LACCD Student of the Week: Taylor Boone

From Court to Canvas: Taylor Boone Balances Art and Athletics

Meet LACCD Student of the Week: Taylor Boone

Taylor Boone has been a force on and off the court during her time at Los Angeles Mission College. The 19-year-old Studio Arts major grew up in Palmdale and was recruited out of Quartz Hill High School to play volleyball at Mission by Coach Nabil Mardini. The moment she stepped on campus, she knew it was the right fit.

“I was just sold from the minute I saw the campus and the program,” Taylor said.

Taylor started playing volleyball in seventh grade and quickly developed a passion for the game. That enthusiasm carried over to her time at Mission, where she helped lead the team to the CCCAA Southern California Regionals and made her mark in the record books.

The sophomore standout was a cornerstone of the team’s success during her record-setting season, earning multiple honors including First Team All-State, First Team All-Conference, and State Player of the Week for Week Ten. She finished her final season ranked third statewide in both assists per set and total assists, while breaking the school’s career assist record with 2,032 assists—cementing her legacy as one of the program’s top setters.

Off the court, Taylor pursued her creative interests, majoring in Studio Arts—a love that runs in the family. “My mom is an artist, and I’ve been drawing since I was young,” she said. “My high school art teacher, Mr. Dixon, really pushed me to pursue it. He saw something in me and didn’t want me to lose that passion.”

Taylor’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Balancing volleyball, academics, and a part-time job, time management was key. She credits the strong support system at Mission—especially the athletics department and her professors—for helping her stay focused.

“I learned to ask for help,” she said. “There’s no shame in it. My coach even helped me with math homework sometimes. Everyone here really wants to see you succeed.”

One of those supporters is John Sarkone, her life drawing instructor, who she says pushes her to grow and keeps class exciting—even during five-hour studio sessions.

Taylor is set to transfer to Fresno Pacific University in the fall, where she’ll continue playing volleyball at the NCAA Division II level. Her ultimate goal is to earn a Master of Arts degree and become an art teacher—and possibly a volleyball coach.

“I’ve learned that I love to be challenged,” she said. “If I’m not being challenged, I’m not interested. Mission helped me realize that about myself.”