2021 Recipient

Liska - Scholarship Student profile

Liska, who received the scholarship honoring Chuck and Roberta LeMaster in 2021, has clear goals for her college and career path.

She plans to graduate with a degree in political science and then pursue a graduate degree in international relations at Columbia University.

“I’ve chosen this profession because it’s the perfect mix of what interests me.  I’ve always been interested in international relations, discussing politics and have always been a person to negotiate and speak my mind.

“Becoming a public diplomacy officer would encompass many things I love—travel, listening to others, speaking my opinion and learning about other cultures around the world.

The Seven Lakes High School graduate would eventually like to have the opportunity to positively influence government leaders and societies and to broaden people’s understanding of United States policy goals.

Lofty ambitions?

Perhaps so, but the devil is in the details, they say, and Liska has already experienced and capitalized on many of the details.

As a regular site director for Todd Folsom’s King Daddy Sports, which runs USTA and UTR tennis tournaments throughout the year, Liska has learned to work with and supervise adult officials and referees and communicate with parents and participants, as well as schedule matches and report scores accurately.

“Sometimes parents disagree with tournament decisions, and it is my job to explain our actions,” Liska said.

“I always try to stay calm and use logic, never bringing emotion into the discussion. And I try to hear their side because I understand how much parents are invested in their child.”

She employed the same attention to detail in choosing Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., for her school of choice.

“They had the perfect mix of rigorous academics and a strong athletic tradition,” Liska said.  “And the weather is perfect!”

“I toured the campus and love the coach (Cade Pierson) and the team.” 

Westmont named her a Presidential Scholar, as well as a Warrior Sports Award recipient.

Liska, who started playing at age 10 because her mom Kathy played, filled the No. 1 doubles spot and the No. 2 singles slot for Seven Lakes.  She and teammate Anna Bouleau were named to the Houston Chronicle’s All-Greater Houston Girls Doubles Team. They won the Region 3-District 6A doubles title.