Abigail Russ is a very ambitious person. As an MPCS student since 2012, she has found numerous ways to pinpoint her goals while developing a truly renaissance intellect both in challenging academic classes and varied extracurricular activities. She has served in student government, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and the Mock Trial Team. Her endeavors don’t end there. Abigail’s talent for the visual arts is obvious to all who have seen her work. In this arena alone, she has been a four-year member of National Art Honor Society serving as current president and former vice-president, been selected for All-State Art Symposium twice, and selected for the Governor’s Honors Program in Art. Abigail says she “owes her identity as an artist” to Mrs. Hooley who “pushed my painting abilities and distinguished my drawing aptitude.”
This talented student has further developed her artistic side in the dramatic arts, both on stage and behind the scenes. From being a leading actress in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to building sets and making props, Abigail enjoys all aspects of theatre, even serving as vice-president and former secretary for the MPCS chapter of the International Thespian Society. She especially appreciates Mrs. Williams as her drama instructor since sixth grade as an inspiration who has “helped shape my acting skills and my identity” in the “world of Tennessee Williams and William Shakespeare.”
Abigail thanks and credits several other teachers as true favorites: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Wood, Mr. Minear, and Mrs. Hamilton. Madam Bonn and Mr. Smith have been especially significant. Abigail notes that Madame Bonn “is always there for us” and “works hard to the advantage of her students, providing resources, experiences, and rolling chairs” to engage French language learners. Abigail is also a gifted science student who has represented MPCS at the Governor’s Honors Program in Science. Mr. Smith’s AP Physics class has truly influenced Abigail’s future. She shares that Mr. Smith “furthered my tenacity, conceptuality, and accuracy in the realm of physics, enticing and motivating me.”
So, what does the future hold for such a truly well-rounded student? Abigail will attend Georgia Tech, receiving a $6000 research scholarship. She plans to pursue a degree in physics, possibly with math, as she studies quantum mechanics or theoretical physics to the doctorate level. Ultimately, she would like to do research physics at the Fermi Lab or Large Hadron Collider. As Abigail says, “Math makes physics workable and physics makes math applicable.” If the amazing gifts God has already started to develop in Abigail are any indication, she is on track to achieve all her ambitions!
