On November 27, 2022, Brooke Buchanan, a Dyer County High School senior, was named this year's Most Valuable Choctaw.
The Most Valuable Choctaw is awarded to a senior who, due to their exceptional character, academic success, and positive attitude, has been deemed to be the best all-around member of the class of 2023.
Brooke has earned the following academic honors and awards: Top ten percent of her class over her four years of high school, a 4.0 GPA for four years, an ACT score of 31, an ACT Wall of Honor member since her 8th grade year, voted Most Likely to Succeed by her classmates, recorded a score of 5 on the AP English/Language Arts exam (the highest score possible), one of eight winners at the 2022 SCOPE mock school board conference, second-place regional winner in the Medical Reading HOSA competition in 2020 and 2021, and second-place regional winner in the Persuasive Speaking and Writing HOSA competition in 2019.
Her extracurricular activities and organizational involvement include being a DCHS morning announcer, student council (member: freshman year; president: sophomore; Vice President: junior; Vice President: senior), service club member (freshman and sophomore years), golf team member (freshman-senior years), LEO Club member (junior and senior years; 37 hours of community service junior year), Drama Club member since freshman year, Drama Club Assistant Production Manager, HOSA member (all four years), Co-Ed Cheer Manager 2022-2023, National Honors Society member.
“Thank you so much,” Buchanan stated, with great enthusiasm, upon receiving the award. “I don’t think I can put into words how grateful I am for this. I know this year it was hard to select a recipient for this award. Some of these people on this stage are some of my friends, and they are some of the smartest and most well-rounded people I know. I would like to thank my family who have supported me wholeheartedly in anything and everything I’ve set my mind to. They have always been there for me. Whenever you are working toward your goals it is going to be very difficult. Despite the challenges you will inevitably face, let moments like these serve as reminders. This is a moment I will reflect on in gratitude because it serves as a reminder to me I persevere and I’m capable of doing a lot more than I thought I was.”
Brooke's future plans are to attend the University of Mississippi and hopes to be accepted into the Croft Institute of International Policy, allowing her to major in International Policy with a minor in finance. Her plans also include attending law school or pursuing a Master's Degree in International Policy to work in foreign affairs for the United States Government.
We would also like to recognize and congratulate Seth Baker, Brooke Buchanan, Conner Liddell, Landon Liddell, and Luke Williams for being nominated for this prestigious award.
Congratulations, Brooke! We cannot wait to see all you accomplish.