Image courtesy of Workforce Career Readiness / Facebook

A local high school senior recently received a national honor.

Mary Elizabeth Morris of Hookerton, a senior at Arendell Parrott Academy, was named as one of “100 High School Students America Needs to Know About” by Workforce Career Readiness. 

According to the Workforce Career Readiness website, the honor goes to “students [who] are forward-thinking entrepreneurs, student leaders, activists, radio hosts, designers and so much more! These high school students are making their mark in industries ranging from agriculture to the nonprofit world. But most of all they are making a difference in their schools, communities and the lives of their peers.”

Dr. Bert Bright, Headmaster of APA, said Morris is an exemplary student who contributes her time to both her school and her community. 

“She has a wide variety of talents, and has spent over 100 hours volunteering with Greene County Interfaith. We thought she would be a wonderful candidate for this, because of her leadership abilities, and her many different skills,” Bright said. 

Morris was nominated for the honor in January and received word she had been chosen in March. 

“I didn’t expect to get it, because only 100 students nationwide are chosen, so I was really excited when I found out,” Morris said. 

In addition to Morris’ school and volunteer activities, Morris said the activity she is most passionate about is her work at her grandparents’ farm, Nooherooka Naturals, in Greene County. 

“I feel like it has a lot of impact on my life, and who I’ve become,” Morris said.  

That work, Morris said, has helped her gain confidence as well as helping her family. 

In the fall, Morris will head to NC State University, where she will study agribusiness and marketing, skills she plans to utilize to help in the running of the family farm. 

Though she hopes to learn more about how to use sustainable methods for farming and ways to promote the business, Morris said she doesn’t want to grow the operation beyond recognition, but instead keep it as an authentic family farm.