By Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
February 14, 2019 9:00 a.m.
Led by Robin Lentz, Executive Director of Take Stock in Children (TSIC), six people walked into Kiersten Wright’s afternoon class at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School on Monday afternoon to surprise her. The surprise was to honor her as this year’s outstanding senior in the TSIC program in Nassau County.
Robin gave a brief introduction and Michelle Karst, Kiersten’s mentor, handed her balloons, sunflowers and a plaque honoring her achievement. College success coach Johnnie Green said a few words. Kiersten’s mother Karen Smith; Tammy Johnson, HMSHS Principal; Christie Chaires, School Counselor; and Dee Torre-Kaufman, TSIC Marketing and Development Chair, applauded.
Each year Take Stock in Children selects an outstanding senior from each affiliate. Outstanding Seniors are exemplary students in academics and involved in their community in a variety of areas. They are nominated by their College Success Coaches and voted on and decided by the Take Stock in Children affiliate staff. All representatives from each chapter will receive a laptop and recognition at the annual Tallahassee rally and lunch on March 6, 2019.
Kiersten is well deserving of the honor. She has been in leadership positions in high school organizations including Senior Class President, performed community volunteer service, been elected to the National Honor Society, and kept up various other activities. In all this activity, she has managed to maintain a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She has been accepted at Florida State University where she hopes to study film.
Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.