The subject of this Senior Spotlight is a student that AP Calculus teacher Mrs. Meadows says is the “nicest guy you’ll ever meet”: Hank Berry. Hank is a very active member of this year’s senior class, contributing academically and athletically to Rocky Mount Academy by always putting in his very best effort. He came to Rocky Mount Academy in the ninth grade and has since made a positive impact on the teachers, students, and staff here.
Hank has a challenging course load this year, including Spanish 4 Honors, AP Calculus, AP English 12, AP Psychology, and AP Biology, while also interning with the Exceptional Children’s program. He has received numerous awards for his academic efforts, including Academic Excellence in Honors Biology and Honors Spanish I and II. He also has received the Turner Battle Scholarship and served as a Junior Marshal, which means he is one of the top ten students in his class and participated last year in Baccalaureate and graduation. He also participates in several clubs focused on academic excellence (National Honor Society, Spanish NHS, Beta Club, and Global Studies Honors Program), community service (Key Club), and connecting with other RMA students (Stronger Together and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
Not only is Hank a standout student in the classroom, but he is also an integral part of the soccer, basketball, and golf teams. He played right midfield on the JV soccer team his freshman year and varsity soccer the next three, earning MVP (9th), Conference Tournament MVP (10th), the Coach’s Award (10th), and All-Conference Honorable Mention (12th). He earned this same honor playing varsity basketball as a junior and took on the role of captain as a senior, when he moved up from “Honorable Mention” to All-Conference Honors. Finally, as a tri-sport athlete, Hank played varsity golf all four years of high school and earned All-Conference Honors in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, as well as the Coach’s Award in 10th grade.
It’s obvious that Hank loves sports because even when he isn’t on the RMA court or field himself, he enjoys watching games or even playing a fun round of golf with his friends or family. Hank loves to travel, especially when it lets him spend time outside. One of his favorite trips was skiing at the Back Bowls in Vail, Colorado, where he was impressed by the scenic beauty and difficulty of the slopes. Not only does he love the mountains in the winter, but he also likes to go to the beach and the lake, which is where he spends a lot of his time in the summer.
Hank will be attending North Carolina State University in the fall and plans to major in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. He looks forward to making new friends and attending football and basketball games. I think State will be a great fit for Hank because of his willingness to work hard, and I look forward to seeing what all he accomplishes!
