You may know Ann Cleveland Fisher from the multiple Senior Spotlights she has written, but in this article, the spotlight will finally be on her!

Ann Cleveland joined the RMA family in the 6th grade, and her twin brother, Walt, joined the following year. For the last six-plus years, AC has contributed not just to her class but to the whole school, demonstrating determination and organization both in and out of the classroom, as well as honesty and loyalty to her classmates.

Each year, Ann Cleveland challenges herself academically, and this final year of Upper School is no different; her rigorous class schedule consists of Honors French 4, AP Calculus, AP English 12, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, and AP Art. Unsurprisingly, she has a track record of success filled with awards and honors testifying to her determination to excel. In ninth grade, she received Academic Excellence in French I; in ninth grade, she joined Beta Club; in tenth grade, she was inducted into the National Honor Society; and as a senior, she received the Turner W. Battle Memorial Scholarship. As her French teacher of four years, Ms. Erin O’Brien, states, “Ann Cleveland is a hard-working student who brings passion and determination to everything she does. She cares deeply and always wants to make sure she is doing her best work in class.”

Ann Cleveland is known on campus not just for being a great student but also a fantastic artist, showcasing her skills in Art 9 and Painting (grade 10), in which she won the Excellence award. Even when not in a formal class–AC took a year off of art as a junior–she continued to produce fantastic artwork and was recognized with the Junior Class Service Award in Art for her contributions to the junior-senior prom. Now, Ann Cleveland is working on her AP Art portfolio, which she describes as capturing significant moments in her life that have altered her worldview.

One of her impressive pieces includes a painting of her twin brother, Walt (left), which was inspired by a picture taken of him after they hiked up Lookout Mountain in Montreat, NC. She has even extended her love and passion for art beyond Mrs. Hunter’s classroom, doing commissioned work, such as paintings and logos for local clients. Two of these commissions include a painting of a pelican (right) and one of the Old Well at UNC. 

Like so many RMA students, Ann Cleveland is a student-athlete who competes both at school and on her own time. She has been a member of the volleyball team since 9th grade, playing JV as a freshman and sophomore and varsity as a junior and senior. She also contributed to the school’s equestrian team in 9th grade, but her love for riding and showing horses extends beyond school. Her grandmother started taking her to Faithful Stables when she was around 7 years old, and she began horseback riding camp at the age of nine. She instantly fell in love with horses and has shown them since 2021. The barn holds a special spot in AC’s heart, and she sees it as “something [she] can’t imagine not doing in [her] life.”

To round out her tough academic schedule and involvement in athletics and the arts, Ann Cleveland is also an active member of multiple clubs that allow her to bring her outside interests onto campus. She is very active in her church (First Presbyterian) and attends youth group and serves as a youth deacon, so it makes sense that at RMA, she is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her compassion and willingness to help others led her to join the Key Club, which sponsors several community service projects each year, and Stronger Together, which helps the Exceptional Children’s Program and sponsors buddy events for these special students. Finally, as someone who loves travel and has wanted to do more ever since going on a mission trip to Costa Rica, Ann Cleveland participates in the Global Studies Honors Program, which is another opportunity to learn about the world. As for future trips, she says that she’d be happy going most anywhere, but especially Italy, Iceland, and Spain. 

Even more important than her grades, artistic ability, and involvement in co-curricular is the fact that Ann Cleveland is simply an outstanding individual. Since losing outstanding science teacher Bob Koszelak in 2019, RMA has recognized just one or two Upper School students each year with the Robert S. Koszelak Memorial Scholarship and Ann Cleveland was a recipient her Junior year. Recipients embody the traits that made this Middle School teacher such a beloved member of our community: a selfless nature, an honest and sincere concern for others, citizenship, leadership, character building in others, and a positive attitude. Last spring, Ann Cleveland was the 2025 winner of this coveted award, and I can’t think of anyone who deserved it more. 

Next fall, Ann Cleveland will be off to college. She is still weighing her options but has an extensive list of schools to consider since this ambitious young lady submitted applications to numerous universities: ECU, NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Clemson, the University of South Carolina, the University of Florida, and UNC-Wilmington. Whichever she chooses, Ann Cleveland plans to study either business or, building on her involvement with the Global Studies Program, international studies. Although I am not sure where AC will end up next year (any of these schools would be lucky to have her!), I am confident that her determination and caring nature will lead to success as she makes new friends, finishes her degree, and starts a successful career.

Get to Know More about Ann Cleveland!

1. What is your favorite food?

avocado toast

2. Where is your favorite place to visit and why?

Montreat, because it is where I can escape from the “real world”

3. If you could be any teacher for a day, who would it be and why?

Dr. O’Brien, because I would like to think like she does for a day.

4. If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you bring?

my dog, water, and a never-ending supply of food

5. What will you miss about RMA?

The people