5/19/2009 4:28:00 PM
Sisters student is driven to achieve
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By Lanie Milroy
Courtney Acarregui made headlines last February when she wrote a $10,000 grant benefiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Charles in Bend.
When she and Nick Head began competing in the Mr. SHS pageant, Acarregui quickly began her fundraising efforts. Including the grant, she and Head raised $11,035.
"I wanted to find a way to raise a lot of money," Courtney said.
And that's just what she did. After contacting the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), they agreed to hold a special grant hearing on her behalf. With the help of Ed McNeil, she wrote the appropriate grant for the St. Charles NICU.
Within two weeks of presenting her grant to the RMHC, it was approved in full for a total of $10,000. Half came from the local RMHC, while the other half was granted by the national organization.
This Sisters High School senior has impressed her peers and fellow community members with her drive and motivation to succeed. Her strong academics, tough goals and maturity have made her a standout student and community member.
"If you want to succeed, it has to be your own drive," said Acarregui.
Competing in beauty pageants as a child, Courtney learned the meaning of independence, poise and professionalism. Her family supports her decisions and is behind her in all that she strives to accomplish.
"You have to have very high standards with very high goals and then do everything to achieve them," said Acarregui.
Acarregui brings her drive to meet high goals to bear in a variety of fields.
Competing at the highest level, she is a member of the 4-H program and is a top lop rabbit breeder.
In fourth grade, Courtney brought her first rabbit home from the Humane Society, unaware of the fact that it would soon be the reason for her countless state and national awards and recognitions.
"If I start something, I want to be the best at it," Courtney said.
After locating the top breeders in the nation, whose English lops possessed the same traits Acarregui was searching for, she began her research and began to discover what she would need in order to become a national competitor.
After a year of strict dedication, breeding and sorting, Acarregui finally found the rabbit she'd been looking for and quickly hit the top of the youth English lop breeding. For the four consecutive years following, Courtney held the title of the number one youth English lop breeder in the nation.
"It was extremely meaningful to see that I was capable of taking a hobby about which I knew very little, and educating myself to become a top breeder," she said.
In 2005, Courtney had over 120 rabbits. With international interest in her rabbits, Acarregui sold them in the United States and Canada. She has had inquiries from Britain, Thailand and France as well.
As a baby, Acarregui discovered her passion for horses. She was riding before she could walk, and competing by fourth grade. Since then, she has won numerous championships and countless medals at both the state and national levels.
Her hard work and dedication to horses and riding has paid off. Courtney will attend Baylor University in the fall to ride on the NCAA Division 1 Equestrian team. Courtney is one of five incoming freshman who will ride.
"Horses have always been my passion, and I am so excited to be able to continue riding throughout college as a member of a highly competitive team," she said.
Not only a model student, but an accomplished businesswoman and independently successful young adult, Courtney has a bright and promising future. She pursues life with discipline, a kind-hearted soul and an incredibly strong will to succeed.
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