THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606050140
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Salute to the Class of '96
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 66 lines
If she had her way, Rebecca Hederich would probably never appear in a newspaper story.
That was why Joyce Ellis wanted recognition for the Salem High School senior.
``Rebecca is consistent, steady, works behind-the-scenes,'' said Ellis, a guidance counselor at the school. ``She has lots of interests, but stays out of the limelight.
``She's well-rounded. Rebecca is a good student, a good athlete and a fine representative for Salem.''
Hederich, 18, is a member of the National Honor Society, plays field hockey, supports environmental issues and still finds time to study hard and involve herself in school activities.
She was captain of the Salem Sun Devils' field hockey team this season. She made A's and B's, compiled a 3.75 grade point average and will graduate Saturday with honors.
Hederich will enter James Madison University in the fall and plans to major in biology with a minor in education. She will start her college studies with a head start. She has taken advanced placement courses for the past two years: history and biology, her junior year; calculus and European history, this year.
``I am interested in conservation, the environment,'' said Hederich, in her unassuming manner. ``I would like to use my biology degree to become involved with that.''
She worked as a volunteer at the Virginia Marine Science Museum for almost three years. ``I learned a lot there,'' said the teen of her job as a docent, showing and explaining exhibits to museum visitors. It spawned her intention to work in the field.
Hederich also played forward on the Salem field hockey team for three years. She started playing the sport as a sixth-grader.
Salem coach Sally Scarborough described Hederich as a good player. ``She was really good about carrying the ball down the field and shooting on goal. She has a very strong shot.''
What impressed Scarborough most was the manner in which Hederich dealt with adversity.
``About midway through our schedule - in a game against First Colonial - Rebecca was hit in the thumb by an opponent's shot.''
Her broken thumb kept her out of the lineup the rest of the season, but not out of the game.
``She came to every game,'' said Scarborough. ``Participated in the coin toss and was very supportive of the team.
``She's very poised, dependable and mature for a high school senior.''
Scarborough will miss her team captain, but she said she knows Hederich will succeed.
``She was quiet as a sophomore when she first played for us. She became quite a team leader in her last two seasons.''
In the words of Ellis, Hederich ``stays with it,'' even as she tries to stay out of the picture.
Hederich is the daughter of Linda and Conrad Hederich. Her younger sister, Katie, is a freshman at Salem. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
``I am interested in conservation, the environment,'' says Rebecca
HeHederich, who plans to major in biology at James Madison
University. A student-athlete, she also volunteered at the Virginia
Marine Science Museum. by CNB