Gainesville High

ELLIE CLARK, CHESTATEE HIGH SCHOOL

‘I wanted to be a (small animal) veterinarian, then I thought I’d be an agriculture teacher. Someone told me to write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser. We’re not in charge of what happens.’ Ellie Clark

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Love of livestock leads to multiple career options

BY KELSEY PODO kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com

It’s difficult to look elegant walking an 1,800-pound beef cow.

However, Ellie Clark, a senior at Chestatee High School, leads her cattle with ease, letting nine years of showmanship flow into her every movement.

Growing up on her family’s cattle farm, Clark said a passion for livestock was bred into her.

She started showing beef cows in the third grade, and as she grew older, competed in three to four shows a year through Hall County 4-H.

“I’ve realized what amazing creatures cattle are,” Clark said. “I’ve honestly formed bonds with the cattle I’ve shown.”

During her senior year, Clark became a full-time dual enrollment student, taking classes from Howard E. Ivester Early College in the morning, then completing Work-Based Learning hours during afternoons on her farm.

Because Chestatee High doesn’t have an agriculture program, Clark also spent part of her senior year interning at North Hall Middle to explore a potential career in that field. She helped the school’s agriculture teacher and started the school’s first beef cattle show team.

“It was definitely rewarding to teach them and compete against them at shows,” Clark said.

Each cattle show is divided into two categories: showmanship and class. Showmanship entails leading a cow into a ring with utter control. Depending on where the judge is positioned, each cow must be shifted into a correct stance.

Clark said the class category focuses more on the appearance of the cow. Judges look for favorable body shapes found in specific cow breeds.

This fall, Clark plans to pursue a bachelor’s in animal and dairy science at the University of Georgia. Instead of entering the show ring, Clark said she intends to join the college’s livestock judging team.

For now, she has set her sights on pursuing a career as a large animal veterinarian. However, Clark said she is comfortable keeping her options open.

If she could give one piece of advice to upcoming seniors, Clark would tell them to not stress over plans that don’t come to fruition.

“I wanted to be a (small animal) veterinarian, then I thought I’d be an agriculture teacher,” she said. “Someone told me to write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser. We’re not in charge of what happens.”

Helping those with disabilities is a ‘huge honor’

RACHAEL DEVALL, WEST HALL HIGH SCHOOL

BY KELSEY PODO kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com

When Rachael DeVall, senior at West Hall High School, was named the Georgia 2020 Unified Partner of the Year at the state Special Olympics, she was speechless.

She tried to laugh to cover up her tears, but DeVall said she couldn’t help but swell with emotion.

For seven years, she has volunteered with the Special Olympics Georgia, and as a unified partner, she played sports alongside dozens of kids and teenagers with special needs.

“It was a huge honor that I will never forget,” she said.

DeVall’s passion for helping those with disabilities sparked as early as elementary school. She grew up with two cousins who have special needs and started helping with the local Special Olympics.

During December of her senior year, DeVall worked with another student to found and raise $1,500 for Hall County Schools’ first Winter Ball. All of the middle and high school special education students throughout the district were invited.

“When you go to state games, there are opening ceremonies, and they dance afterward,” DeVall said. “There’s nothing like that for the county. We wanted something that would bring the students in our county together.”

Over 300 students arrived on buses during the school day to dance, do activities and just hang out. DeVall said the Winter Ball offered a chance for the kids and teenagers to improve their social skills and have fun around a large group of peers.

To thank the students for their participation, DeVall made sure each class took away a basket full of goodies.

“A lot of these kids are usually super shy and don’t interact much with others,” she said. “It was pretty cool seeing everyone together.”

Although DeVall volunteers with those who have special needs on a regular basis, she said they help her as much as she helps them.

She has built strong friendships with two special education students from her school, and has even gotten to cheer with both of them at West Hall High. They’re not the sort of friends who only see each other at school, they meet up afterward to grab dinner or spend time at their homes.

“Being around them just brings the good out in you,” DeVall said. “You want to be someone they can look up to. They’re always happy and smiling, and it makes you want to be always happy and smiling. I don’t know if they realize that, but they definitely have impacted me.”

When DeVall is not spending time with special education students, she’s cheerleading or volunteer coaching West Hall Youth Cheer.

She started cheerleading in the third grade and during high school served on both the varsity cheer and competition team.

Next school year she will take over as the director for the West Hall Youth Cheer and attend Brenau University under a competition cheer scholarship.

She plans to study psychology to pursue her dream of becoming a support coordinator for families who have children with disabilities.

“I want others to know that they’re no different than you and I,” DeVall said. “Just because they have a disability doesn’t mean you need to treat them differently. That’s why I put so much effort in trying to be there for them.” ‘I want others to know that they’re no different than you and I. Just because they have a disability doesn’t mean you need to treat them differently. That’s why I put so much effort in trying to be there for them.’ Rachael DeVall