Seniors Alexandra Dodd and Rachel Tillman were honored this week by the Noon Optimist Club. Dodd was named winner of the Student of the Year Award for Athletics, and Tillman was named Darlington’s Unsung Hero.
“The primary goal of the program is to publically recognize the best of the best seniors in our community for their accomplishments during their high school tenure,” said Ivy Brewer, assistant dean of college guidance.
To qualify, students must have a B average or higher. First, individual area schools nominate one student for each of the six categories; then, three finalists are selected for each category. These finalists, their parents and their school representatives are invited to attend an awards banquet, where the winners are announced.
Dodd is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Math Team, Mu Alpha Theta, Science Club, Spanish Honor Society, Concert Choir and The Darlington Players. She has received the Darlington Parents Association Award, the Sewanee Book Award for Excellence in Writing and the Kipp-Tillman Memorial Award. She also plays varsity volleyball, swims, runs track and is a part of the crew team. Outside of school, she is a member of her church’s Welcoming Committee, drama troupe and praise band, and she works with the Hospitality House to raise awareness about domestic violence. She has also attended the Duke Marine Lab and Washington University in St. Louis during the summer. Alexandra is the daughter of Julia and Gayland Dodd of Rome.
Tillman is a founding member of Darlington’s Survivors Group, head day prefect in Cooper House, and a member of the House Senate, Concert Choir, Darlingtones and The Darlington Players. She plays varsity soccer and swims, and has also participated in a National Student Leadership Conference at New York University. She is the daughter of Denise and the late Gary Tillman of Rome.
Both girls were recognized, along with individual winners from other local schools, on Jan. 26 at The Palladium.
