Driven: Future First Macy Mulholland

By Kristine Thomas

Silverton High School senior and varsity golf team captain Macy Mulholland has had drives, chips and putts land no where near  where she intended the golf ball to go.

She’s thankful for her father, Mark Mulholland, for teaching her not to let one bad drive ruin her entire game – a lesson she has carried with her into the classroom and her daily life.

“Playing golf has taught me to take things as they come and let go of the things that didn’t work and not letting one bad thing snowball into the rest of my life,” Mulholland said. “Playing golf has taught me patience and persistence. It’s taught me life is about choices. Things will go wrong and you can chose to be happy or not to be happy – but life will still go on.”

Mulholland was chosen as Silverton High School’s Class of 2014 Future First Citizen by the Silverton Chamber of Commerce. Laughing, she said she was completely shocked she received the award.

“There are so many people who are deserving of this award in my class,” she said. “I was honored just to be nominated.”

Besides being on the golf team, Mulholland’s activities include Key Club president, ASB, Link Crew, National Honor Society, Choralaires, choir, Future Business Leaders of America and theater. She volunteers at her church, Countryside Christian in Keizer, and with Silverton Kiwanis events, and works 20 hours a week at two part-time jobs – Willamette Queen Sternwheeler and Lancaster Village and Assisted Living – all while taking college courses and earning a 3.5 grade point average. She plans to attend the University of Oregon in the fall to major in business.

Mulholland knows she couldn’t manage her “crazy, busy” schedule if it weren’t for three things – her family, faith and friends.

She’s grateful for her father for being her “rock” and his support; her paternal grandparents, Jim and Joyce Sipe and her aunt, Jody Heit. She lives on a farm with her grandparents and her dad. Her life has not been without challenges, she said, adding she has learned she can either let things weigh her down or give her strength to persevere.

“I believe if you have a strong support system at home you can do anything,” she said. “I have my dad who helps with the golf team and is a Kiwanis member and my aunt who was in FBLA. Each family member helps with a different part of my schedule.”

As a freshman, she said, she started with Key Club and the golf team. Each year, she added a new activity as her confidence grew. “I found out I liked a lot of things,” she said.

Silverton High Principal Mark Hannan said Mulholland was chosen for the recognition because of her selfless work.

“Macy is the kind of student that looks for ways to pay it forward,” Hannan said. “She’s willing to do the behind the scenes work that nobody notices.”

Having worked with Mulholland since she was a freshman, high school counselor Ken Allison said she has impressed him as being a “worker.”

“By that, I mean she jumps right into an activity or cause and gives 110 percent,” Allison said. “She has a compassionate heart that is shown by when she sees a need, she fully participates in meeting that need.  I am excited to see the impact she has in this country as she moves on to college and beyond.”

Teacher Johnie Ferro works with Mulholland on student body activities and appreciates how Mulholland provides leadership for her school and community.

“Simply put, Macy does more than just join an organization; she becomes involved and takes on leadership responsibilities,” Ferro said. “She is an organized, hardworking individual who leads by example and truly believes in empowering others to achieve greatness. She is very deserving of the honor that comes with being elected Silverton’s Junior First Citizen and is a wonderful example of the outstanding youth in our community.”