🎓#10 Salutatorian - Brooklyn Bea Doonkeen
Next Steps: Oral Roberts University
Field of Studies: Elementary Education
Zebra Since: 1st-grade
What advice you would give your freshman self? Do not stress over something you cannot control. You cannot fix others' actions and you cannot go back in time. Roll with the flow and make the best out of it!
What has this journey taught you about yourself? Throughout my educational career, I have learned that nothing will be accomplished if I don't put in the effort. If I put in the work every single day, there are guaranteed results in my future. This was key in my past 12 years of school and will continue to be throughout my life.
🔴 What does this accomplishment mean to you? Accomplishment to me is a feeling I get after I finish a big or small task. It's the feeling of achievement after a task I put a lot of work into. It doesn't matter what the size of the impact was. The feeling of finally finishing something pushed me past my limits and required my energy.
Looking back on your school experience at CPS what does being a Zebra mean to you? Being a Zebra means fun, family, and spirit. Being a Zebra is being proud to go to Claremore Schools where you are constantly encouraged and supported in whatever you wish to participate in.
What staff member impacted your life most and how in elementary school? Ms.Heartsock (Mrs.Devers) at Roosa Elementary impacted my life. She is the teacher that made me realize that I want to go on and teach 2nd grade. Her constant effort to make students enjoy learning is inspiring and motivational for future teachers. I will certainly be doing cookie bookie every Friday with my future 2nd graders.
What staff member impacted your life most and how in junior high? Mrs.Rahn at Will Rogers Jr. High defiantly impacted my life. She opened my eyes to the world of STEM and all of the possibilities of learning. I loved her so much that I became her TA for the next two years in jr. high! Being with her for all three years showed me that hands-on learning provides students to get up and experience all the possibilities of science.
What staff member impacted your life most and how in high school? I'm not just saying him because he is my dad, but Mr.Doonkeen has impacted my life the most. Being involved in choir all four years, I have spent much time in his classroom. Learning from my dad is a whole different experience from learning from a stranger. But this supplies a new level of opportunity. I have made so many new memories with him and I could never have made them if I did not get the chance to take his class.
What is the ONE thing you absolutely take with you to college? The one thing I will take to college is all the communication skills I have developed. Communication is very important in any group activity or relationship. I have learned to take this skill and apply it everywhere!
What activities you have been involved in? Choir Room 701 and Mixed Choir, ZUAC, Student Council, SADD, Red Army, National Honor Society, Math Club / Mu Alpha Theta, FUZE, Chemistry Club, and AP / Pre-AP Programs.
What was the hardest part (challenges) you had to overcome to achieve this honor? With being involved in many clubs and organizations, balancing all of my activities and classes was tough. It can become overwhelming very quickly, but to overcome this, I had to utilize goal-setting and patience. With this practice, I adapted to a heavy schedule and accomplished many of my personal goals.
What are you most proud of in your high school career? I am proud of many things, but my most valued accomplishment in high school would be my choir and community achievements. I am a 3-year OMEA All-State choir member and a 5-year NCDA All-District choir member. I have also given back over $20,000 throughout my high school career to my teachers while being president of our National Honor Society chapter. I am very proud to claim these events took a lot of practice and energy to accomplish them.
Awards / Honors / Scholarships
Scholarships: Yearly $20,000 dollars for leadership and academics from Oral Roberts University.
$5,000 dollars for the Teacher Leadership Scholarship from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Awards: NCDA District Honor Choir Member 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, OMEA All-State Honor Choir Member 2021, 2022, 2023, Student of the Month December 2019 and November 2021, Computer Applications Z-Award, AP European History Z-Award, Outstanding Student Award for Pre-AP English II, 4.0 Award for 2021 and 2022, Elks Lodge Award for Vocal Music for 2021 and 2022, Girls State Attendee 2022
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE #Classof2023