![Laguna Beach High School graduate Weston Barnes, center, with George Mason University men's volleyball team mates. Photo courtesy GMU](https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5-barnes.jpg)
He grew up in the sand and surf, but fell in love with the Washington, D.C., region. Now, Laguna Beach High School graduate Weston Barnes is making his mark as a freshman at George Mason University.
In high school, Barnes won a gold medal in Junior Olympics volleyball in 2011 and a silver medal in 2013. He was named first team all-league in 2012 and 2013 and the CIF Orange County all-star team in 2013.
And he was recruited by Princeton University, along with other Division 3 schools, but answered the call from George Mason. “I wanted to attend school and live in another state, especially one on the East Coast,” says Barnes. “After visiting Mason, I fell in love with D.C. Once the volleyball aspect came into play, I was sold.
Barnes, majoring in accounting, has enjoyed building relationships with faculty and stays busy on evenings and weekends, on- and off-campus. He also got the chance to experience international volleyball, volunteering at the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament
Barnes hopes to line up internships or work-study opportunities through Mason. “My only career goal at the moment is to do something that I am passionate about,” he says.