Student masters her family's past.

Byline: FACES AND PLACES by The Register-Guard

Name: Taylor Jernagan

Grade: Sixth

School: Shasta Middle School

Age: 12

Hometown: Born at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Taylor lived in Springfield until age 5 and has lived in the Bethel neighborhood ever since.

Family: Father, Chris Jernagan, a mechanic with Parker Custom Cylinder; mother, Jennifer Jernagan, a hairstylist at Precision Cuts; cats, Buddy and Brittie

On being an only child: "I like it sometimes because you get lots of attention, but other times when you want someone to do stuff with it would be kind of nice to have a brother or sister."

On Shasta Middle School: `I like all my teachers. It's really fun." The transition from Clear Lake Elementary School was a little bit tough, though, as many of her friends went on to different middle schools.

Favorite classes: Art and P.E.

And least: "At the beginning of the year I didn't like science that much, but we're doing funner things now."

Latest school project: She and her classmates all researched their ancestry, putting together elaborate displays of photographs, artwork, recipes, family trees and information from the Internet. Taylor researched England, where her father's ancestors hail from. He also served there in the U.S. Air Force in the early 1980s. She has never been there, but hopes to visit London and Oxford one day.

Travels: She has traveled quite a bit in Oregon, and up to Washington once to see a friend. In summer, her family usually goes to the beach, and last summer took a jet boat trip near Medford.

Pastimes: She takes hip-hop dance lessons every Thursday at Ta-Da Productions Dance Studio, and goes to confirmation classes Wednesdays at her church, Bethesda Lutheran. Aside from that, she likes overnight stays with friends, going to movies and shopping for clothes at Old Navy and other stores.

Volunteer work: She and her dad are part of a large volunteer dog-walking force at Greenhill Humane Society. So far, they've resisted the temptation to bring one home, partly because her dad is allergic to dogs.

Possible career interest: Fashion design. She pores through fashion magazines and snips out her favorite looks.

Hero: "My mom, because she tells me what's right and what's wrong."

Favorite movie: "Legally Blonde"

Favorite reading: Mysteries

Favorite television show: "American Idol" and "Fear Factor"

Favorite music: Pop. Two favorites are the Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake, whom she saw in concert in Portland last year.

Favorite food: Spaghetti

Biggest pet peeve: "I don't like it when people just laugh at nothing. When it's not really anything funny."

- Anne Williams

CAPTION(S):

Taylor Jernagan, 12, of Shasta Middle School recently completed a school project on her family ancestry.