Central Valley High School valedictorian Trevor Brown already could fill an impressive resume before his June graduation.

Among his kudos, Brown made one of his strongest impressions his senior year as a tutor helping sophomores with math.

"He has this way of motivating people to do better, especially when he's tutoring," said Lila Carthens, who as a senior served as a tutor alongside Brown. "He has a way to make things fun and enjoyable, which isn't an easy thing to do, especially in math. He has this aura around him that just makes you smile."

CVHS geometry teacher Ronda Fosburg said students tell her they still ask for Brown's help, which is gladly given, even though he was a tutor only the first semester. He served with three seniors who assisted Fosburg's students needing extra help with math.

"Some of them have kept in touch with Trevor, which says a lot about him," Fosburg said. "He was very effective in class, probably one of the most effective tutors I've ever had. He helped students do their best. Trevor is sensitive to individual differences, and he is respectful of every person."  

This fall, Brown will head off to Brigham Young University.

"I plan to study probably mechanical engineering, but I haven't really decided," he said. "It will likely be in the engineering field."  

After a year of college, he plans to leave on a two-year mission trip for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then return to BYU to complete his studies.

He is the youngest of five children for longtime Liberty Lake residents Nathan and Shaun Brown. Trevor Brown said he'll likely spend time this summer working on a friend's family farm but also hopes to work for Mica Moon Zip Tours, a new zipline company operating near Liberty Lake. Brown has two brothers and two sisters.  

"I love to go on hikes, play Frisbee, be outdoors," he said. "Liberty Lake is a beautiful place to live."

His recent academic awards range from second-place Spokane Scholar in Science to being named Thomas S. Monson Scholar, the highest academic scholarship at BYU. He is CV's only valedictorian this year. 

Brown also is athletic. For the past two years, he reached high points as CV's top pole vaulter, clearing 14.6 feet. Brown said in mid-May his goal is to reach 15.6 before the school year's end, to match the school record set by his brother, Kyle, in 2009. 

Aside from academics and sports, Brown said one of his favorite activities is volunteering for the organization, Project Unify, a group that helps students with mental or physical challenges participate in athletic events. 

"I've been doing that just this year," he said. "I really enjoy cheering on the kids playing at basketball games. There's not a lot of people there. It shows kids who don't have much of a chance to interact with kids their age that people care about them, and it gives them a chance to participate in sports."

Brown's long list of academic honors also includes Washington Scholar; Elks local, state, and national scholar; and the Spring Sports Male Scholar Athlete - CVHS. The Thomas S. Monson Scholar award provides full BYU tuition plus a stipend for four years. 

Brown said his best subjects in school are math and science - reasons that becoming an engineer sounds appealing, but he might consider a job in more of a service role because of how much he enjoyed working as a tutor and for Project Unify.

"I love chemistry and physics, which has me leaning toward engineering," he said. "I also learned through tutoring and Project Unify that I love helping people, which is why I want to be an engineer who goes to other countries and helps people."

Brown also is described as thoughtful and genuinely concerned about all those around him. He spends part of almost every Sunday afternoon visiting widows and elderly shut-ins for his church's congregation.

Some of the thank you notes he received from tutored students indicate that Brown has a knack for encouraging others. One note said, "When you come in the class with your positive attitude, a lot of people get really pumped for math, including me." 

Another note writer gave kudos to Brown for bringing a brightness into the school day. "You always made us laugh and bring great smiles to our faces in the morning."

Brown said he knows he'll miss people at CV.

"We have amazing teachers at the school," he said. "They've really helped me enjoy my high school career, and they've kept me interested. The kids at the school are the best ever. They're all nice to each other. I'll miss all the friends I have here." 

• • • 

17   

Birthday  

June 14

Dream career   

An engineer who goes to a third world country to provide solutions for basic needs like water, light, shelter

Favorite movie  

Lord of the Rings 

Who you'd like most to meet, living or dead  

Sergey Bubka - he held the pole-vaulting world record for about 20 years

I like to pour milk on my ice cream before I eat it