Live, laugh, love:
If it were up to the Beach Boys, every girl would be a “California girl”. Lucky for us at the College of Eastern Utah, we have our own beautiful ray of California sun: Makenda Hill.
Hill grew up in Exeter, California, a small town about two hours outside of Los Angeles. The hustle and bustle of the city is masked by the citrusy scent and picturesque scenery of orange groves. Coming from a family of three children, Hill being the eldest, she has had a storybook start.
This archived article was written by: Dyana Thurgood
If it were up to the Beach Boys, every girl would be a “California girl”. Lucky for us at the College of Eastern Utah, we have our own beautiful ray of California sun: Makenda Hill.
Hill grew up in Exeter, California, a small town about two hours outside of Los Angeles. The hustle and bustle of the city is masked by the citrusy scent and picturesque scenery of orange groves. Coming from a family of three children, Hill being the eldest, she has had a storybook start.
Growing up in the country allowed for the best of two worlds. Only a few minutes drive, she could get caught up in friends, school and shopping. (Just as the average teen girl would) However, staying home allotted time for more exciting adventures.
If you couldn’t find her practicing her skills on the basketball court, you could try the local equestrian park with her trusty horses Sky and Romeo. Hill participated in three-day events, which would consist of a series of events either on the local terrain, or more well known courses.
She may find adrenaline in racing a horse, but her heart beats the quickest when she’s one-on-one on the hardwood. She has followed that passion always here to Price, Utah. Hill always knew she wanted to play post-high school basketball, but hadn’t really known where. After filling out recruitment papers, talking to the coach and visiting the school, she settled her roots in Price at Claude J. Burtenshaw Residence Hall.
Hill has been a major contribution to the CEU Women’s Basketball Program. Facing her final season as a sophomore, she found happiness in meeting new people and experiencing the privilege of being a college athlete. Not only does she enjoy it here, but her teammate Kaylie Robison feels that, “She works hard and makes it [basketball] fun.”
Giggling, she said, her favorite quote is “Live, love, and laugh … they are guidelines to enjoying life.” From her California sun to the classes at CEU, she definitely makes every moment count. She has learned to follow your dreams, whether it is next door or the next state. Her last word of advice, to any girl who hopes to aspire to the collegiate level, is “be like Nike and ‘just do it'”.
