Each month the Rotary Club of Ruston hosts a luncheon honoring Lincoln Parish high school seniors for their academic achievements.
Abigail Gail Morris was chosen as Grambling State University Laboratory High School’s November student.
She said, “I thought it was a huge honor. It is good to be with other students who were being recognized academically. It was good seeing some of the things that the other honor students are doing.”
Student of the Month honorees stand and share information about themselves with the audience. After sharing some of their academic accomplishments and telling about their community service involvement, they are awarded plaques.
To qualify as a Rotary Student of the Month, a student must be a senior with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 and be an officer or member of at least one high school club or organization.
At school Morris has received several awards for being an honor roll student and is currently taking dual enrollment courses at Grambling State University. Her sophomore year she was elected as Grambling High School’s 2014 Miss Sophomore by her peers.
MELANIE C. THOMAS/Courtesy photo
Dr. Pamela Payne (left), Grambling High principal, stands with Abigail Morris (center) and Mike Milstead, superintend and CEO of Lincoln Parish schools.
Morris is Grambling’s Rotary Club honoree for November.
Morris, a very avid reader, said she mostly reads for fun, but when she does read a book, she always take an Accelerated Reader test. She said, “Over the past two years my I have read 189 books.”
Abigail is the daughter of Raymond Morris and Wendy Antee. She resides in Arcadia, Louisiana. She attended Athens School in Claiborne Parish, but the school closed after her eighth grade year, so her parents sent her and her four brothers to Grambling State University Laboratory Schools.
“My freshman year, I was a new student at Grambling High School. It was hard leaving a school that I had attended my whole life, but I adapted to my new environment and slowly made friends. Now I am standing here before you as the Rotary Club’s November Student of the Month representing Grambling High School,” said Morris.
She attends the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Arcadia. Morris helps to teach Sunday school and organizes church fundraisers such as auctions, bake sales and garage sales.
“In the future I hope to attend Louisiana Tech University. I want to pursue a career in nursing or veterinary medicine. Someday I want to travel to different places in the world like London, Australia, and Italy. I’ve always dreamed of going to other countries. I know that with hard work, and the support of my family, my teachers, and my church my dreams will become reality,” said Morris.
Dr. Pamela M. Payne, a Rotarian and Morris’ principal, said the Rotary Club is involved in the community and always shows support.
In addition, Payne said, “It is great for students who display positive characteristics, such as academic excellence, to be showcased. Abigail is very deserving of the Rotary’s recognition because she represents Grambling High well.”