GHS NEWS

Duke of the Year: Kyleigh Johnson

Ms. Johnson is a phenomenal Duke, and a proud recipient of this year's honor

Reporter Valiree Vinning

Senior Kyleigh Johnson was awarded the title of 2021’s Duke of the Year for demonstrating the characteristics that define the best of what Gloucester High School is.

“To be Duke of the Year,” Kyleigh believes, “it means that all together, you are proud of yourself, your school, who you are and the different and impact you create in your community.”

Firstly, Kyleigh finds passion in her artwork, her favorites being her paintings of anomalies.

Anomalies are genetic mutations in species and creates it for things to not quite fit in. Kyleigh finds this fascinating. “I really like more scientific artwork. And, most of my art pieces in that class were more scientific because I really like science a lot. So, I kinda try to incorporate those ideas into a lot of the artworks that I do.”

Associating herself with things that are different seems to be her specialty. Kyleigh is in a lot of clubs, and her reasoning is for the people in them. She says, “I like how I feel like I can bring out the more outgoing side of people and make them feel welcomed. In whichever thing they may be in whether it be in a class or a club or a project. And, I try to make sure that everyone feels included.”

“I’m in a lot of clubs here. I am the Beta Club President, the NHS parliamentarian, I’m in {the} STEM Academy, I’m in NAHS {National Art Honor Society}, {and} I’m in French club/French Honors Society. They kind of go hand in hand,” She explains.

“I also did underwater robotics up until this year because it didn’t happen because of COVID. And, my team has gone to Nationals twice...And, I also volunteer with a bunch of different clubs that I’m in. But also like in my freetime and over the summers I volunteer with Girl scouts. I don’t like do Girl Scouts, but I volunteer with them to teach them outdoor and water safety because I’m certified in kayak safety.”

Kyleigh proves to be an active member in her clubs, one of her favorites being Beta. “Running the club is a lot of fun because you get to come up with all of these cool ideas and go and participate in all of these different service projects. And, help people but you are doing it like with your friends. And, so you’re getting to help your community with your friends, and being an officer, the other officers you get pretty close with.”

With determination, pride, responsibility, and a beaming personality, it is easy to say that Kyleigh Johnson embodies everything the Duke of the Year is supposed to represent.