Caderria thomas By Kayla Evans Photos Contributed By Caderria Thomas
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aderria Thomas, a senior at Loachapoka High, will soon be leaving for Falkner University, leaving behind friends in the band, yearbook and the SkillsUSA team. Thomas currently plans to attend Faulkner University studying music education or music therapy, no surprise given she was part of Loachapoka’s marching band since the sixth grade. She also plans to be in the University Marching Band. “I ended up choosing this school because I felt very at home on my tour there,” Thomas said. “The students and faculty were extremely nice, the campus itself is absolutely gorgeous, and it has a really nice five-year program to get a master's degree in Music.” Performing in the University Marching Band came from the past seven years Thomas has played the alto saxophone. Thomas has been a part of Loachapoka’s concert and marching bands since the sixth grade, and she was a section leader beginning in 2017. “Marching band is probably my favorite elective that I have ever done,” Thomas said. “We didn’t get to this year
because of COVID, but we normally travel to home and away games. We get to meet the other bands, and we get to support our team. We have other really cool experiences too. We go to colleges for band days, and we get to compete for scholarships. So band is probably the best elective for your future and for the present. It’s an amazing experience.” Along with the marching band, Thomas was involved in the SkillsUSA team and a part of the school’s yearbook committee. In the ninth grade, Thomas was also involved in the robotics team and art club. Of course, there was the academic side of high school too. Thomas was a member of the National Honor’s Society, has been on the honor roll since 2017 and is the first student in Loachapoka’s history to receive a qualifying score on the AP science exam. Thomas enjoys doing community service around Lee County. She is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she is a choir member and an usher. She has also volunteered at the East Alabama Food Drive, blanket drive and toy drive.
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