Our Student of the Year

We found out several weeks ago that Savannah was chosen as a nominee for Student of the Year.

The faculty and staff chose ten 8th grade students who were invited to apply.  We had to sign tons of paper work and then she had to fill out an application including all of her grades, test scores, leadership, activities, and awards beginning with sixth grade until now.

She then had to write a biographical sketch including her family history, hobbies and interests, activities, career and life ambitions, and three issues that she deals with or that are important to her in her life.  She chose to write about her hypoglycemia, teen suicide, and kids cussing and using profane language.

The applications were due on Friday, December 7, but an earlier memo said they were due Tuesday, December 11.  Savannah had hers turned in on Friday, but most everyone else did not turn theirs in until Tuesday.  After receiving everyone's applications, the faculty committee was supposed to choose five finalists that would then appear before another separate committee for interviews and another written assignment.

After all week of hearing nothing, we found out yesterday afternoon that they were interviewing all the candidates at 8:00 am today.  Savannah was a little freaked out and felt unprepared.  She was expecting to hear if she made the group of finalists before hearing about interviews.  We were also thinking that they would make the announcement today at school of who was chosen as a finalist and give them the weekend to prepare to interview.  They also usually dress up for the interviews but the school counselor said they were to wear their school uniforms instead.  

After the school contest, the winner is submitted to the parish contest and from there it goes as far as the State Middle School Student of the Year.  Two years ago, in Tristan's grade, the middle school Student of the Year was also chosen as the Calcasieu Parish Student of the Year.

I've been trying to prepare her all along by getting her to think of things they might ask in an interview.  I was having her think about her strengths and weaknesses, who she thought her hero was, and why she felt she should be honored above all other candidates.

  We are so proud of Savannah and all that she has accomplished.  She has largely been dissatisfied with school over the years.  (We decided she should not necessarily tell them that in the interview.)  But even through all the ups and downs, she still holds herself to a higher standard and studies hard and is respectful to her teachers and other students.  Her teachers are the ones who nominated her for this award and I think that speaks volumes of how they perceive her as a student and as a person.  I would be proud to have her represent our community.  No matter what, she is one of our favorite students!

Student of the Year was announced today during 5th hour and Alyssa Foreman was given the honor of representing Moss Bluff Middle with the title.  She and Savannah have been best of friends since 5th grade when they sat next to each other at the Regional Science Fair.  Savannah has said from the start that she really felt like Alyssa deserved to be Student of the Year and that she hoped that Alyssa got it if she did not.  Savannah said today that she feels more excited for Alyssa than she thinks she might have felt for herself.  Alyssa is a wonderful young lady from a great family and we are so happy for her.  She is more than deserving!