One of this week’s three Senior Spotlights highlights Millar Berry, who has lifted everybody’s spirits since she came to RMA in the third grade. Millar constantly distinguishes herself with an enthusiastic attitude that she exhibits in the classroom as well as on the court and field. Citing her parents as role models–Millar admires her mom’s kindness and her dad’s hard work–she believes her bubbly personality and spunky determination are the driving forces behind her success at Rocky Mount Academy.

Just as she has all of Upper School, Millar is challenging herself during her final year at RMA by taking one of the most rigorous course loads offered. Her senior year classes include an outstanding 5 AP classes: AP Drawing, AP Calculus, AP English, AP Environmental Science, and AP Psychology. In addition, she serves as an intern with the school’s program for exceptional children; like her coursework, this is a challenging but rewarding undertaking! 

Millar has earned numerous Upper School awards and scholarships, starting out strong in ninth grade with the Headmaster’s Award (highest academic average), Excellence in Honors Geometry, and Highest Academic Average in Honors English 9. In her sophomore year, she won second place in the Beta Club Creative Writing competition, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and received the Turner Battle Scholarship. Last year, as a junior, she was named an academic marshal (which means she is in the top 25% of her class) and received the Joshua Weaver Memorial Scholarship for the Rocky Mount Academy tuition. The scholarship is given in memory of Joshua Weaver to a rising senior who has excelled academically, showing enthusiasm, and bringing positivity to the school. Earning recognition on a national level, Millar is an AP Scholar with Distinction because she has earned a score of 3 or higher on at least five AP exams.

As one of the school’s many talented student-athletes, sports have played a crucial role in Millar’s high school career. Gayle High (RMA’s previous Athletic Director) even gave Millar an award made just for her called the Firecracker Award! During the 2024 Sports Banquet, she was the first recipient of the special award that recognized her grit and commitment to many of the school’s athletic teams. 

Millar is a multi-sport player, participating in tennis, basketball, and soccer. Millar decided to give tennis a try her freshman year and played basketball as a freshman (winning MVP for the JV girls team) and as a junior (so she was part of the 2024-2025 varsity girls state championship team). This winter, she is back on the court playing guard as a senior.  Finally, Millar has played soccer all three years so far and plans to play this spring too at the striker/wing position. She has consistently been an All-Conference player throughout her years on the varsity girls’ soccer team and earned All-State recognition as a sophomore and junior. Eric Gutshall even gave her the Coach’s Award in her freshman year, a true testament to her work ethic.

Taking her soccer skills even further, Millar participated in travel soccer at Wake FC in Raleigh her freshman and sophomore years, with the addition of a team called the Premier UK. An indicator of her enthusiasm for the sport, Millar says that if she could be a celebrity for a day, it would be none other than Cristiano Ronaldo (who plays for Al Nassr) because she could play in professional soccer games and would enjoy his money! 

Beyond academics and athletics, Millar is actively involved in leadership roles at school. She is the school’s Student Government Association President, planning events for the high school and the student body like pep rallies. Millar says that she loves how close everybody is at RMA and wishes to maintain that through her work as SGA President. To accomplish her goal, she is trying something new this upcoming Valentine’s Day: in her capacity as president, Millar is going to ask students to write letters to other students explaining what they appreciate about them. 

Millar is also Vice President of the Key Club, which raises money for causes like Rise Against Hunger, the Rocky Mount Christmas Parade, and the RMA Daddy-Daughter Dance. Other clubs and activities include Stronger Together, which helps with the EC program, and the Beta Club, which allows high-achieving students to participate in academic and arts competitions against students from other schools.

RMA wishes this standout student the best of luck as she starts a new chapter of her life this coming fall at NC State, the University of Florida, Wake Forest, the University of South Carolina, or the East Carolina University Honors College. Whichever of these great schools she ends up attending, Millar says she is looking forward to joining new clubs, exploring a new place, and majoring in Marketing. 

Ten years from now, she sees herself as a public relations and marketing manager who owns a large company and is successful enough to enjoy vacations in the Bahamas and even Greece so that she can spend time on the water jet skiing. Wherever Millar goes, we are sure she will succeed, having learned at RMA that “hard work and especially a good attitude can get you anywhere.”

Get to know Millar better!

What do you like doing in your free time?

Boating at the beach in Harkers Island, painting, and pickleball

What is your favorite movie?

Talladega Nights

What type of influencer would you be?

A beach life influencer

What is your favorite food?

Steak and potatoes

What items would you bring to a deserted island?

A jet pack, cupcake-flavored goldfish, and lemonade

What is your favorite memory at RMA?

Taking Middle School Public Speaking with Ms. Cameron Covolo–it was fun, and we called it “the breakfast club”