Future biochemist loves to run

ST. MARYS - Colette Stroh has many interests ranging from caring for a very fat feline to doing volunteer work. Her favorite discipline, however, may be running because it gives her a chance to build a second family.

"I can't say running is fun because it's painful," said Stroh, 18, "but it's a family thing so I like it. I have a lot of friends involved in it so it has a family feel to it."

Stroh runs cross-country, putting in up to eight miles a day.

"I like running because you feel like you have a goal you want to reach," Stroh said. "You think about beating the girl in front of you, about reaching the finish line, about beating your time. The people always make it fun, though. Some of my best friends are out there running with me."

Stroh plans to participate in running clubs when she goes to college next year. She has not yet chosen a school but is considering either the University of Dayton or Ohio Northern University at Ada. She is going to study biochemistry.

"I find biochemistry very interesting," Stroh said. "I enjoy learning about how complex life is."

Stroh has been named a scholar-athlete and is a member of the National Honor Society with a 4.0 grade-point average. She takes advanced-placement classes in English, chemistry, biology, government and math.

Other groups she belongs to include Relay for Life, Junior Scholars, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the youth group at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the school's band and choir programs. She sings tenor and plays the clarinet and tenor saxophone. She also plays the piano.

Stroh performs volunteer work at a local recycling center and with St. Marys Goodfellows, which hosts an annual food and toy drive at Christmas. Last year, she went on a missionary trip to Racine, Wis., with a group from Zion Lutheran Church.

"I loved it," Stroh said. "It was one of the best experiences I ever had. It was amazing. I didn't want to go home. We did repair work on homes and it really made you think your life over. It brought me closer to God."

On the home front, Stroh spends time with Fat James, a 30-pound gray and black cat.

"Cool, Fat James is going to be in the paper," Stroh said with a chuckle. "He'll be excited about this. Everyone loves James. He meows obnoxiously. He's happy and surprisingly, he can run."

Stroh is the daughter of Dave and Genia Stroh. She has four elder half brothers and a sister, Matt, Mike, Jeff and Jenny.

She works in the laundry at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital. For fun, she hangs out with friends, goes for drives and reads science fiction.