Tayler recently completed the People to People Ambassadors interview process, and received her letter of acceptance into the program. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel, learn, and experience new cultures, people, and countries.

     A 10th-grader and a scholar athlete, Tayler is an enrolled Seneca of the Turtle Clan and the daughter of Nicole Thompson and Darwin L. John. She resides in Pinewoods with her mom, her sister Lindsay, and twin brothers, Darin and Ronald. She excels not only in the classroom but as an athlete as well.

     Tayler works hard to maintain her status as an honor roll student and is a talented athlete who plays softball, volleyball, basketball and girls’ lacrosse. She has recently been named to we 2003-04 edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

     Tayler started her softball career when she was 9 years old. She has played for various local club teams and has been on the school’s JV team since seventh grade. She plays second base and pitches, and made the Team New York Bantam Softball team that played in the Indigenous Games in Winnepeg in 2002. In addition to playing basketball for the Gowanda School team along with local club teams, she has traveled to various Native American basketball tournaments throughout the country. She has played volleyball on her school’s teams since seventh grade and was the only sophomore on the varsity team this fall.

     Tayler has also played on the Seneca School Girls Lacrosse team for the past four years and has traveled extensively to play in various tournaments and playdays. She was the only girl to win in her age group throughout the entire NILL (National Indoor Lacrosse League) Scoop ‘N Shoot competition held at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut in April 2002.

     Tayler needs to raise a substantial amount of money to cover her percentage to travel next summer. To assist her in this endeavor, a ham dinner will be held Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Volunteer Fire Department Fire Hall on Route 438. In addition to the dinner, there will be a Chinese auction, games and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are available at the door the day of the event.