Georgia Magazine - July 2017 - 15B

Morgan Raylee Lamb

Sydney Thomas

Sydney Thomas of Colquitt plans to pass along her
passion for agriculture to her future students as an agriculture teacher in middle school or high school.
"I believe that educating children about agriculture
gives them a better understanding of where their food
comes from and gives them a greater appreciation of their
environment," she says. "Agriculture education is the key
to success in the agriculture industry, and I want to be a
part of molding future agriculturists."
Thomas' love of agriculture was reflected in her active participation in FFA and the Miller County Cattlemen's
Association. She held several leadership roles with Area
V FFA (president, treasurer and sentinel) and with the
Miller County FFA Chapter (president, chaplain, secretary
and historian). She participated in the FFA Washington
Leadership Conference and was a delegate at the FFA National Convention. Her agriculture awards included the
Outstanding FFA Work Ethic Award and Georgia National
Livestock Show Grand Champion Barrow, and she earned
the State FFA Degree, Chapter Degree, Greenhand Degree
and Star Greenhand.
She was involved in the Miller County High School
Pirate Pride Band, the Beta Club and the Literary Team,
and she was part of the C.H.A.O.S. Student Ministries at
Flat Creek Church. She served as senior class treasurer
and was captain and woodwind lieutenant in the band.
Her band involvement garnered many awards, including
Rookie of the Year, the Director's Award and the Outstanding Service Award, and she was part of the Southeastern United States Honor Band.
Thomas volunteered at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a local nursing home, the Peanut Proud Festival, the Mayhaw
Festival and a Veterans Day appreciation supper. She also
gave her time to Relay For Life and Meals on Wheels.
"I have witnessed Sydney's tremendous growth in
leadership, maturity, academic excellence and, most importantly, her love for others," English teacher Christy
Whitaker wrote in a letter of recommendation. "Her infectious personality captivates all who meet her. Her ability
to lead is natural."
July 2017

Morgan Raylee Lamb of Plains maintained a 4.0
grade-point average at Schley County High School, participated in many clubs and other activities, and earned
a multitude of awards. But all of that is not what stood
out the most to Tina R. Williams, a science teacher at the
school.
"Raylee attempts to address some of our world's most
challenging issues, such as poverty and food insecurity,
by looking through multiple lenses," Williams wrote in a
letter of recommendation. "She seeks to be an 'agent of
change' by working with those most impacted. ... Raylee
is one of the brightest, most talented and genuine students I taught."
Lamb was a member of Future Business Leaders of
America (FBLA), the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Foreign Language Club, Senior Beta Club and the Student
Government Association. She played varsity softball and
kept statistics for the varsity baseball team.
Some of the awards she earned during high school
were the State of Georgia/University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, honor roll, an award for the highest average
in Advanced Placement U.S. history and several awards
in FBLA competitions.
Her volunteer work included going on a mission trip
to a crime-ravaged area of San Francisco, serving as a
team leader at Chick-fil-A's WinShape Camp and volunteering as a "date" for the Night to Shine Prom for teenagers and adults with special needs. Her career goals reflect
this dedication to service; she plans to open a pharmacy
in her hometown.
"I want to be able to serve those who were there for
me while I was growing up," she says. "I want my pharmacy to remain small so that my patients will be able to
have personal relationships with me and know that I am
the pharmacist who will be taking care of them."

More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

'I want to be able to
serve those who were
there for me while I
was growing up.'

15B

http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2017