In just a few months, Hayley DeVille will exchange Cato-Meridian blue for St. John Fisher University Cardinal red. After graduating, DeVille will attend St. John Fisher for Biochemistry and will join the school’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams, as well as the cross country team.

Running wasn’t always easy for DeVille. When she initially joined the Cato-Meridian varsity cross country team as a sophomore, her 5K time was 42 minutes and 15 seconds. With perseverance and support from her teammates and coaches, DeVille is now able to run the same distance in an impressive 23 minutes and 37 seconds. She said her coach, Ryan Ellis, has made a big impact on her athletic career.

On the academic side, DeVille, an honors student, has always challenged herself in her coursework. This year, her toughest class has been AP Chemistry. She credited her teacher, Patrick Cost, for helping her succeed.

“Mr. Cost has really taught me how to push myself,” said DeVille. “And he’s really my main influence for going into chemistry.”

DeVille will be in the Honors Program at St. John Fisher, which will allow her to take part in a variety of learning experiences and specialized courses. She has also been accepted into the First-Generation Scholars Program for her commitment to leadership and community engagement. As a Biochemistry major, she is considering a career path in the pharmaceutical science industry.

When asked why she chose St. John Fisher, DeVille said: “it felt a lot like home.”