The Scholarship & Awards Committee of North Duplin Jr/Sr High School is pleased to announce the Mount Olive Exchange Club and Duplin Rotary Club Student of the Month for January, Callie Thornton. Callie is the daughter of Allan and Laura Thornton of Faison, NC. Callie is a senior at North Duplin, and she has a long list of accomplishments on her academic resume.
Callie has been involved in the Beta Club all four years of high school, and she is President of the Beta Club this year. She has also been involved in the Duplin Health Science Academy throughout high school, as well as Student Government, HOSA, and Science Club. Callie is a scholar athlete and has played softball and volleyball all four years of high school. She has received numerous awards for her athletic talent, and her goal is to play softball at the collegiate level.
Callie has been extensively involved in community service during her academic career. She has volunteered at Sampson Regional Medical Center, and she has served at the John Roland Sullivan Scholarship Fundraiser and the Volleyball Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser for several years. Callie and her family started the Books For Buddies project at North Duplin Elementary when her older sister was a senior, and Callie has continued this tradition of providing books for students in need at the elementary school. Callie has also started her own project called “The Rose Project: Notes of Love” in which she makes roses and cards for elderly members in the community who are shut-ins or in assisted living. This is a project that is dear to her, and she hopes to continue helping the elderly after graduation.
Callie has many academic and leadership accomplishments: She is ranked #1 in her class, and she has received medals for highest average in many of her academic courses; she was also chief marshal at North Duplin’s graduation ceremony this past year. Callie has participated in the Perry Virtual Experience, the Meredith Junior Leadership Conference, and the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.
Callie enjoys reading, playing sports, and being active in her community. An accomplishment she is most proud of is her service in the Beta Club. This has given her a chance to show her leadership skills and help people in our area. When asked who she would invite to dinner, past or present, she responded, “If I could invite anyone to dinner, it would be Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she was an advocate for equality and a visionary in her legal work.” Callie most admires her older sister Elizabeth because she has persevered in spite of obstacles she has encountered.
After high school, Callie plans to attend Coker University in Hartsville, SC, where she will play softball. She hopes to pursue a medical career and specialize in concussion rehabilitation.
