Five Darlington seniors have been named finalists in the Rome Noon Optimist Club Student of the Year competition. Lindsay Evans is a finalist in the Athletics category, Tanna Key in Creative Arts, Melissa Picon in Volunteerism, Avani Reddy in Academics and Anna Grace Rutledge in All-Around.
Evans has taken 12 Honors and AP courses and ranks No. 12 in her class. A tri-sport student-athlete, she has played basketball for seven years, run cross country for six years, and run track for five years. In basketball, she has racked up numerous accolades, including being a three-time Adairsville Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team member, two-time Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival All-Tournament Team member, three-time All-Region Team member, 2010 Region 6A Player of the Year, AJC Honorable Mention Team member, three-time All-State Team member, 2011 Rome News-Tribune Co-Player of the Year, three-time Rome News-Tribune All-Area Team member, three-time Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club Team Player of the Year, two-time MVP for Darlington, 2010 Most Outstanding Female Athlete Award recipient and 2011 Most Versatile Female Athlete Award recipient. Evans also has four region championships each in cross country and track under her belt, as well as the 2010 Class A State Championship in cross country. This year, Evans will represent Darlington in the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority's John Pinson Outstanding Student Athlete Award competition. A huddle leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, she is also a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria de El Coronel. She is the daughter of Candi and Kevin Evans of Rome.
Key has taken 17 Honors and AP courses and ranks No. 15 in her class. She is a member of Gamma Chi Epsilon, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria de El Coronel, SESAC and the National Songwriters Association. Her singing and songwriting talents have been featured at many school events, including Darlington’s Fall for the Arts Festival and Pigskin Picnic, in addition to her performances at venues throughout the Southeast. Key recently released a 10-track album called “Wasting Paper,” compiled of songs that she either wrote or co-wrote. Her songs have received substantial radio play throughout the state, and her song “Beautiful” was voted Country Atlanta’s Song of the Month. She was also a finalist in Georgia Country’s Solo Artist of the Year competition. Key enjoys using her talent to benefit others, and has performed to raise money for various organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society, Cancer Navigators and TOMS Shoes. She is the daughter of Carrie and Dan Key of Calhoun, Ga.
Picon has taken 21 Honors and AP courses and ranks No. 16 in her class. An AP Scholar with Honor, she is a member of Gamma Chi Epsilon, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria de El Coronel. She is a Wofford Scholar and a Presbyterian Scholar, and received the Class Citizenship Award as a junior. Picon is president of the Spanish Club and captain of the varsity swim team. She is also a member of the Student Activities Committee, the Summer Reading Selection Committee and the Servant Leadership Committee. She enjoys volunteering at a variety of local organizations, and has been instrumental in coordinating two big events on the Darlington campus each spring – Light the Lake and the Tri for the Kids youth triathlon. She is the daughter of Michelle and Dr. Hector Picon of Rome.
Reddy has taken 18 Honors and AP courses and ranks No. 7 in her class. An AP Scholar with Distinction, she is a member of Gamma Chi Epsilon, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria de El Coronel. She has received the Wofford Scholar Award, the Presbyterian College Academic Achievement Award and the E.L. Wright Scholastic Award for Geometry Honors. Reddy is a member of the Debate Team, the junior varsity tennis team, The Inkslinger staff, Junior State of America and the “Y” Cabinet. She has also participated in the winter musical and One Act. She is the daughter of Dr. Shalini and Amruth Reddy of Rome.
Rutledge has taken 20 Honors and AP courses and ranks No. 4 in her class. An AP Scholar with Honor, she is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Gamma Chi Epsilon, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria de El Coronel. She has received the Wellesley College Book Award, the Georgia Certificate of Merit and E.L. Wright Scholastic Awards for Algebra 1 Honors, Algebra 2 Honors and Art 1. She is also a Furman Scholar, a Samford University Fellows Finalist, a Samford University Presidential Scholar Finalist and a nominee for Noon Optimist Club All-Around Student of the Year. Rutledge also serves as president of the Honor Council and vice president of the “Y” Cabinet. Additionally, she is a member of the Student Executive Committee, the Student Planning Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and D-Club. A four-year member of the varsity swim team and a three-year member of the varsity lacrosse team, she was recently nominated for the 2012 High School Female/Male Scholarship Award Competition, sponsored by the Georgia Athletic Directors Association. She is the daughter of Carol and Ralph Rutledge of Rome.
Student of the Year winners will be announced at the Student of the Year Banquet on Monday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. at The Palladium. Finalists, their parents and school representatives are invited to attend.
