Mortimer Jordan High School senior Marina Keplinger loves singing. As a matter of fact, she’s going to Jefferson State Community College in the fall on a full vocal scholarship.

“It’s been a life-long thing,” she said. “Plus, [MJHS music teacher] Miss Heron is awesome. She’s brought a lot of us out of our shell.” She also won the senior award for choir.

Keplinger has been in concert choir all four years of high school, and has also been in chamber choir for the past two years.

“The chamber choir is one big happy family,” she said.

Keplinger is going to Jefferson State to study nursing.

“If I had a choice, and I suppose I do have a choice, I would have chosen a career in performance art or music education. But, the way the economy is, music education is probably going to be the first thing to go,” she said. “Nursing is something that’s always going to be needed.” Keplinger said she wishes she could play the piano.

When she’s not in school, Keplinger works at Webb Payroll in Gardendale as an assistant. She lives with her aunt, Sherry Webb, who also owns the company.

“She’s been the greatest influence in my life,” said Keplinger.

“I’m very proud of her. In the four years I’ve had her, she has done a real turn-around in her life and she is now a smart young adult.” said Webb.

On Fridays, she usually heads to the Promenade shopping center in Fultondale with her friends to eat at Chick-Fil-A and shop at Target.

Marina is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.