By Caelan Saunders

Reporter

Each year, two students, a senior boy and a senior girl, are named Jags of the Year: an award that celebrates what it means to be a Jaguar and is given to those who best represent South and what it values. This year’s recipients are Abbey Widick and Dan Eaton.

The two found out on Senior Awards Night on April 30. That night was dedicated to all the accomplishments of the senior class, including scholarship awards, as well as honorary awards like Jag of the Year. Both students were unaware they would be a part of South’s legacy in this way.

“I found out at Senior Awards Night. Most of the awards were a surprise, and there was one at the end that I didn’t really know what it was at first, so I didn’t really expect it. It was a really neat surprise,” Widick said.

“When they announced my name I was definitely very excited,” Eaton said.  “I was overwhelmed really.”

Eaton is in choir and jazz band (and the locally famous Electrik Orange band), he’s a National Honor Society officer who took part in the water project, and he’s in yearbook.

“Service is definitely a value for me. I enjoy doing it and being a part of our community,” he said.

Widick is also involved in several activities. Like Eaton, she’s in National Honor Society. She is also a student senate secretary, a varsity soccer player, and a DECA national qualifier.

“South has impacted me so much. It’s been such a unique experience, like being able to play soccer with your best friends, to have teachers who care about you and who are in a small class setting, and to always be with your friends. We won’t have this anymore in college. I want to encourage others to take advantage of all these opportunities when they’re here,” Widick said.

As each of these outstanding Jags leaves for college, they will leave behind something that they’ll miss.

“The thing about South that I value a lot is the dedication that people have for sports and stuff like that. They have the passion for just about everything across the board. That kind of raw, well-rounded interests is what I’ll miss a lot,” Eaton said.

Both of these students have impacted South and it’s future generations of students. What they have done will serve as an inspiration to students, and will serve as a role model for future projects.

“It’s never too early to get into something. If you have a passion, go for it. Even if it’s not here, you can get the ball rolling and start something, and if you want to impact the world, whether it’s globally or locally, go for it. There’s nothing stopping you,” Eaton said.