Chelsey Thorne is 18, but already wants to help shape the next generation. “I have a passion for children,” Thorne said in response to a questionnaire. “Making a difference in their academics or just simply showing them how to be kind and compassionate to others can truly change a child’s life. Having the ability to ignite a child’s passion for learning will be a true honor.”
Thorne, a senior at Cherokee High School in Colbert County, is the 2019 Shoals Scholar Dollars Student of the Year.
Before learning she was named Student of the Year, Thorne was asked what it would mean to her to receive the award. She said the award is an honor and it would be her hope to be a good representative of the area. “Living here my entire life, I think I could represent our area very well – being able to share my experience and what I’ve done and being able to further help those in my area, and just being able to give back to those who have helped me,” she said.
She has plans to attend the University of North Alabama where she will major in elementary education with a minor in special education. Judging from her school activities and volunteer work, Thorne will have no problem with the higher demands of college life.
Among her many accomplishments, Thorne is Student Council president, senior class secretary and a Colbert County Schools Student Ambassador. “My busiest day would be a day that I attend all four of my classes, have deadlines to meet in yearbook, and an after school activity that might have included dance line practice or a football game,” she wrote. “It might also include a student ambassador event. “The way I balance my busy days is by planning ahead, focusing on the event at hand and making sure I make the most out of my time.”
Thorne was a member of the Cherokee High School Tribe of Indians Marching Band’s first dance line. “I saw this as an opportunity to help create something new for my school,” she wrote. “I have cheered or danced my entire life, so I saw this opportunity as a way to take my experience and share it with others at my school. “During this marching season, the dance line went through three instructors. Our third instructor did not live here, so I had to communicate and learn routines via messaging. Our dance line originally started with six members, so while I learned everything from marching basics to routines for myself, I was also teaching it to five other members. “While this was challenging, considering I also had schoolwork, it was extremely rewarding. Helping create the first dance line . . . showed me the true meaning of being a leader. The challenges that were brought upon me taught me that a true leader builds up new leaders, and I hope that my contribution to the dance team left them with enough knowledge to be successful in the upcoming year.”
Thorne’s leadership abilities are praised by the school faculty. Kary Pierson, who is an English teacher at the school, taught Thorne advanced English classes for two years, and Thorne was Pierson’s student aid. “She gives her all to her academic pursuits and has true love and compassion for her school and community,” Pierson wrote in a recommendation letter for Thorne. “She regularly leads her class in academics, achieving the highest scores in most subjects and the highest-in-grade at the end of the year. “She has been vocal in her desire to improve things in and around our school. As yearbook editor and business manager, Chelsey takes on many responsibilities, often involving making phone calls and visits to local businesses and leading the yearbook staff in designing and reworking their pages. As a dual enrollment student . . . Chelsey has been able to balance high school and college-level responsibility with ease.”
Janet Jones, a senior administrative assistant at the University of North Alabama, said Thorne’s academic accomplishments are “rivaled only by her personal strengths. Chelsey’s ability to relate with others, to motivate others, and to foster the cooperation of others are second to none,” Jones wrote in a letter of recommendation. “She has a radiant personality, is a dynamic leader, and is very responsible. “It is rare to meet a high school student who is so mature and organized and results-oriented. She demonstrates leadership and vision and has a positive impact on her school and community.”
Outside of school, Thorne is a teen volunteer at Helen Keller Hospital, where she has logged 108 hours. “Originally I chose to volunteer because I thought I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field,” she wrote. “As I began volunteering, I realized that it was much more than just getting experience for a future job. My purpose for volunteering is to help those in need. Whether it is taking a visitor to another part of the hospital or caring for the children at the daycare, I want to provide my service in any way that I can. I feel like volunteering will be a lifelong passion of mine.”
Thorne said the Shoals Scholar Dollars program is important because “this area isn’t very big, and giving students an opportunity to be able to go to college and further their education can truly change and impact a student’s life.” Thorne, who has attended Cherokee since enrolling as a pre-kindergarten student, is the daughter of Daniel and Tammy Thorne. She has an older brother, Chad Thorne, and one of her favorite things to do is to travel with her family. She said they “enjoy being outdoors and spending time with our four cats and five dogs.” She’s also a young entrepreneur. A few years ago, she started her business to sell painted wooden door hangers.