Hahnville High School named Savannah Whitney, the daughter of Troy and Bethany Whitney of Luling, as the Student of the Year. She is a senior at the school, located in Boutte. She is actively involved in both school clubs and community activities.
Whitney serves as vice president of the student council, vice president of the National Honor Society, president of the International Thespian Society, representative on the Louisiana State Thespian Board, an officer with the Fellowship of Christian Students, and as a freshman mentor.
She is also a member of the Beta Club, Ensemble Chorus, talented theatre program, student advisory team, and Spanish Honor Society. Whitney was invited to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine and has also been a delegate to the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Conference in Washington, D.C., as well as to the Louisiana Association of Student Councils' summer workshop and the Louisiana Youth Seminar. She is also one of four Louisiana finalists for the United States Senate Youth Program.
Whitney has earned college credits for Advanced Placement United States History, Biology, and English III, earning her the recognition of AP Scholar. She has been commended for her writing skills through both the Young Authors' and Louisiana Writes contests and was awarded the title of Commended Scholar through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. She has also earned the Tulane Book Award and the award for the highest ACT score in the junior class, among various other subject and club-based awards.
Outside of school, Whitney participates in activities at her church, the First Baptist Church of Luling. She volunteers in the church nursery throughout the year as well as at the church's annual Fall Fest every October. During the summer, she teaches music at Vacation Bible School, a position she has held for five years. She has also competed in the Bible Drill program for the past nine years. Whitney also serves as a senior Spokesmodel for Romaguera Photography.
After graduation, Whitney plans to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to major in biomedical sciences with the intent to later attend medical school. Her ultimate goal is to work in the medical field either as a trauma surgeon or an anesthesiologist.
Submitted by Lauren Jones.