HICKMAN, Ky. - Lacy Roberson is the kind of student and leader a principal wouldn't mind taking his or her seat one day, including for an interview.
"She sits here more than me anyway," joked Wayne Benningfield, principal at Fulton County High School, as he motioned for Roberson to take his office chair during a taped interview. "I don't mind. She's one of our finest."
Roberson, an 18-year-old senior, is the school's cheerleading captain, and most valuable player in softball. She balances editing the yearbook and being senior class president with keeping to her high school career goal of maintaining a grade-point average high enough to qualify in the top 10 in her class every year.
"Ever since elementary school my mom has always pushed me and told me, 'You need to do well in school because you need to make something of yourself one day,'" Roberson said.
"In middle school I learned that for myself ... I knew that doing well in school was what is best for me."
It's a lesson that has helped her become Teen of the Week.
Roberson, daughter of Keith and Becky Roberson, is the Murray State University Teen of the Week. Each Monday, the Sun features a different MSU Teen of the Week selected from nominees submitted by high school guidance counselors throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois. In May, a Teen of the Year will be chosen from the weekly winners, earning a $5,000 scholarship to Murray State. Teen of the Week is part of the Sun's Newspapers in Education program.
Roberson's teachers and coaches said what she puts her mind to, she achieves almost without fail.
"Part of growing up and maturing means setting life goals and going after them," said Deann Reed, Roberson's English teacher and softball coach.
Reed said when Roberson strove to remain in the top 10 in her class, she put in the work to do so and currently holds a 4.0 grade-point average. "On the softball field, her goals are to become a better hitter," Reed said. "Last year, her batting average improved and she led her team to their first district win in over five years."
Leader comes up again with Roberson around Terry Sullivan, the school's technology instructor and faculty adviser for Future Business Leaders of America. "Lacy is currently the chapter president,"
Sullivan said. "She has been involved with several charitable activities. By participating in these activities and more, I believe Lacy has proven herself as a leader."
The leadership title means a lot to Roberson, who moved to Hickman from Union City, Tenn., in sixth grade.
She loves studying, and tinkering with, computers, something she may combine with her math skills in the future, she said.
Roberson hopes to attend Western Kentucky University or Murray State University to study business.
With her drive and aptitude, she'll be gunning for the chancellor's list, if not his or her office chair.
Contact Adam Shull, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
