Great Grads stand out

• Advocate Marketing Staff
• Published: May 2, 2009

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Whether it’s through clubs, honors, organizations or simply excellence in the classroom, some students stand above and beyond their peers. As part of this year’s “Moms, Dads and Grads,” The Advocate is highlighting three graduating seniors who have stood out not only in the classroom but outside it as well. They agreed to participate in interviews, conducted through e-mail.

Maggie Joyner

Zachary High School senior Maggie Joyner is the top-ranked senior in her graduating class. The daughter of Gary and Sheila Joyner sports a 4.0 GPA and scored a 28 on her ACT.

In the classroom, Joyner made the straight-A honor roll throughout grades 9-12 while receiving multiple Outstanding Achievement awards. Outside the classroom, she participates in countless clubs and activities, including but not limited to National Honor Society, Beta Club, Louisiana Girls State, Student Government, varsity cheerleading, cross country and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

Joyner also remains active in nonschool-related activities such as Relay for Life and St. John’s Catholic Church.

You participate in a lot of extracurricular activities through your school, ranging from student government to theater. Can you pick the one activity you enjoy the most and explain why? I really love everything! It’s really hard to choose between Mock Trial and Louisiana State Secretary of the Beta Club. I have been on the Mock Trial team for four years, and my senior year was the first time in Zachary’s history that we won regionals and made it to the state competition.

And then at the state competition, we were the second-place team, losing a close case in the finals to Jesuit. The other activity would have to be being selected as Louisiana state secretary for the Beta Club. I have met so many people from all over the country. I have become really close with Beta officers from other states, and I have also been to two other state conventions: Georgia and Tennessee. Last summer, I also attended a two-week leadership conference, which was a great experience. It has been a great experience to make friends and travel all over. I have made memories of a lifetime.

How has your overall high school experience affected you in a positive way? High school has really taught me how to study for college courses. It started in Biology AP where I actually had to pay attention and do homework to make good grades. I’ve also learned life lessons. With all the drama from high school, I have learned how to handle situations dealing with friends, girls and adults. 

Is there someone in particular, such as a family member or friend, who made you want to get involved in Relay for Life? Yes, my mother. She has fought many hard battles with cancer and other illnesses. When she was 14 she had Syrnovial sarcoma in her shoulder where she had to have her shoulder blade and the muscles surrounding it removed. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago.

She has also had a reoccurring tumor, called a thymoma. This past month, she had heart trouble due to the tumor and chemotherapy and almost died. She is currently recovering and almost back to normal.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Hopefully graduated from med school. Ten years from now I would like to be in my residency and maybe starting a family with my husband.

Who has been your biggest role model throughout your time in school? It is hard for me to choose just one person that has been a role model throughout high school. All my teachers have definitely had a huge impact on my life, especially Cathy Raziano and Chris Staggs.

Mrs. Raz was my Beta sponsor and my science teacher for 10th, 11th and 12th grade. She has been there for me and has really helped me excel in school.