Athletics

CAROLINE CAUSEY

An average day in the life of Caroline Causey revolves around the HIES STEM building. Since Causey began high school, she was passionate about the STEM classes HIES offers. She was drawn to these classes, because she could apply what she learned to real-life scenarios.

Since her Sophomore year, she involved herself in various, rigorous courses like engineering, computer science, and data structures, but physics was her favorite. “The people in it are so kind and Mr. Boltri... makes the environment really fun… [he] is like one of our friends.”

At the end of sophomore year, Causey attended a leadership and engineering Summer Program at Berkeley College. “I was interested in engineering, but there are many branches and I didn’t know which one I wanted to go into.”

Caroline has a lot on her plate. Though serving as President of SNHS, editor of the yearbook, and Girl Talk leader, she remains able to manage it all.

Causey will move on to North Carolina State University as a member of the Park Scholarship Program. “I have become obsessed with the program… I get to connect with a group of kids who are so passionate about their own unique thing.”

Causey defines success as “making an impact on not just yourself, but seeing how your success positively influences others and the community.” Hopes are high that Caroline Causey will positively influence her peers as she enters college in the Fall.

From the wrestling ring to the computer science lab, Robert McDonald embodies the ideal student: he has forged a stellar list of academic achievements, all while remaining committed to his athletics and radiating a rare form of sincere empathy and affability.

Although McDonald has always had a passion for computer science, specifically because of its “combination of math, science, and problem-solving,” he also believes strongly in “being a well-rounded student.” And it is because of this philosophy that he has been able to maintain a consistently high grade in all of his courses and achieve coveted academic accolades such as being one of two National Merit Scholars at HIES.

McDonald’s achievements have not come easy -- he has worked hard. And what has propelled his steadfast commitment to academics has been his recognition of the future. “When I’m in the dumps, and I question why I’m doing this, I will always say to myself: ‘This is temporary and I’m going to get through it. I know that everything I do now is going to help set me up for the future,’” McDonald said.

Despite McDonald’s clear aptitude for academics, you’ll never hear him boast about any of his awards or his impressive GPA. Instead, “he is one of the most grounded and best people I know, and he always has a smile on his face,” Sarai Jackson ‘21 said.

McDonald is both “excited and nervous” about “meeting new people and the new environment [of Georgia Tech],” but his good-natured personality and profound intellect will undoubtedly guide him on a path towards immense success.

ACADEMICS

ROBERT MCDONALD

LANE ESTES

History and Math. While some may consider these two subjects worlds away, Lane Estes relishes in both mathematics and social studies. A natural mathematician and a history prodigy, Estes has displayed talent beyond his years. He has consistently taken math classes with students a year older than him, and he found learning “fun to broaden your horizons.” However, by joining the PeerKonnect program as a tutor, Estes helped 40-50 of his HIES peers with their coursework.

Spending his down time teaching, Estes prefers the exposure to teaching. “I wouldn’t say it’s really been like me being special or talented or anything. It’s just me liking learning. I feel that when you really like something you just do it anyways,” Estes said.

Tapping into his love of history, Estes works at the Atlanta History Center in two different roles. He shows visitors around the museum and answers their questions on the weekend. His more significant commitment involves a project: “I do a paper, a thesis, the whole nine yards. And I present that to the Atlanta History center about a topic that I researched on.”

Estes will attend the University of Georgia in the fall where he is currently undecided in his major. Because of his experience tutoring his peers, he is considering a career in teaching.

“I don’t know what I want to do,” Estes said. “Teaching could be fun for a career, but I’m also trying not to narrow down my options that quickly.”

Beyond her vivacious, outgoing personality, Logan Jackson is an exceptionally dedicated student. She paved her way to become the exemplary student we recognize today. As an incoming freshman, she took a leap of faith by running for Class Vice President. As a new student, Jackson was not yet widely known, but as a former leader in Middle School, she decided to throw her name in the running– a testament to her courage and tenacity.

Throughout high school, Jackson’s favorite class has been Global because it gave her realworld experience and knowledge that she will use throughout her life. “[Global] has expanded… my perspective on different issues,” she said. “If I hadn’t taken Global, I don’t think I would be interested in the things I am today.”

Beyond the HIES bubble, Jackson capitalized on the opportunity for international travel with the Round Square program, visiting Canada for a leadership conference. “I heard many different perspectives on important issues... They discussed topics such as gender and women’s rights, and… how these things affected the greater community.”

Due to Jackson’s passion and dedication for academics, she was awarded the Morehead Cain Scholarship, as an incoming freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). This is considered amongst the most prestigious scholarships in the nation, and Jackson is the first student in HIES history to receive this great honor.

If her noteworthy accomplishments at HIES serve as any prediction, Jackson is bound to do great things at UNC come this Fall.

Whatever you do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”

-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe