Ellie Whiteside’s relationships together with her household and neighborhood have helped form the place she goes together with her future.
An 18-year-old senior from McCracken County Excessive Faculty, Whiteside has been concerned with a wide range of extracurriculars and awards, together with founding Each Mustang Issues, serving as president of the Nationwide Honor Society, serving as Scholar Authorities senior class consultant and extra.
Serving as senior consultant for the coed authorities has helped Whiteside in many alternative methods.
“I believe that all through my life, I’ve at all times sort of matured very quick, and I’ve simply develop into a pure chief throughout it,” Whiteside stated. “I believe that this position fits me completely as a result of I’m in a position to sort of characterize our class and say like, ‘Oh, we should always do that for seniors.’ I’ve just a little little bit of say in what we do as a college and characterize our faculty on excursions. It’s an enormous honor that not many individuals get to do.”
Whiteside can also be a graduate of the Paducah Space Chamber of Commerce’s youth management class. The six-month program gave her many alternatives to vary how she seemed on the neighborhood round her.
“The Youth LEAD program was completely wonderful and I might inform anyone who can to positively apply,” she stated. “That entire program was among the best issues I’ve ever performed. I discovered a lot about Paducah and their entire aim is to encourage college students to get an training after which come again to Paducah to higher our neighborhood. Leaders in our neighborhood are already within the workforce they usually need us to return again they usually need to assist us.”
Whiteside additionally shared a private expertise that’s influenced her time at McCracken County.
“My sister was born with Down syndrome after I was six years previous,” Whiteside stated. “I believe a whole lot of instances that may make folks really feel like they didn’t know what to do or really feel on their lonesome. I really feel like my household has been in a position to stand up and totally make the most of the scenario. It’s a whole blessing. How she interacts with youngsters at college has actually warmed my coronary heart and led to me actually loving to work with particular ed youngsters.”
This love additional led to Whiteside founding Each Mustang Issues, a membership that pairs particular training college students with different college students to assist them really feel included and a part of the neighborhood.
“My junior 12 months, I went to the particular ed director at McCracken, and I requested, ‘What’s your want? What are you missing?’ and we began Each Mustang Issues,” she stated. “It mainly offers particular training college students somebody to go to golf equipment and faculty occasions with and we’ve got vacation events. And it was all due to my sister.”
Whiteside, daughter of Adam and Stacey Whiteside of Paducah, is that this week’s Murray State College Teen of the Week.
Every Tuesday, The Solar publishes articles on excellent regional highschool seniors. From the 32 college students chosen, one can be chosen as Teen of the Yr across the finish of the college 12 months. They may obtain a $5,000 scholarship. A second pupil will obtain the Inspiration Award and a $1,000 scholarship.
Following highschool, Whiteside plans to attend Morehead State College to play volleyball and to main in finance to assist her neighborhood additional.