Study abroad in Ireland or Italy, buy a car and travel – these were just some of the things on Holly Sawyer’s list of things to do as she prepared to graduate May 26 as Portal Middle High School’s valedictorian.

    “I’ve always considered myself the luckiest person alive. My family has helped and supported me, and I want to share my blessings with them, and anyone I can,” she said.

    The 18-year-old daughter of Joy Sawyer, a local attorney, Holly has attended Portal's schools since first grade. Her senior year has been spent mostly at Georgia Southern University as a Move on When Ready student.

    Holly is currently a communications studies major at Georgia Southern, where she plans to remain to finish her core classes. She plans to transfer to the University of Georgia and major in public health and minor in chemistry. She has been accepted into the university’s Bells Honors Program.  This opportunity will provide her with not only academic challenges but leadership development and service learning projects. She will also have an undergraduate research project as part of the honors program’s Capstone Project. Though classified as an incoming freshman, she’s actually just a few short hours from being a sophomore thanks to MOWR.

    Holly is very practical in her thinking when it comes to financing the college experience.                “Having the Zell Miller Scholarship and Bells Honors Program scholarship will cover my tuition and books, and I can live at home, so staying at Southern to finish my core classes will help me save money for when I transfer to UGA.  I want to transfer later to Georgia because I need a different experience. I’ve been here all of my life, but I do want to stay here until I can afford it myself,” she said.

    Holly says she will miss her hometown.

    “I’m going to miss Portal, especially band, Dr. Marshall’s Horticulture classes, and school lunch. I’d get it to go every day before I went to my college classes. I really liked our school lunches at Portal,” she said.

    "It is really an honor to have had Holly in my classes and as an officer in FFA during her high school career,” said Dr. Thomas Marshall, PMHS’s Agriculture teacher. “She is hardworking and focused and successful in everything she attempts. She has a bright future ahead of her."

    Holly missed out on playing flute in the school band her senior year, due to her full load in college.                     

    “This year has been very different for me,” she said. "With work and classes I haven’t been around much at Portal or home.” 

    She’s especially missed spending time with her younger sisters, Heidi, 15, and Haven, 12, both of whom also attend PMHS.

    “The hardest I’ve ever laughed has been the times when we were together. They both work hard like me, but that comes from my mom. She’s the strongest woman I know,” Holly said, adding that she is looking forward to traveling with her mom after graduation.

    “I’ve always wanted to go to San Francisco, Yosemite, and to see the Redwood Forest. We’re flying out for four days just me and her.”

“Holly has brought a lot of happiness to my life,” said mom Joy Sawyer. “She’s so much fun. She loves to explore and loves people. I’m not looking forward to her leaving home, but I can’t wait to see her fly.”