This week’s Senior Spotlight shines on one of the Media Office’s very own: Mary Kimbrell Livermon. Mary Kimbrell has attended RMA since Kindergarten, but my friendship with her goes back even earlier than that. She describes herself as passionate, genuine, and kind, but I must add the words “thoughtful” and “caring” to that list. These traits can be seen through the way in which Mary Kimbrell values her family more than most do, and I have seen firsthand the many ways she puts them first. The same is true with her friendships. Kate Hudgins agrees: “She has been my best friend since we were little and she never fails to put a smile on my face. She is a great friend who will always be there for anyone.”

Mary Kimbrell is at the top of her class, which earned her a spot as a Graduation Marshal in addition to National Honor Society. This year Mary Kimbrell is enrolled in Honors French 4, AP Psychology, AP English, and Honors Calculus, and she practices her writing skills in Media Office and her creative skills in Ceramics. Mary Kimbrell makes us laugh daily in French class with an update on her attempt to break her Coca-Cola addiction or a story about the previous day’s antics. While Mary Kimbrell is sure to lighten the mood in a classroom, she is also very hardworking and academically accomplished. Her dedication has been recognized with a Turner Battle Scholarship, awards for Outstanding Achievement in French 1, 2, and 3, an Academic Excellence award in AP Biology, a Junior Class Service Award, and the achievement of her Gold Award. Mary Kimbrell clearly has quite an impressive resume! 

Mary Kimbrell’s talents extend far beyond the classroom. I have played tennis with her since we were old enough to hold our racquets, and this year she was my doubles partner. Tennis has given us so many memories through traveling, big matches, and fun practices. I have loved sharing my years of both Benvenue and RMA tennis with Mary Kimbrell, and I know that is something we will miss most about high school. Mary Kimbrell’s love for tennis, combined with her love for Tyler Strandberg (an RMA graduate who lost her life at a very young age) has led her to host Tennis For Tyler each year. In addition to tennis, Mary Kimbrell keeps herself active in many of the clubs offered here at school. Those clubs include the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Senior Beta Club, Stronger Together, Global Studies Honors, and Anatomy Club, and she is Secretary for Key Club and a Grade Representative for SGA. In her free time, which is obviously very limited, Mary Kimbrell enjoys doing puzzles, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends. In the summers, she lives at the beach and works at AB Ice Cream where she gets to sample many flavors and interact with customers. 

As for future plans, Mary Kimbrell has applied to NC State, UNC, the ECU Honors College, USC, and UNCW, and her top choice as of right now is NC State. She plans to study psychology, which I am confident she will be very successful with. Mary Kimbrell is a special friend to me of many years, so I can’t imagine not seeing her everyday next year, but I know that if we do not end up at the same school, I will be visiting her all the time. I continue to admire Mary Kimbrell’s loving and joyful spirit and am so thankful for the kindness she has shown me over the years. I am certain that everyone here at RMA feels the same way. We will miss you so much MK and can’t wait to watch you shine!

Get to know Mary Kimbrell:

What is your favorite movie? 

A Cinderella Story

Describe your dream vacation.

 Going out on the boat everyday until sunset

Who is your role model? 

My brother, because he is so strong and has the hardest work ethic out of everyone I know.

What is something nobody knows about you? 

I do puzzles all summer in my free time. 

If you were trapped on a deserted island, what three things would you bring? 

Coca-cola, a sudoku book, and a hammock

What will you miss about RMA? 

I will miss how close you get to everyone in your class. 

What is your funniest story at RMA? 

When Mr. Tucker pulled up the security footage of Colin running into the fence during kickball in slow motion. 

What is one piece of advice you’d give to an incoming freshman? 

Form good relationships with your teachers and take advantage of your study halls.

What class would you take again, and why?

 I would take AP Psychology again because Mr. Stone is so funny and the material is very interesting.