In the span of about seven days, we were privileged to attend four different ceremonies where Sarah was honored. Of course, the ceremony we all took an extra special interest in was the one where scholarships were awarded.
There were a good number of scholarships available through the school although many of them were limited to students going into the medical profession, students who were interested in athletics, students going to a 4-year college, students involved in the arts, students who excelled at math and science, etc.
Although Sarah was only eligible for a smallish percentage of the scholarships, she wound up winning enough money to completely cover the tuition for a full year at the Community College, plus extra money for books and expenses. (Total scholarships came to $4,100.) One of the scholarships was to reward her for investing at least 75 hours over her high school career into tutoring other students, which was definitely an accomplishment.
Edited to Add: I just remembered–a few hours after first posting this–that when Sarah was accepted for four years at Campbell University, they offered her a $10,000 per year scholarship! (But only if she were to go there the whole four years, not just the final two years.) But still, she was very honored.
She also received (among all seniors) the Top English Student Award and the Top Business Technology Student Award.
I remember when she had this picture taken back in 10th grade and I thought we had all the time in the world until she graduated for real. Well all that seemingly endless time has almost gone and we are just three weeks away from the Real Deal!
Here are a few photos from the past week of honors.
In this ceremony (which involved certain students from three local High Schools) she was given the honor of speaking.
AVID awarded her the biggest scholarship: $2,500. (Each of the award winners are from a different High School.)
As the NHS mantle was passed to the rising seniors, a slide presentation was shown featuring each of the graduating seniors. I snapped a picture when Sarah’s side came up.
Sarah is sliding past the students in her row to go forward to receive one of her four scholarships of the night. (Which brought her total to 5 with the AVID scholarship.)
![07-DSC_2436[4]](https://smithellaneous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/07-DSC_24364.jpg "07-DSC_2436[4]")
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even though it doesn’t tie in at all with awards or scholarships, here is a photo of Noah! Steve looked at it and said, “He looks like a teenager with a pacifier.”
We are so looking forward to seeing him (and his parents) in just three weeks for Sarah’s big day!
I am so very proud of Sarah and for you. God has done exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could think or ask in regards to Sarah’s precious, miraculous life. I continue to stand in awe of her. This moment is extremely poignant for me and I admit a little envious for what our family will miss out on with our Sarah. I pray blessings on Sarah as she begins this new and exiting chapter in her life.
Lisa,
Remembering your Sarah today . . . and all the love she was given and all the love she gave. What a precious little life.
Congratulations Sarah, I’m so proud of you.
Becky, what a wonderful job you and Steve have done raising such fine children
Suzanne,
You are so sweet; thank you for your encouraging words.
Sarah, Congratulations!!! I continue to.be amazed by and in awe of you. You have certainly worked hard and have earned and deserve every honor bestowed upon you. I know your entire family (especially your parents), extended family and all the smithellaneous followers are proud of you. You will be an amazing teacher! I know that God has great plans for you. Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
You truly have a way with words and a heart for being an encourager. Thank you!
Congratulations to Sarah! Thanks for sharing her many successes. Wishing her a great end of year!
Whitney,
Still can’t believe that the “end of year time” is here! Thanks for the good wishes–it will be fun to see where her future takes her.
Congrats to Sarah!! I know some very proud parents!! Hey Becky what grade level does Sarah want to teach? Just wondering???
Catherine,
All she’s ever said is High School so I guess it doesn’t matter to her whether it’s 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th. Of course, as she gets a little further down the college road, she may feel herself drawn more strongly to one grade or another although as a new teacher, she’ll probably have to take whatever is available to start!
Congratulations Sarah! You certainly have so much to be proud of! Did mom or dad get teary-eyed during any of this? I’m pretty emotional so I would have been crying happy, happy, proud tears if that were one of my kids. Good luck to you as you finish up this chapter and prepare to start a new one in your life! You will go far!!
LeeAnn,e
Oh, you KNOW this mama got teary-eyed. It’s what I DO! 🙂
I was gone from the office for the holiday weekend and just now got to read the fabulous news. Sarah just continues to amaze me and make me smile. So happy for all of you. I also know that Sarah will excel in College and not take any of these scholarships lightly but will understand their importance to her future and the honor and privilege they bestow. Congratulations, Sarah! All very, very well deserved.
Mary,
Glad to hear you got a break from the office! 🙂 Sarah definitely understands the importance of those scholarships because she knows what a financial challenge college can be. We’re all very, very grateful!
Well done Sarah, you deserve it.
You look lovely in all the photos, really grown up
Anonymous,
Actually, a little TOO grown up, but I guess those adult days have to come sooner or later. 🙂
Congratulations Sarah! 🙂 You are going to be an amazing English teacher, that’s for sure!!
(Also, Noah is such a cutie!!)
Renee,
Sarah–great English teacher. Noah–a cutie. True that! 🙂
I remember your post about Sarah’s first day of high school as vividly as if you had written it last month. She came home exhausted, emotionally drained, and in tears. I knew it would get better for her (it kind of had to!), but even so…. look at her now!!
Congratulations, Sarah! I am so impressed by you!!
Kristina,
I’m glad you mentioned that post because I had completely forgotten about it. (As a matter of fact, I tried to go back and find that post again but wasn’t successful.)
Sarah really has come a long way from a crying, overwhelmed freshman to a shining, accomplished senior. Her tough first days of High School will help her down the road relating to students going through the same thing.
After I read your reply, I went back and looked for it, too… I am usually pretty adept at finding archived material, but I looked here, on Smithellaneous Classic, and at Sarah’s Caringbridge page and couldn’t find it. I think it’s either been deleted or lost to the internet ether!
Kristina,
That is strange, indeed! I would certainly have never deleted it so . . . who knows? Thanks for taking the time too look. I would like to have read it again.
I am nothing if not persistent!!
Incidentally, this is often called ‘stubborn’ by others.
If you go to this link (http://caringbridgeclassic.org/nc/sarahsmith/history9.htm) and do a text search for “School Is Over” you’ll find the post on Sarah’s first day at public school. I couldn’t find it before because I was looking at the wrong timeline — I forgot that she started in January, halfway through the school year rather than in Aug/Sept of eighth or ninth grade.
Okay, Kristina,
You have just earned some sort of major Smithellaneous Award for your persistence, diligence and yes, even stubbornness! 🙂 I am majorly impressed that you braved the never ending backlog of Caringbridge history pages to find that missing post.
And what was really funny is that until I saw the page you unearthed for me, I had completely forgotten that I had continued to write about Sarah for a while on Caringbridge, even after starting the Smithellaneous blog. And that means I would never have dreamed of looking for more current Sarah stories on Caringbridge. I actually found pictures of her on the page you linked to that I had forgotten about it; I am downloading them and using them for different parts of her graduation celebration.
So THANK YOU for going above and beyond the Smithellaneous Friend call of duty and finding the unfindable. YOU ROCK!!!
Congrats to Sarah! What wonderful accomplishments by a lovely young lady!
Anonymous,
Yes, she has truly accomplished a lot especially considering the learning challenges she’s had to overcome.
Becky I have been a silent reader on your blog for a very long time. I have followed Sarah’s neuroblastoma journey and so was so proud to see her high school achievements. She has grown up to be an amazing lady. Good luck to Sarah and wishing her continued success.
P.S :I love your blog
Asma,
Hooray for getting a comment from a (previously) silent reader. Love it!!
Thanks for following along on the journey and for celebrating with us this huge milestone.
Hope to hear from you again soon! 🙂
Way to go, Sarah! So very proud of you! Best Wishes for success in all your endeavors. Looking forward to hearing about more wonderful accomplishments in college.
Sumathi,
We’ve got some exciting days behind us and some exciting days ahead!
Proud of our girl.
Steve,
Yes, we are!
Wow Sarah, you are certainly burning your own path, which is so great. I love how well you are able to channel your inner self and make decisions accordingly. Congratulation! And to you too, Mama and papa.
Lesley,
“Burning your own path” is a great way to describe it! “Mama and papa” are very proud.
Congratulations, Sarah! 🙂
I went to one of my nieces’ graduation on Saturday. She graduated from a private Christian school. She was an honors student and she won a scholarship that will cover her freshman year tuition and books. She is planning to go to a four-year college and majoring in special education.
Kristi,
What a great goal to major in special education! And getting an entire year covered at a four-year school is great. I know your family is so proud of her!
I know my parents are smiling from above! I know that they were at her graduation in spirit!
Congrats to the entire Smith Family! Hats Off! ..On a side note Becky where is the blog role? I follow some of the blog after I read yours. thanks!
CeCe,
Thanks for mentioning the blog roll–I didn’t realize it was missing. You can find it at the very bottom of the blog, along with the most frequent commenters and the archives.
Congratulations to Sarah and to you and Steve. Five scholarships is a tremendous accomplishment!!! So proud of her. Of course the picture of Noah just sets off the others. Way to go, Sarah!!!!!
Ann,
Yep, that picture of Noah is really a smile-maker!
FOUR scholarships!!!! that is quite an accomplishment, Sarah, and quite well deserved!
You have definitely left your mark on MHS!! Congratulations, that’s for sure!!!
Noah’s little leg propped up is toooooooo cute!!
Mrs. Pam,
After I read your comment I remembered that her total was actually five so I went back to the post and changed it. And yes, I love Noah’s leg propped up. He is just chillin’!
Congratulations Sarah. So proud of you.
Margie,
She’s done an amazing job, hasn’t she?
Amazed by, and very proud of, the illustrious Miss Smith!
Love deb and the guys
Thanks, Deb.
I’m sure you all are already launching down the road to scholarship World for Caleb. I can see him winning a whole LOT of them!
THOSE (ups caps lock) pictures made me get goose bumps . I am so proud of Sarah 🙂
Thanks, Trine. It was definitely an exciting week!