It was, coincidentally, the theme of her valedictory at the high school’s commencement last month.

The 18-year-old Rumney resident earned the highest grade point average over her four years at PRHS in a 182-member class that school principal Bruce Parsons applauded as extremely talented.

"I’m not a genius," she says with point-blank matter-of-factness. "My SAT scores will tell you that. I’m average, but I have a desire to do well. I’m a perfectionist in my riding and in my studies."

An accomplished equestrian, she has ridden in numerous competitions on a horse she leases from veterinarian David Cote. He is also her employer for the summer.

Every evening, she cleans out kennels and assists with after-hour emergencies at the Plymouth Animal Hospital.

It was her equestrian capabilities and her academics that brought her to the attention of the people at Chevrolet Division of General Motors, who sponsor Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan.

Kwan and Chevrolet are partnering in the inaugural "Recognizing Excellence of Women in Academics & Rewarding Dynamic Student-athletes."

This mouthful of a name results in the acronym REWARDS, a scholarship program "to recognize and assist outstanding college-bound female athletes from across the country."

Wilkin was one of more than 5,000 young women who thought they would have a chance at one of the $5,000 scholarships and sent in an application.

Wilkin was one of only 10 who were ultimately selected.

The people at Chevrolet apparently do not agree with her self-assessment.

On June 26, they flew her to Los Angeles to receive her scholarship from Kwan, attend a luncheon beach party on Santa Monica beach and an awards dinner at Disneyland.

She said Kwan, who juggles classes at UCLA along with practicing for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, told the assembled awardees and their families she had approached Chevrolet with the idea and encouraged the company to get the 10 winners together for photos and the presentation.

The diminutive figure skater — "I’m short, but she’s even shorter," said Wilkin — spent time with the scholarship recipients playing tug-of-war and beach volleyball, and talking about college.

The next day, the Wilkin family, including Katrina, her mother, Rita, father Thomas and sister, Samantha, took the opportunity to visit Disney’s new California Adventure theme park, which opened last year in what was once Disneyland’s parking lot.

But now she’s back home to clean out the kennels, practice her riding and otherwise prepare for college life at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., this fall. She plans to major in accounting and eventually pass the CPA.

Her assessment of Los Angeles is typically straightforward.

"I wouldn’t want to live out there. It’s too busy and too crowded," she states. "It’s nice to visit, but where could you keep a horse?"