there’s additionally loads of time spent prepping for the competitions. Laverdiere will quickly journey to Kentucky for intense coaching earlier than heading to Florida in February for rodeoing. Her household comes alongside along with her.
“We positively practice lots for going to run 15 seconds,” she mentioned within the launch.
Along with Kentucky and Florida, Gracie has skilled and raced in states up and down the East Coast, together with competitions throughout New England. She beforehand completed second in two of the area’s largest races — all whereas driving a brand new horse.
She began driving horses when she was six years outdated as a enjoyable pastime. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and sidelined her potential to play basketball, she began volunteering at a horse barn, which finally led her down the trail of barrel racing with a horse of her personal.
Now in her first yr at Maine Connections Academy, Laverdiere appreciates with the ability to attend lessons and full her schoolwork remotely whereas touring, in addition to the flexibleness of the digital curriculum — finishing assignments at her personal tempo.
“It provides me the time to work with my horses throughout the day after which do my schoolwork as my schedule permits,” she mentioned.
Whereas Laverdiere acknowledges that barrel racing generally is a mentally demanding sport, it’s all within the spirit of pleasant competitors. She sees loads of time on the rodeo in her future.
It’s simply one thing I’ve all the time cherished to do,” she mentioned. “I’m working towards constructing a profession in barrel racing after I’m older.”
Within the meantime, her dad is at present constructing a 12-stall barn to make room for extra horses. And when Laverdiere isn’t within the digital classroom or on the highway for a contest, that’s doubtless the place you’ll have the ability to discover her.
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