THOMASVILLE—The Rotary Club of Thomasville recognized the November Students of the Month from Brookwood School, Thomasville High School, and Thomas County Central High School during its Thursday meeting.

“These students are chosen by their school in recognition of outstanding leadership, dedication to community service, and exceptional academic achievement,” said Student Services Director Chandler Giddes.

Brookwood Senior Emma Rhodes spoke to the Club about how much being chosen as Student of the Month meant while sharing her future ambitions to attend the University of Georgia following graduation.

“I’ve attended Brookwood for 14 years and am so grateful for the education it has provided me,” Rhodes said. “My favorite example of this is a photo of my first day of kindergarten with me reading to my class off the whiteboard using a sparkly pointer.”

Rhodes went on to say she believed this early enrichment provided to her daily has had a massive impact on her current success and future aspirations.

“Academically, I’ve always been inclined towards the Humanities,” she said. “I enjoy English and Social Studies most and have had plenty of opportunities to challenge myself with AP classes.”

Rhodes told the audience the class that had the biggest impact on her was AP Language, taught by Mrs. Watts, who has encouraged Rhodes to pursue a career path in Journalism.

“With her, I learned Media Literacy and Critical Analysis and improved my writing,” Rhodes said. “I was also given the opportunity to do a year-long independent study on the effects of Romantic Comedies on people’s ideas of love and relationships.”

Rhodes said this independent study led to her receiving an AP Capstone diploma, and she hopes to continue researching mass communications theory in college.

When not watching Rom Coms for research, Rhodes is diving into other academic endeavors. She is currently a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and received the University of Georgia Student of the Year while serving as the Junior Marshall for her class and copy editor of the Warrior Yearbook.

As she looks to the future, Rhodes said she hopes to continue her love of research and travel, while studying at the University of Georgia as a Journalism and Public Relations major.

Rhodes concluded by thanking her friends, family, staff at Brookwood, and the Rotary Club for their support of her academic journey thus far.

Following a round of applause, Jaqueline Pacheco-Garcia was introduced.

Pacheco-Garcia, a student at Thomas County Central High School, began by also thanking the club and her parents for their support, along with her teacher, Erin White.

“Several of my teachers have encouraged me to be academically challenged because they knew I could succeed,” she said. “My peers motivated me to do best in everything I participated in, whether that be clubs, band, or any project.”

However, Pacheco-Garcia said the number one thing TCCHS has taught her is to always give back to her community.

“As a member of Key Club, I have helped my community specifically by volunteering at Hands on Thomas County Volunteer Day,” she explained. “At first, I didn’t know what to expect going into high school, but I realized I had the power to make it what I wanted it to be, and that is what I did, by engaging in these activities that fulfill me as a person.”

Through shared experiences and activities, Pacheco-Garcia said she has learned one cannot truly understand the complexities of life without effort.

“The past four years I have learned what the meaning of teamwork and dedication is,” she said. “Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

Pacheco-Garcia has now put her mind to pursuing a degree in exercise science, with hopes of becoming a Physical Therapist after attending Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2025.

Senior Arkeyse Edwards of Thomasville High School then took the podium, sharing his gratitude to the Rotary Club for hosting him and to his coach, Parker Rentz, for his support.

“I am a senior, but this is my first year playing football,” Edwards told the club. “I believe my teammates love me and I know I love them.”

Edwards explained Rentz is the offensive line coach at THS and is one of his favorite coaches for always pushing him to be his best on and off the field.

“He is always understanding and never yells at me,” Edwards said while thanking Rentz for letting him join the team.

Edwards told the club he would miss Rentz and all his teachers when he goes to Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute next fall. He shared he would never forget his time at THS, though, and the love and support he got while there.

He concluded by thanking the club for recognizing students of all ability levels, before passing the microphone to THS Senior Mia Young.

Young described the many opportunities provided to her while at THS, including AP classes.

“They challenge me and show me topics that I would otherwise have no interest in,” she said. “Beyond education, it is also like a family. My teachers provide a comforting environment for all of us to work in.”

TCCHS Senior and final student Dylan Thompson, agreed, sharing his love for AP Chemistry and AP Physics.

“This has given me discovery for a passion I didn’t think I had at first, and I am looking forward to a future in Engineering at Georgia Tech,” Thompson said. “Hopefully, I get to complete a degree in Aerospace Engineering.”

Thompson concluded by thanking his teachers, family, and Rotary for making that dream a reality, as the crowd rose to their feet to applaud the young student’s accomplishments.