Brittany Lawrence is the 2009 Appling County High School valedictorian with an average of 98.6. She is the daughter of Thomas L. Lawrence and Sheryl Lawrence. In addition to being valedictorian, she is also this year’s STAR Student and was chosen by her class as Most Likely to Succeed. As a junior, she was a Governor’s Honors Program nominee in the area of Biology. She has led her class almost every year in the areas of Science, English, Social Sciences, and Visual Arts. She is a recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Science Award, the Wellesley Book Award, and the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit. Brittany is an active member of Appling County High School’s Science Club, having participated in Science Quiz Bowl for one year and Science Olympiad for three years. In 2008, she placed fourth in Picture This and third in Experimental Design. She also serves as the club’s president this year. She is a member of the Beta Club and participated at the 2008 State Beta Club Convention in Science.

In addition to excelling in academics, Brittany is active in the arts. She is an active member of the ACHS Art Club and currently serves as president. Through Art Club she has worked in service projects such as Pinwheels for Peace, the Secret Angel Project, and the Memory Project as well as serving as a volunteer to paint faces at the Winter Wonderland, the DFACS Foster Children’s Christmas Party, and the local Boys’ and Girls’ Club. Brittany has entered many local and scholastic art shows submitting pieces in chalk pastels, acrylic paint, watercolor paint, and mixed media. She won 4th place at the 2006 Perry State Fair in etching and 4th place in the 2007 Perry State Fair in pastel.

She also participates regularly in barrel racing. She is a member of the National Barrel Horse Association, the South-East Georgia Barrel Racing Association, and the Lyons Saddle Club. She has been an NBHA Open and Youth World Qualifier for four years and has been a Georgia Federation of Saddle Clubs state qualifier for three.

Brittany has volunteered at Appling County HealthCare System in the radiological department, rehabilitation department, emergency room, admissions, and at the Pavilion. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University in the fall where she has received the Georgia Foundation Scholars Scholarship and the On-Campus Housing Award. After receiving her B.A. in Biology, she plans to go on to graduate school to pursue a career as a physical therapist.